WCVA has launched a consultation seeking views on how the voluntary sector's interest areas are classified and represented at high-level meetings with Assembly Ministers and Assembly Members. Under the auspices of the Assembly's Voluntary Sector Scheme, the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council (VSPC) meets three times a year to help develop effective partnership working and consultation between the sector and the Assembly. For the purposes of the VSPC, the voluntary sector is divided into 21 interest areas, each represented by an individual elected by a network of organisations operating in that field.

Although elections for representatives take place approximately every two years, the 21 categories themselves have remained relatively fixed since the Scheme was adopted in 2000. The current categories are: advice and advocacy; animal welfare; art, culture and heritage; children and families; community; community justice; disability; education and training; employment; environment; ethnic minorities; faith communities; gender; health and social care; housing; intermediaries; international aid and emergency relief; older people; sport and recreation; volunteering; youth.

Through this consultation, WCVA is looking to establish a consensus on whether the existing categories should continue, if there are any gaps in coverage and whether changes should be made.