A paper said that a vast amount of local community activity was not captured by many traditional surveys of the voluntary sector. Many of the groups were not suited to delivering public services, but they provided evidence of groups already putting the 'Big Society' idea into practice.
Source: Andri Soteri-Proctor, Little Big Societies: Micro-mapping of organisations operating below the radar, Working Paper 71, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | Abstract | TSRC press release
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined how charity-led community involvement in education services might affect the traditional distinction between state schools and fee-charging 'independent' schools.
Source: Debra Morris, 'Building a big society: will charity's creeping reach generate a new paradigm for state schools?', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 33 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined the nature of the children's and young people s voluntary sector, and its involvement in shaping and delivering local statutory services and support. The sector was among the hardest hit by government funding cuts and local authority austerity measures.
Source: Chloe Gill, Ivana La Valle, and Louca-Mai Brady (with David Kane, Jenny Clark, and Peter Bass), The Ripple Effect: The nature and impact of the children and young people s voluntary sector, National Children s Bureau
Links: Report | NCVO press release
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper highlighted concerns on the part of voluntary and community organizations involved in the coalition government's new welfare-to-work initiative (the 'Work Programme'). Too great a premium was being placed on price rather than quality during tendering; and the size and complexity of contracts had excluded many voluntary organizations from bidding.
Source: The Work Programme: Initial Concerns from Civil Society Organisations, National Council for Voluntary Organisations
Links: Paper | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper examined geographical differences across England in the prevalence of voluntary organizations working at a neighbourhood scale. Overall, less deprived local areas had a much higher prevalence than more deprived local areas.
Source: David Clifford, Voluntary Sector Organisations Working at the Neighbourhood Level in England: Patterns by local area deprivation, Working Paper 65, Third Sector Research Centre
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined the challenges faced by third sector organizations in facilitating service user influence in the National Health Service.
Source: Graham Martin, 'The third sector, user involvement and public service reform: a case study in the co-governance of health service provision', Public Administration, Volume 89 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined some impacts of relationships between the third sector, the state, and the market on the non-profit sector workforce, based on a study in Reading (England). The growth of state influence had generated paid and unpaid workers to represent the sector to the state; and in most non-profit organizations paid workers created the conditions for unpaid work.
Source: Sophie Bowlby and Sally Lloyd Evans, 'Between state and market: the non-profit workforce in a changing local environment', Social Policy and Society, Volume 10 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the independence of the third sector from government. Although there was evidence to suggest that contractual funding arrangements imposed certain constraints, of greater concern were poor working relationships between commissioners and voluntary sector contractors. The concept of 'interdependence' better conveyed the new environment in which many voluntary sector organizations operated.
Source: Gregory Crouch, 'A new age of interdependence: managing relationships between the voluntary sector and government', Voluntary Sector Review, Volume 2 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
A think-tank report said that opportunities for a 'new social contract' between civil society and government could be lost if urgent action were not taken to break down barriers to joint working.
Source: Civil Dialogue: Ideas for better working between government and civil society, Civil Exchange
Links: Report | Civil Exchange press release
Date: 2011-Jul
An article reviewed the changing responsibilities and roles of the voluntary and community sector in the delivery of welfare services.
Source: Eddy Hogg and Susan Baines, 'Changing responsibilities and roles of the voluntary and community sector in the welfare mix: a review', Social Policy and Society, Volume 10 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the experiences of third sector organizations in public service delivery, particularly in large-scale programmes. The sector as whole, and particularly smaller providers, often found themselves 'squeezed out' at the bidding phase: but successful subcontractors were largely positive about their experiences of delivery and relationships with prime contractors, although there were concerns about excessive bureaucracy and inflexible contracts.
Source: Richard Crisp, Ellie Roberts, and Dave Simmonds, '"Do-gooders, pink or fluffy, social workers" need not apply? An exploration of the experiences of the third sector organisations in the European Social Fund and Work Programme', People, Place & Policy, Volume 5 Issue 2
Links: Article
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the implications of opening the criminal justice market to voluntary organizations, gaps between the rhetoric and reality of commissioning, and the potential loss of the sector's distinctiveness and critical voice.
