NCVO's new research aims to show that there is a wider civil society of voluntary organisations to which we belong: it goes way beyond charities - to include universities, trade unions, political parties and co-operatives.

Many of us give as much, if not more, to such groups than to traditional charities. But is membership of such bodies mainly about our own personal benefits and interests?

Is civil society about many different, sometimes competing and clashing, interests - or about belonging to the best of social clubs?