What is the difference between taking voluntary redundancy and being made redundant?

Voluntary Redundancy is where an employee voluntarily opts for redundancy. There is usually a sweetener which makes it financially attractive to the volunteers, which is usually more than statutory requirements. The employer does not have to make every volunteer redundant. But this is a good exercise to gauge employee response. Compulsory Redundancy is when an employee has not been given a choice. This usually happens because the employee's job/post disappears. Usually, there is a round of voluntary redundancies, before compulsory redundancies happen. If you are "being made redundant", without being given a choice, your redundancy is compulsory.