Useful links
A list of umbrella bodies working for or with third sector organisations within Europe was compiled as part of the work of the TSEP network. This is preserved here as of January 2006. After this date it will no longer be updated, and where web addresses change, live links may not be maintained.
EUROPA The European Union Online
Europa is the portal site of the European Union providing up-to-date coverage of European Union affairs and information on European integration. Also offers access to archives of legislation in force or under discussion, to the websites of each of the EU institutions and information about the policies administered by the Union. Commission and Directorate-Generale specific perspectives on the third sector can be found via this portal.
CIRIEC International Center of Research and Information on the Public and Cooperative Economy
International non governmental scientific organisation, aiming to carry out and promote the collection of information, scientific research and the publication of works related to economic sectors and activities oriented to the service of general and collective interest: the action of public authorities in economic fields; public services; public and mixed enterprises at national, regional and local levels; the social economy, cooperatives, mutuals and non-profit associations; participation of workers.
EMES European Research Network
Named after its first research programme, on " the emergence of social enterprises in Europe". Now conducts multidisciplinary studies to understand the diversity of experiences at national levels, and the way third sector enterprises and organisations are embedded in their respective societies; supports efforts to teach this field in European universities and promotes EMES members' work.
Social Platform of European NGOs
Association of EU level NGOs and networks working to promote a social dimension in the European Union.
Act4Europe
Campaign website for Civil Society Contact Group action on the European Convention. Unites activists from the four 'families' of NGOs representing the environmental, human rights, development and social sectors, including the Social Platform (above) with the European Trade Union Confederation. Working to promote action at a national level through its member organisations, as well as in Brussels.
European Citizen Action Service
Non-governmental organisation founded in 1990 offering guidance on lobbying, on gaining funding and support to NGOs and individuals dealing with European institutions. Special interest in strengthening awareness of European issues in NGOs based in member states and applicant countries of the EU.
Eurostep
Information on Civil Society Contact Group composition and members. This Contact Group was established in 2002 in response to the Convention process and brings together four 'families' of NGOs working in the social, environmental, development and human rights' fields together with representatives of the European Trade Union Congress.
Volunteurope
European network of agencies in the field of social action to promote their objectives at the European level. Secretariat through Community Service Volunteers in the UK.
Caritas Europa
Federation of (Catholic) national Caritas organisations founded in 1992. These organisations are central to welfare systems in many member states of the EU.
Eurodiakonie
Federation of (Protestant) churches and welfare organisations. These organisations are central to welfare systems in many member states of the EU.
European Anti-Poverty Network
Made up of national networks from EU member states and European organisations working against poverty. It was constituted in 1990, has a base in Brussels and is a founding member of the European Social Platform.
European Council for Voluntary Organisations (CEDAG)
CEDAG represents a large number of regional and national umbrella bodies for the voluntary sector across the EU member states.
European Round Table of Charitable Social Welfare Associations
Also known as ET Welfare. Mainly represents German social welfare providers at the EU level.
European Volunteer Centre
Umbrella organisation for national and regional volunteer centres.
Solidar
Alliance of NGOs involved in social service provision, humanitarian aid and lifelong learning, with strong links to the labour movement.
European standing conference of cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations (CEP-CMAF)
Created in Brussels in 2000 to replace the former Consultative Committee of Cooperatives, Mutual societies and Associations which had been closely connected with the European Commission.
The General Confederation of Productive Cooperatives (CG SCOP)
Organisation representing the interests of workers' cooperatives, social cooperatives and enterprises, workers' participation and employee ownership at the European level. Also aims to promote cooperative economic and social development in the European region, partnerships and networks and the transfer of information and know-how within the sector.
Coordinating Committee of European Cooperative Associations (CCACE)
Umbrella for cooperatives at European level.
These websites relate to 'cross cutting' or 'generic' horizontal Government actors and public sector national public policy:
Active Communities Directorate, Home Office
Social Enterprise Unit, Department of Trade and Industry
Charity Commission for England and Wales
These websites relate to what are known in the UK as generalist 'intermediary' or'infrastructure' bodies for the voluntary sector.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) in England
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WVCA)
Northern Irish Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)
National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service (NACVS)
Volunteer Development England (association of Volunteer Development Agencies)
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)
'Community matters' website for coalition of social enterprise organisations.
Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege
This is the umbrella organisation of the six most important German Free Welfare Associations. Due the special organisation of the German Welfare state which gives priority to non-statutory service over public sector services the Free Welfare Associations play an important role for the German Welfare system. Working both with full-time workers and volunteers the Welfare Associations provide a broad range of services including e.g. hospitals, social counselling, or assistance for elderly people.
Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen
The umbrella organisation of German volunteer bureaux.
Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement – BBE
Federal Network for the Promotion of Civic Activities founded in June 2002 as the successor of the National Advisory Board which was set up for the International Year of Volunteers in Germany. This National Advisory Board was the first occasion that German Third Sector Organisations from different fields worked together. The BBE is not an exclusive Third-Sector-Network but wants to comprise as well representatives of the state and the municipalities and the economy. It is supported by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth.
Deutscher Verein für öffentliche und private Fürsorge
German Association for Public and Private Welfare.This association was founded in 1880 and its members are both public and private providers of social services including representatives of the Federal Government, the government of the Lander and the local authorities from the public sector and the main German Free Welfare Associations (e.g. Caritas, Diakonie). It monitors and evaluates the developments in social policies (i.e. ranging from youth welfare, care for the elderly to health care services) and in social service provision in Germany and is very influential in questions of social policy development and the implementation of social policy.
Arbetsgivaralliansen
Arbetsgivaralliansen is an association of employers in the third sector in Sweden.
Folkrörelserådet
The stated purpose of the Popular Movements' Council for Rural Development is to stimulate and support local development, enhance communication between local action groups, coordinate NGOs' rural work, speak for local groups and influence public opinion and decision-makers.
Forum för frivilligt socialt arbete
The National Forum for Voluntary Social Work in Sweden is an umbrella organisation working for the benefit of voluntary social work. It has 26 member organisations and among other things is involved in coordination of EU-related issues.
Forum Syd
The Swedish NGO Centre for Development Cooperation - Forum Syd - consists of 160 member organisations and functions as a large-scale network for global issues and development cooperation. Forum Syd is also active in several European NGO networks.
Frivilligorganizationernas Insamlingsråd
The Swedish fund-raising organisations have a common trade association - the voluntary organisations' fund-raising council. The association works with issues such as voluntary work and fundraising.
Föreningen Kooperativ Utveckling I Sverige, FKU (Cooperative development in Sweden)
Network for cooperative development in Sweden linking 24 local “co-operative development centres” throughout the country. FKU works for the development of co-operative forms of enterprises, through moulding of public opinion, information, co-operation and exchange of contacts and experiences.
Ideell Arena
Co-operates with various actors in the third sector to explore new ways of working with leadership development, for example organising a leadership programme for the sector.
Justitiedepartementet (Ministry of Justice)
Pages with information on Ministry's work relating to non-governmental organisations, with links to reports on government offices' work on social economy in addition.
Kooperativa institutet (Swedish Co-operative Institute)
The Swedish cooperative movement's development institute, working in areas such as information gathering, political and organisational networking and monitoring of legal issues in Parliament, the government and EU.
Swedish network against social exclusion
Member of European Anti-Poverty Network (see above).
Plataforma de ONGs de Acciónn Social
This Platform for Social Action NGOs (PSANGO) was constituted in 2000. It contains 16 non-governmental associations, federations and state networks working for the most vulnerable social groups and against social exclusion. The members of the PSANGO represent thousands of third sector associations involved in a vast range of activities in local, regional and state level. The Platform aims to promote the Social Third Sector and to articulate it in the state and regional level.
Confederación Empresarial Española de Economía Social (CEPES)
Founded in 1992 to work with social economy organisations in Spain and now represents more than 46,000 Spanish firms, grouped in the 23 most relevant confederations and entities of Social Economy. CEPES defines itself as an economic and social agent, acting in the market and affecting society.
Netwerk Toekomst Maatschappelijke Onderneming (Network for the Future of Social Entrepreneurship)
The NTMO is a network of six branch organisations in healthcare, education and social housing. The aim of the network is to encourage the further development of the concept of social entrepreneurship and to promote a greater measure of self-regulation. The network has no website of its own, but information can be found through Aedes, the branch organisation for social housing.
Social Alliance
The Social Alliance is a thematic network focusing on poverty and social exclusion. It consists of over fifty organisations, including trade unions, churches and patient organisations. It is involved in regular talks with several government Ministries.
Vereniging Nederlandse Organisaties Vrijwilligerswerk (Association of Dutch Voluntary Organisations)
The NOV works to promote the interests of volunteers through lobbying, networking and publicity. It is closely allied to CIVIQ, which provides its professional support staff.
