The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is ‘going global’, with the launch of an international membership programme.

Formerly only UK based groups could sign up to the organisation’s services.

Now foreign groups, such as the Australian group the Centre of Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies (CPNS), are signing up and gaining access to NCVO resources.

Like many international organisations CPNS has been using NCVO’s services for over 20 years.

NCVO’s European and International Officer, Nolan Quigley said: "Last week we celebrated reaching the milestone of 5,000 members and now we are able to launch NCVO’s first international membership programme.

"It shows that the voluntary sector is increasingly important on a national and international level.

"We will be actively recruiting members from all over the world, so that we can learn from international NGOs, as well as provide them with the support and advice that they need on the English voluntary sector", she added.

NCVO has sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.