The number of people working in charities went up by 29,542 according to the accounts and annual returns filed with the Charity Commission in the year to September 2014.

September 2014’s figures show that 901,955 people worked in the voluntary sector, compared to 872,413 in accounts filed in the previous year.

The Commission figures are updated quarterly, and are historical figures based on accounts filed in the year. Most sets of accounts will cover the years up to March 2013, December 2013 and March 2014.

Overall income rose by more than £3bn from £61.1bn to £64.84bn. Investment gains, which are not considered part of income, rose from £4.7bn to £9.39bn.

There was a slight rise in the number of charities, from 180,692 to 180,847. The number of trustees fell from 945,532 to 943,871.