Charities can nurture local economic growth as well as social capital

Joe Irvin is the Chief Executive of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action writing in a Guardian blog he says:

The social benefits of voluntary action are well understood - but do councils recognise the economic role of the voluntary sector?

I was recently invited to address the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, focusing on the theme of Europe in crisis and the challenges for local and regional democracy. The conference asked me to talk about how charities and community groups can foster active citizenship. I believe that charities are not just part of the solution to Europe's social problems; they also have a role to play in solving our economic problems.

The social benefits of voluntary action are well understood: charities and community groups bring people together, support communities, and can build social capital. However the economic importance of the voluntary sector is often less recognised.