The body will aim to work with skills sector councils to meet the requirements of third-sector staff. It will ensure skills development addresses their unique needs in areas such as fundraising and campaigning and will consider all of the third sector including voluntary, charity and social enterprises.
Skills for Justice, the sector skills council for Justice, will provide premises for the new body and provide back-office support.
Alan Woods, CEO of Skills for Justice, said: "I welcome the decision to set up a new third-sector skills body. The third sector makes an invaluable contribution to society and the economy. Its workforce, many of whom are volunteers, deserve the best support we can give them."
John Rogers, chairman of the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils, added: "This is excellent news and I look forward to working with the new third-sector skills body alongside colleagues from other sector skills councils.
"It really cannot be stressed enough the contribution the third sector makes to society as a whole, especially in raising funds, the huge contribution of volunteers across the UK and the campaigning for good causes across the globe."
Third sector to get new skills body
<p>The Government is to inject 2.5 million into a new skills body for the third sector to open thousands of learning and development opportunities to staff who work or volunteer in charities across the UK.</p><p>Minister for the third sector Kevin Brennan and skills minister Lord Young of Norwood Green committed funding over the next three years to support skills development in this sector.</p>