CIVIQ
CIVIQ offers professional support and consultancy services for voluntary organisations. It also maintains networks with a wide variety of organisations that have a connection with volunteering.
Conseil des enterprises et regroupements de l'économie sociale (CEGES)
The representative of the social economy at the national level, and a particularly active member of the European Standing Conference of Cooperatives, Mutual Societies, Associations and Foundations (CEP-CMAF) - see above.
National Federation of French Mutuality (FNMF)
Umbrella organisation of mutualities at the national level, and a participant in the Association Internationale de la Mutualité (AIM).
Fondation de France
One of the eight founders of the European Foundations Centre - see above.
The National Interfederal Union of Private Health and Social Work Organisations (L'UNIOPPS)
Acts for the recognition of the health and social work associative sector at national and international levels, and is a member of several European networks, including CEDAG, EAPN and ET Welfare.
Národní dobrovolnické centrum (The National Volunteer Centre)
Association providing for promotion and support of voluntary activity, including training and education of volunteers.
Spolek Oborové Konference nestátních neziskových organizací působících v sociální a zdravotně sociální oblasti (Association of nonstate nonprofit organizations acting in social and health fields) U
mbrella with 74 organisations as members, founded in 2002 to contribute to the development of social and health services and support cooperation between and the position of NGOs within Czech society and relating to the EU.
Agentura neziskového sektoru (Nonprofit Sector Agency)
Founded 1998 to provide education, information and consulting services for NGOs. Also involved in research on the nonprofit sector.
Czech Donors' Forum
Members include foundations and commercial donors. Lobbies for NGOs and offers education, information and consultancy services.
Informační centrum neziskových organizací (Information centre for NGOs)
Founded 1991/2 as an organisation to support NGOs. It does not have members, but provides resources, information, publication services etc to the sector and to the public. In particular it runs PR campaigns, such as '30 Days for the Non-profit Sector'.Nadace VIA (VIA Foundation)
Founded 1997 on American initiatives, now works to support public participation in the development of democracy in the Czech Republic, and local non-profit or NGO activity.Open Society Fund, Praha
Founded 1992 with a number of different programmes, including the development of civic society.
Nadace rozvoje občanské společnosti (Foundation for civic society development)
Works to develop civic society and the nonprofit sector, as well as carrying out programmes in the field of human rights and youth work.
Zelený kruh (Green circle)
Platform of environmental NGOs, acting as a information centre for this constituency.
Consiglio Nazionale dell'Economia e del Lavoro or CNEL (National Council for Economics and Labour)
Council of different economic interests, including 10 representatives from social promotion associations and voluntary organisations.
Forum del Terzo Settore (Third Sector Forum)
Membership organisation promoting the third sector through professional and adult training, the importance of civil society and moves to improve third sector infrastructure and forums at regional and local level, as well as a range of social policies relating to immigration and employment. Members work in at least 6 different regions, and have a associative background consisting of at least 2000 people or 50 grassroots organisations.
L'Osservatorio nazionale per il volontariato (National observatory of organisations of volunteers)
Government organisation headed by the Minister for Social Affairs or their delegate, and composed of at least 10 representatives of organisations or federations of organisations of volunteers, two nominated experts and three trade union representatives. The observatory was set up to promote research and knowledge about voluntary activity in Italy, as well as training opportunities within the sector.
Associazioni Cristiane Lavoratori Italiani or ACLI (Christian associations of Italian workers)
Confessional organisation active in social economy field.
Movimento di Volontariato Italiano (MOVI)
A federation of organisations of volunteers in Italy.Lega Nazionale delle Coopertive e Mutue (LEGACOOP)
The oldest umbrella organisation for cooperatives, with many small cooperatives as affiliated members, and a left wing agenda.
Federsolidarieta
An umbrella organisation for Catholic social cooperatives.
Associatzione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana (ARCI)
A national association for 'social promotion' to which many local associations with a left wing political background are affiliated. Associazione Nazionale Pubbliche Assistenze (ANPAS)
A national association with many local affiliations in the third sector, from a left wing political background.
Forum Bénévolat/Freiwillingenarbeit/Voluntariato (Forum for volunteering)
A forum established informally in the context of the United Nations International Year for Volunteering 2001, and now with a more permanent presence. Consists of approximately 80 organisations from national, regional and local levels, and working across a number of different domains (welfare, youth, sport etc.
Last updated: 15 May 2006
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