The second set of results from Third Sector Trends was published on 4 December 2025.
Third Sector Trends in England and Wales: people, work, ambition and impact
Third Sector Trends has been surveying the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector every three years since 2010. In 2025, 8,680 responses were received across England and Wales. This is the only large-scale and fully representative longitudinal national survey in the UK which can produce robust and detailed comparative analysis at regional and national level.
The project is funded in 2025-26 by Community Foundation North East, Lloyds Bank Foundation England and Wales, Wales Council for Voluntary Action and Millfield House Foundation. This is the first of five national reports from Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2025.
The report includes analysis on:
- The support needs of voluntary organisations, how they prioritise them and who they usually ask to help them if they seek external advice and support.
- Leadership and how that feels when tackling core organisational issues.
- Diversity in leadership
- The labour market and key challenges there.
Analysis of the findings from the survey will be released over the next six months on separate topics including:
Relationships, influencing and partnership working (October 2025)
People in the voluntary sector and the social impact they produce (December 2025)
Finance, assets and the wellbeing of voluntary organisations (January 2026)
The contribution of the voluntary sector to place (February 2026)
Organisational vitality and community impact (March 2026)
The report is also available here: Third Sector Trends in England and Wales - St Chad's College Durham