05 March 2003

London: Voluntary sector infrastructure includes all those playing a supporting, co-ordinating or development role within the sector. Infrastructure bodies may also be known as umbrella bodies or as "second tier" voluntary organisations - that is, they exist to support the "first tier" organisations whose role is to deliver services or give advice direct to individuals or communities or who campaign and advocate on a specific issue. Infrastructure bodies exist at local, regional and national levels. They may be generic -they provide support to the full range of voluntary organisations operating within a particular geographic area - or they may be sub-sectoral - they provide support to a particular part of the voluntary sector, for example childcare organisations or organisations dealing with homelessness.

Voluntary Sector Infrastructure: A Discussion Paper