Source: Alice Mills, Rosie Meek, and Dina Gojkovic, 'Exploring the relationship between the voluntary sector and the state in criminal justice', Voluntary Sector Review, Volume 2 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the development in Scotland of relations between the public, private, and voluntary/community sectors that were increasingly divergent from those in England.
Source: Mike Danson and Geoffrey Whittam, 'Scotland's civic society v England's Big Society? Diverging roles of the VCS in public service delivery', Social Policy and Society, Volume 10 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the potential implications of the coalition government's proposed National Health Service reforms for the third sector.
Source: Helen Dickinson and Robin Miller, 'GP commissioning: implications for the third sector', Voluntary Sector Review, Volume 2 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined developments and trends that affected the fluctuating relationship between state and voluntary provision of adoption services in England during New Labour's terms of office (1997-2010).
Source: Janet Fink, Anisa de Jong, and Mary Langan, 'New challenges or different opportunities? Voluntary adoption agencies and the shifting terrain of childcare services', Voluntary Sector Review, Volume 2 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
A report considered how to ensure that the independence of the voluntary sector could be protected, and how to avoid the risk of some organizations simply becoming 'delivery agents' for public services – constrained in independence of voice or action, or even diverted from their original purpose.
Source: Voluntary Sector Independence, Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector
Links: Report | Panel press release
Date: 2011-Jul
Researchers highlighted the need to make prisoners more aware of voluntary organizations that could help them towards resettlement. Despite the relatively high number of third sector organizations working within prisons, many were not known by prisoners.
Source: Dina Gojkovic, Rosie Meek, and Alice Mills, Offender Engagement with Third Sector Organisations: A national prison-based survey, Working Paper 61, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | Abstract | Southampton University press release
Date: 2011-Jul
A paper examined the European Union's approach to co-operation with civil society organizations in relation to migration policy.
Source: Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan, The Role of Civil Society in EU Migration Policy: Perspectives on the European Union s engagement in its neighborhood, Migration Policy Institute
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
A report said that the coalition government's plans for 'localism' and a 'Big Society' would increase central government control, erode accountability and equality, and make it more difficult for communities to thrive.
Source: Rachael McGill, Voluntary Action Under Threat: What privatisation means for charities and community groups, National Coalition for Independent Action
Date: 2011-Jun
A think-tank report examined what the coalition government's National Health Service reforms could mean for voluntary organizations providing health services. It raised particular concerns that larger providers could end up dominating the market, and stressed that the sector needed support in the transition to the new arrangements.
Source: Natasha Curry, Claire Mundle, Fiona Sheil, and Lisa Weaks, The Voluntary and Community Sector in Health: Implications of the proposed NHS reforms, King s Fund
Links: Report | NCVO press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A report called for greater partnership between the voluntary sector and government to help deliver early years services. The coalition government's aim of putting many of its services in the hands of community groups and voluntary organizations could fail to make headway unless central and local government changed the way they operated, and created a level playing field to allow charities to compete fairly with the public sector in the tendering process for the commission of services.
Source: One Million Reasons for Reform: Unleashing the potential of the voluntary sector in early years services, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations
Links: Report | ACEVO press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A literature review examined ways of measuring the shape, scope, contribution, and value of the voluntary and community sector at a local level.
Source: Peter Wells, Jan Gilbertson, Tony Gore, and Mark Crowe, Measuring the Big Society? Approaches, problems and suggested improvements, Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research (Sheffield Hallam University)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-May
A report provided a summative evaluation of the Compact (the framework for partnership working between the government and the voluntary/community sector in England). It explored the development and implementation of the Compact as a policy instrument, assessed the impact it had had on the quality of relationships between the government and the voluntary sector, and forecast its likely future role in a changing environment.
Source: Meta Zimmeck, Colin Rochester, and Bill Rushbrooke, Use It or Lose It: A summative evaluation of the Compact, Commission for the Compact
Notes: The Commission for the Compact was abolished by the coalition government in March 2011.
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined the role of voluntary associations in policies that addressed ethnic conflict, where they were portrayed both as a source of division but also as part of a policy solution (based on research in Northern Ireland).
