New Common Charter supporter profile: CO3 – Chief Officers Third Sector

Across Northern Ireland, voluntary and community organisations are making a powerful difference – supporting individuals, strengthening communities, and responding to complex social challenges.

Behind this work are leaders navigating increasing demand, financial pressure and constant change. CO3 – Chief Officers Third Sector – exists to support those leaders.

Established in 1985, CO3 has 40 years of experience developing and connecting leaders across the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

Today, it represents a network of more than 860 chief executives, senior leaders and trustees, all committed to delivering meaningful impact in their communities.

At its heart, CO3 focuses on three things: connection, development and influence.

Supporting leaders in practice

Leadership in the third sector is both rewarding and demanding.

CO3 recognises this and provides practical, relevant support shaped by the real experiences of its members.

Through leadership development programmes, mentoring, governance guidance and networking opportunities, CO3 helps leaders build confidence and capability at every stage of their journey. These are grounded in the day-to-day realities of leading organisations in a challenging environment.

Peer connection is a vital part of this approach.

By bringing leaders together, CO3 creates space for honest conversations, shared learning and mutual support.

As its values emphasise, collaboration strengthens both individuals and the sector as a whole.

Alongside this core offer, CO3 operates two complementary initiatives: Engage Executive Talent, providing specialist executive recruitment and consultancy services tailored to the third sector, and the Northern Ireland Health Collective, which brings together organisations working across health and social care to strengthen collaboration and influence. Together, these form part of CO3’s wider commitment to supporting leadership and organisational effectiveness across the sector.

A collective voice for the sector

CO3 also plays an important role in representing the views of its members.

The third sector is a major contributor to society and the economy, yet its voice is not always fully heard in policy discussions.

Through engagement with policymakers, roundtables and sector forums, CO3 ensures that leaders’ insights help shape decisions that affect communities across Northern Ireland.

This advocacy is essential in a landscape where partnership and collaboration are increasingly important.

Working together across the island

A recent example of this collaborative approach is the Shared Island Leadership Forum, delivered in partnership with Charities Institute Ireland.

This initiative brought together 60 leaders from across the island to share learning, build relationships and explore common challenges.

It reflects CO3’s belief that leadership is strengthened through connection — not only within Northern Ireland, but beyond it.

Creating space to lead and reflect

CO3’s events and forums provide important opportunities for leaders to step back, reflect and reconnect with their purpose.

From its Annual Leadership Conference and Leadership Awards to targeted forums for new and experienced leaders, these spaces offer both inspiration and practical insight.

They also reinforce a simple but important message: no leader is working alone.

With 40 years of experience supporting leadership in the third sector, CO3 continues to focus on building strong, connected leaders who can shape a fairer and more resilient society.

Get in contact with CO3 – Chief Officers Third Sector here.

Membership of the New Common Charter

The New Common Charter for Cooperation aims to empower civic society to drive cooperation, North-South and East-West, by

• increasing opportunities to share information, knowledge of policy and best-practice within and across these islands
• improving policy-making by matching it to realities on the ground
• identifying cross-border opportunities to collaborate to solve shared problems or exploit common resources
• engaging with and supporting human rights, particularly for the most isolated and marginalised in our communities, and
• facilitating the exploration and celebration of a community’s culture and heritage with a view to future cooperation.

The Charter may be able to help your group – find out about the membership benefits here.

Photographs: courtesy of CO3 – Chief Officers Third Sector

Press Eye – Belfast – Northern Ireland – 27th March 2026
Photo by Phil Magowan / Press Eye