I nterim report Background Voluntary organisations are important actors in Finnish society. They perform central tasks in the fields of social work, sports, youth work and health care. Voluntary organisations contribute to employment and the gross national product with some three per cent.
Voluntary organisations constitute the core of the third sector in Finland.
Other agents in this sector are cooperatives, foundations and trust funds. Voluntary organisations possess great employment potential, as there are numerous tasks suitable for organisations, provided better conditions were created to allow for this. There is a considerable amount of work to be done, particularly in matters relating to the wellbeing of people and families, at a local level.