Scots voluntary sector thriving

SCOTLAND'S voluntary sector is booming, with new figures showing a 4 per cent rise in annual income to £3 billion.

Scottish Government statistics show that the "third sector", the umbrella term for non-profit organisations, was buoyant in the year to March 2009 despite the recession.

Finance secretary John Swinney said the statistics showed how important the sector was, adding:

"Enterprising third-sector organisations help sustain employment in communities, provide effective service delivery and support some of the most vulnerable people in society."

He said the Scottish Government had increased development funding by more than a third to the non-profit sector.