I was asked to speak at Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre’s AGM about the Government’s record on supporting the voluntary sector.

The story is one of a booming voluntary and community movement. The number of charities has risen from 120,000 in 1995 to 164,000 in 2005. Since 2004, the Government has invested more than £350 million in the capacity of the third sector through specific programmes.

The Government has provided £80 million of direct funding to charities and established a £30 million fund to enable local organisations to take over underused council assets. Overall, public funding doubled from £5 billion to £10 billion between 1997 and 2005.

Also, changes to Gift Aid by Gordon Brown has seen its value to charitable organisations rise from £100 million a year in 1997 to £750 million a year today.