How the voluntary sector and volunteers support the health and care system in Wales?
4 August 2026
This explainer article from Wales Council for Voluntary Action’s (WCVA) Health and Care Project looks at the importance of the voluntary sector’s role in health and care in Wales.
Prevention
Community
Cross-sector partnerships
Health inequalities
Social care
Introduction
The voluntary sector and volunteers are an integral part of Wales’ health and social care system.
There are over 47,600 voluntary sector organisations (non-profit, non-governmental groups) in Wales according to the Third Sector Data Hub. Data from Wales Council for Voluntary Action’s (WCVA) Health and Care Project show that, across Wales, more than 10,000 voluntary organisations deliver services that provide early intervention and preventative support.
Furthermore, there are over 15,000 volunteers (people who freely give their time for the benefit of others) in Wales who volunteer for registered health and care charities. Their contribution spans direct service delivery, support to statutory provision (legally mandated public services provided by the government, local authorities and the NHS), and wider community wellbeing activities. Together, these roles strengthen prevention, improve outcomes and help reduce demand on statutory services.
What is the role of the voluntary sector?
The voluntary sector has long contributed to health and social care in Wales, often predating the modern welfare state. Today, it remains essential to achieving improved health and wellbeing outcomes.
Some organisations provide critical services, such as hospice care or emergency rescue. Others deliver routine commissioned services in partnership with statutory bodies. Many operate independently but still contribute to shared national and local wellbeing goals.
As noted in the report Why the third sector matters to health and social care in Wales, voluntary organisations contribute to health and care in four main ways:
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Delivering commissioned services, such as substance misuse programmes.
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Enhancing statutory provision, for example through hospital-based volunteering and befriending schemes.
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Supporting community wellbeing, including tackling loneliness, food insecurity and social isolation.
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Building system capacity, through partnership working with health boards, local authorities and primary care clusters.
The voluntary sector is characterised by:
This reach enables voluntary organisations to support people who may not engage with statutory services, particularly those with complex needs or long-term conditions
What value does the voluntary sector add?
‘The values and value of the third sector', a collaborative paper published by the Bevan Commission, highlights seven areas where the voluntary sector strengthens mainstream services:
Despite this contribution, the sector faces significant challenges. Baromedr Cymru, Wales’ quarterly voluntary sector survey, shows that demand for services is increasing, while funding remains uncertain and often short term. Many organisations report financial pressures, reduced reserves and difficulties recruiting staff and volunteers. These pressures risk limiting the sector’s ability to sustain and expand its role.
What contribution do volunteers make to health and care?
The Values and Value of Volunteering highlights how volunteers make a practical and measurable contribution to health and care services. They often meet non-clinical needs, such as providing companionship, reassurance and practical help. This improves patient experience and supports recovery and independence.
In doing so, volunteers enable professionals to focus on tasks requiring clinical expertise. Evidence from Helpforce shows that staff value this contribution, with many reporting reduced pressure and increased capacity to deliver high-quality care when volunteers are involved.
Welsh Government and WCVA have set out ambitions for volunteering through a national New Approach to Volunteering that aims to remove barriers and support participation. It recognises volunteering as both a social asset and a key component of the health and care system.
Through Third Sector Support Wales, WCVA and Wales' 19 County Voluntary Councils (CVCs) help connect organisations, support volunteers and strengthen partnerships with statutory services.
What impact does the voluntary sector have on people and communities?
The voluntary sector is embedded in the delivery of health and social care as part of an integrated community care system.
Here are some recent examples of how the voluntary sector improves lives:
Maternity care
Cardiff’s Birth Partner Project offers volunteer birth partners to lone pregnant asylum seekers from week 34 of pregnancy. It ensures someone is always with them during labour.
Cancer care
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust aims to improve cancer outcomes in coalfield communities in Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil. It offers one-to-one non-clinical support for people diagnosed with cancer. Each patient receives an electronic holistic needs assessment, a care plan and help to manage the challenges of living with cancer.
Hospital to home
PIVOT in West Wales aims to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, supporting people to remain in or return to their own homes by providing a range of community transport options. You can watch a video about the work of PIVOT and others.
Mental health
Various organisations, such as New Horizons, offer mental health support. For example, ‘Recovery college’ courses are empowering people to develop different skills and manage their wellbeing and mental health needs.
What is the policy and legislative framework underpinning the voluntary sector’s role?
The voluntary sector’s role is underpinned by a strong policy and legislative framework in Wales, which emphasises partnership, prevention and wellbeing.
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The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act: This Act established Public Services Boards (PSBs) and requires public bodies to focus on long-term sustainability and work towards seven wellbeing goals, including ‘a healthier Wales’. It encourages collaboration with the voluntary sector and a shift towards prevention.
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The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act: This legislation promotes integration and person-centred care. It requires partnership working through Regional Partnership Boards (RPBs), where the voluntary sector is represented. Section 16 places a duty on local authorities to promote services provided by voluntary organisations, social enterprises and co-operatives, supporting a diverse care market.
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A Healthier Wales: The previous Welsh Government’s long-term strategy set out a whole-system approach to health and social care. It recognises the voluntary sector as a key partner in delivering integrated, community-based models of care.
What is the voluntary sector’s relationship with the Welsh Government?
Section 74 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 required Welsh ministers to set out how government would promote the interests of relevant voluntary organisations. As a result, the Third Sector Scheme was developed.
The scheme established the Third Sector Partnership Council, which sees representatives from networks covering 25 areas of voluntary sector activity - such as the environment, disability, and older people - meet with the Welsh Government to discuss issues that cut across the voluntary sector. The arrangements also established portfolio-specific networks. For instance, the Voluntary Sector Health and Social Care Planning Group arranges meetings with ministers with responsibility for health and social care.
Funding provides voluntary sector organisations with the means to cover costs and provide crucial services to communities. The Welsh Government’s Code of Practice for Funding the Third Sector in Wales sets out principles for effective allocation of grants and public commissioning of voluntary sector services. These are:
What are the key partnerships in the voluntary sector?
The voluntary sector are part of a number of key partnerships:
Regional Partnership Boards
Voluntary sector representatives sit alongside colleagues from the statutory sector on Regional Partnership Boards (RBPs) and offer important perspectives on the care and support needs of people in their area. Each RPB has at least one representative from the voluntary sector from their area. RPBs are also required to have an unpaid carer among their representatives. Page 15 of the statutory guidance to the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act lists each RPB.
Public Service Boards
The voluntary sector is also represented on Public Service Boards (PSBs), which aim to improve joint working across public services.
Local health boards
The sector is also on the boards of local health boards, which are responsible for NHS services, as well as improving physical and mental health outcomes and promoting wellbeing and reducing health inequalities across their population.
To understand more about the NHS structure in Wales, RPBs and PSBs please see our explainer How is the NHS structured in Wales?
Conclusion
The voluntary sector’s reach into communities, relationships with under-served groups and ability to respond flexibly to local need, positions it as a key strategic partner in delivering more person-centred, place-based care.
Strengthening collaboration, ensuring sustainable funding and embedding the sector in system leadership is critical to delivering more person-centred, integrated and preventative care in Wales, leading to improved health and care outcomes across the country.