Overview of Voluntary Organisations in Health and Social Care
Voluntary and community organisations are termed as the third sector; they are neither public nor private. Third sector organisations are self governed, motivated by the desire to better society, acting as an advocate for vulnerable individuals whether it be child or adult. Third sector organisations may have paid staff but rely greatly on regular, as well as occasional voluntary workers. A voluntary worker is an individual who offers to work with others outside of the family group, in order to help move society forward (Littlewood et.al, 2004). The voluntary worker will work within the organisation understanding and sharing the visions of that organisation, working together to better society in a non profitable way (National Audit Office).
Barnardo’s are a third sector organisation who believes in protecting vulnerable, disadvantaged children from abuse, neglect and discrimination. Barnardo’s hold the concept that every child matters and fight towards improving child policy with the movement of eradicating child poverty (Barnardo’s, 2013[a]). Dr Thomas John Barnardo founded the charity for poor children in 1866, with the launch of the ragged school in 1867, which was set up in an effort to educate underprivileged children. By 1870 Thomas Barnardo had opened his first children’s home. At this home John Somers; an 11 year old boy, was turned down because the home was full, two days later the little boy was found dead due to starvation. As a result of this tragedy Thomas Barnardo declared that the home would have an open door policy and no child would ever be turned away again. At the time of his death he had set up 96 homes and his legacy still lives on (Reptonvillage). Today Barnardo’s help over 200,000 children and their families each year, with branches all over Wales, one of which includes the Neath Port Talbot partnership (Barnardo’s, 2013 [a]).
As Barnardo’s are such a large charity with the financial income of £5,000 or more it is a legal
Barnardo’s are a third sector organisation who believes in protecting vulnerable, disadvantaged children from abuse, neglect and discrimination. Barnardo’s hold the concept that every child matters and fight towards improving child policy with the movement of eradicating child poverty (Barnardo’s, 2013[a]). Dr Thomas John Barnardo founded the charity for poor children in 1866, with the launch of the ragged school in 1867, which was set up in an effort to educate underprivileged children. By 1870 Thomas Barnardo had opened his first children’s home. At this home John Somers; an 11 year old boy, was turned down because the home was full, two days later the little boy was found dead due to starvation. As a result of this tragedy Thomas Barnardo declared that the home would have an open door policy and no child would ever be turned away again. At the time of his death he had set up 96 homes and his legacy still lives on (Reptonvillage). Today Barnardo’s help over 200,000 children and their families each year, with branches all over Wales, one of which includes the Neath Port Talbot partnership (Barnardo’s, 2013 [a]).
As Barnardo’s are such a large charity with the financial income of £5,000 or more it is a legal