Chester District and its voluntary and community sector

Chester has a vibrant voluntary and community sector of 500+ organisations, ranging from volunteer-led community and self-help groups to professional service providers.

Chester’s voluntary and community sector comprises more than 500 organisations, from community-based, self-help and volunteer-led groups to agencies that employ staff. The District has many active volunteers, drawn from citizens of all ages and backgrounds Many organisations in the district have an annual income below £10,000, whilst others involved in providing key services have significant annual turnovers.

The local sector works across urban and rural Chester with activities and interests that encompass: advice, social welfare, health, arts, campaigning, community development, community safety, housing and homelessness, social enterprise, culture, environment, animal welfare, equality, disability, regeneration, learning, black and minority ethnic, employment and training, sports, heritage, advocacy and international issues.

Diversity is a key feature of Chester’s voluntary and community sector evident, for example, in the community-based activities of Chester’s faith communities, the vibrancy of rural and urban community and residents groups and the work of local black and minority ethnic groups.

Chester is a District of contrasts with a population of approximately 120,000, around one third of whom live in rural areas. Whilst Chester is relatively affluent as a District there are communities and individuals who face acute, pressing need. This includes local wards where the experience of deprivation is as challenging as in larger cities, smaller pockets of deprivation across rural and urban parts of the District and groups of people across the district with particular needs. Voluntary and community organisations are actively involved in addressing these needs, whether as service deliverers or as groups of active citizens working together and with other sectors to improve local services and quality of life.