Source: Nick Acheson, 'A case of avoiding "political mumbo jumbo": do collective identities within ethnically diverse voluntary associations spill over to other contexts? Reflections on Northern Ireland's experience', Policy & Politics, Volume 39 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A paper examined the role of civil society organizations in representing the interests of workers.
Source: Edmund Heery, Brian Abbott, and Steve Williams, Worker Representation Through Civil Society Organizations: Evidence from the United Kingdom, Working Paper 136, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Mar
A think-tank report said that co-operative and mutual organizations should be used to help the rehabilitation of offenders – allowing offenders, ex-offenders, professional staff, and community members to work in partnership, providing employment, promoting rehabilitation, and supplying comprehensive after-care services.
Source: Dave Nicholson, Cooperating out of Crime, CentreForum
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the influence of voluntary sector participants in relation to community planning processes in Scotland.
Source: Stephen Sinclair, 'Partnership or presence? Exploring the complexity of community planning', Local Government Studies, Volume 37 Number 1
Links: Article
Date: 2011-Mar
An article provided an overview of research aimed at understanding the implications of the personalization agenda from the perspective of local infrastructure organizations. The findings were considered in terms of the organizational development needs of voluntary sector service providers and the challenges they were likely to face in forthcoming years.
Source: Chris Dayson, 'The personalisation agenda: implications for organisational development and capacity building in the voluntary sector', Voluntary Sector Review, Volume 2 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined the key political, economic, and social trends that were influencing the ways in which charities worked.
Source: Mhairi Guild and Joe Saxton, 'Look – nfpSynergy Have Done My PEST Analysis': The socio-economic trends affecting charities today, nfpSynergy
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
A paper examined the role that small community groups could play in delivering the 'Big Society'. Policies to engage people in community action needed to be informed by a more sophisticated understanding of how and why community organizations operated.
Source: Angus McCabe, Below the Radar in a Big Society? Reflections on community engagement, empowerment and social action in a changing policy context, Working Paper 51, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | Abstract | TSRC press release
Date: 2011-Feb
A report outlined the findings from the first year of a three-year longitudinal study examining the opportunities and challenges facing third sector organizations in Scotland in the delivery of public services.
Source: Stephen Osborne, Elric Honore, Sue Bond, and Matthew Dutton, The Opportunities and Challenges of the Changing Public Services Landscape for the Third Sector in Scotland: A longitudinal study year one report – Baseline findings, Scottish Government
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined the dilemmas caused by the involvement of the voluntary sector in providing penal services, such as the operation of private prisons.
Source: Mary Corcoran, 'Dilemmas of institutionalization in the penal voluntary sector', Critical Social Policy, Volume 31 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A report said that there was a growing gap between the new government's original aims for the 'Big Society' and the way it was being applied in practice. Rather than empowering communities and nurturing personal responsibility, the government had focused on encouraging social enterprises and third sector groups to run public services. This made such organizations more dependent on the state, and failed to recognize that the role of most community groups was to hold public services to account – not to deliver them.
Source: Gabriel Chanan and Colin Miller, The Big Society and Public Services: Complementarity or erosion?, PACES
Links: Report | Summary | New Start report
Date: 2011-Jan
A paper examined the concept of 'hybridity' in third sector studies. It highlighted the existence of an organizational division of labour within the homelessness third sector, which seemed to have been exacerbated by contracting processes. It drew attention to the need for policy-makers to take into account the varied roles, capacities, and limitations of different types of third sector organizations.
Source: Heather Buckingham, Hybridity, Diversity and the Division of Labour in the Third Sector: What can we learn from homelessness organisations in the UK?, Working Paper 50, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined the potential for voluntary and community organizations to provide or contribute to the delivery of criminal justice liaison and diversion services. It identified a number of ways in which the sector's 'market share' could be increased in the future.
Source: Scoping the Potential of Community and Voluntary Organisations to Deliver Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion (CJLD) Services, National Mental Health Development Unit
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the impact on the voluntary and community sector of delivering 'low-level' public services (in rural England) that promoted independent living and well-being in old age. Those charged with service delivery faced particular challenges, such as uncertain funding regimes and reliance on volunteer labour.
Source: Irene Hardill and Peter Dwyer, 'Delivering public services in the mixed economy of welfare: perspectives from the voluntary and community sector in rural England', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 40 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan