A study found that learning and skills development within small community groups had little to do with formal training, and more to do with learning from similar groups and social networks.
Source: Angus McCabe and Jenny Phillimore, Seeing and Doing: Learning, resources and social networks below the radar, Working Paper 91, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | Summary | TSRC press release
Date: 2012-Dec
The coalition government published a progress report on its policy of encouraging a greater role for third sector organizations in the provision of public services. It said that some major schemes, such as the Work Programme, had presented significant difficulties for the sector. At a local level there was a very mixed picture of engagement with the sector, and widespread concern that small and local organizations would lose out.
Source: Making it Easier for Civil Society to Work with the State: Progress update, Cabinet Office
Links: Report | Navca press release
Date: 2012-Dec
A paper reviewed relevant theoretical and empirical research to examine the idea of 'distinctiveness' in third sector organizations.
Source: Rob Macmillan, Distinction in the Third Sector, Working Paper 89, Third Sector Research Centre
Date: 2012-Oct
A study sought to determine the way central government was supporting the voluntary sector by looking at levels and changes to funding, and also engagement through consultation and impact assessment. Departments appeared to have no systems in place to enable them to collect and compare this information – making it impossible to determine progress in implementing the mutually agreed principles contained in the 'compact' with the sector.
Source: Tom Elkins, Government and the Voluntary Sector: Investigating funding and engagement, Compact Voice
Links: Report | Compact Voice press release | Guardian report
Date: 2012-Oct
An article examined some crucial conceptual issues related to the co-production of public services and the role of the third sector in Europe. It also provided some brief empirical evidence of the potential of the third sector as a facilitator of the 're-democratization' of the European welfare state.
Source: Victor Pestoff, 'Co-production and third sector social services in Europe: some concepts and evidence', Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, Volume 23 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Oct
A report examined the experience of charities in bringing transformation and innovation to public services. It said that there needed to be greater openness and flexibility in commissioning services to capitalize on the contribution from charities. In addition there were new opportunities emerging from social investment and open data that could ease contract risks and make services more accountable to their users, if adopted.
Source: Charlotte Stuffins (ed.), Open Public Services: Experiences from the voluntary sector, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (with 14 other organizations)
Links: Report | NCVO press release | Public Finance report
Date: 2012-Oct
A report examined third sector partnerships for public service delivery. It looked at forms of partnership working, drivers and barriers, and impacts such as innovation and learning. A fixation on financial efficiency often led organizations to lose sight of their social effectiveness obligation when entering into partnerships.
Source: James Rees, David Mullins, and Tony Bovaird, Partnership Working, Research Report 88, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Report | TSRC press release
Date: 2012-Oct
An article said that it was premature to dismiss the 'Big Society' project as exclusively concerned with expenditure cuts and privatization. The Big Society was also being used to shrink the state and undermine long-standing systems of public service employment relations. Volunteering was being promoted as a more user-centred and cost-effective way of delivering public services. More competition between diverse providers, in conjunction with budget cuts, was placing downward pressure on terms and conditions and encouraging employers to question national pay determination mechanisms.
Source: Stephen Bach, 'Shrinking the state or the Big Society? Public service employment relations in an era of austerity', Industrial Relations Journal, Volume 43 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Sep
A report highlighted threats to the voluntary sector's ability to provide vital services to vulnerable children, young people, and families. Voluntary sector organizations were struggling to stay afloat due to a combination of reduced income, increased demand, and higher costs, with many having to turn people away for the first time.
Source: Nick Davies and Kathy Evans, Perfect Storms: An analysis of the operating conditions for the children, young people and families voluntary sector, Children England
Links: Report | Children England press release
Date: 2012-Sep
An article presented a typology of responses by third sector organizations to government contracting, based on a study of homelessness organizations. The four types identified were: comfortable contractors, compliant contractors, cautious contractors, and community-based non-contractors.
Source: Heather Buckingham, 'Capturing diversity: a typology of third sector organisations responses to contracting based on empirical evidence from homelessness services', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 41 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
A report highlighted potential flaws in the government's localism agenda. Although many in the voluntary sector were keen to see more engagement between public service providers and local community organizations, the government's determination to create competitive markets for public services – and a failure to understand collective and community approaches to public service provision – could seriously undermine this relationship.
Source: Localism: Threat or Opportunity?, Trades Union Congress
Links: Report | TUC press release | NCIA press release
Date: 2012-Jul
A study found that there were more than 1.1 million full-time equivalent employees in the third sector in England in 2008 – higher than previously thought. But in areas generally considered to comprise some of the more disadvantaged parts of the country – the north east, Yorkshire and Humber, and the north west – the regions' share of third sector employment was less than its share of total employment. This raised questions about whether the sector could provide substantial job opportunities in areas of disadvantage.
Source: Frida Geyne-Rajme and John Mohan, The Regional Distribution of Employees in the Third Sector in England: Estimates from the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations (NSTSO), Working Paper 80, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | Abstract | TSRC press release
Date: 2012-Jun
A paper examined the coalition government s 'Big Society' agenda. It explored the policy context for the initiative and its key features. It outlined some of the contradictions and challenges within the programme, and for the relationship between the third sector and the state more generally.
Source: Pete Alcock, The Big Society: A New Policy Environment for the Third Sector?, Working Paper 82, Third Sector Research Centre
Date: 2012-Jun
An article mapped broad differences in levels of volunteering and social capital between different types of place in England, characterized by their regional location and level of deprivation. There was a positive association at the area level between the level of formal volunteering and informal volunteering and the level of social capital. The rate of both formal and informal volunteering was, however, unrelated to the level of social capital after controlling for area deprivation. These results raised concerns about the ability of volunteering to change the social characteristics of deprived areas independently of their material circumstances. Policies to tackle area deprivation needed to concentrate on linking deprived areas up to economic opportunities in more affluent surrounding areas rather than on local strategies based on self-help.
Source: Andrew McCulloch, John Mohan, and Peter Smith, 'Patterns of social capital, voluntary activity, and area deprivation in England', Environment and Planning A, Volume 44 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jun
An article examined geographical differences across England in the prevalence of voluntary organisations working at a neighbourhood scale. Overall, less deprived local areas have a much higher prevalence than more deprived local areas. While certain kinds of organisations are more prevalent in more deprived areas, including those working in the field of economic well-being, this reflects the presence of organisations which receive public funds. These patterns are consistent with a key element of voluntary sector failure , resource insufficiency, and the important role of government in ensuring resources are available in areas of particular need.
Source: David Clifford, 'Voluntary sector organisations working at the neighbourhood level in England: patterns by local area deprivation', Environment and Planning A: Government and Policy, Volume 44 Number 5
Links: Abstract
See also: 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: 2012-Jun
An article drew on the national evaluation of the 'Futurebuilders' programme in England (2005-2010) to provide empirical evidence on the design, implementation, and impacts of various initiatives that had been perceived as falling within the field of social investment. It considered the effects of the programme on the third sector, on public service delivery, and on service users.
Source: Peter Wells, 'Understanding social investment policy: evidence from the evaluation of Futurebuilders in England', Voluntary Sector Review, Volume 3 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jun
A report outlined findings from year two of a three-year research project that tracked the way in which a selection of third sector organizations in Scotland responded to the opportunities and challenges of the changing public services landscape.
Source: Stephen Osborne, Sue Bond, Matthew Dutton, and Elric Honore, The Opportunities and Challenges of the Changing Public Services Landscape for the Third Sector in Scotland: A longitudinal study – Year two report, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Jun
A paper examined whether regional patterns of uneven charitable distribution were evidenced at a local neighbourhood level. In a case study it was found that charities in an affluent area were more numerous, run by volunteers, and met a broad range of social, community, and cultural needs. Charities in a deprived area were less numerous, met urgent needs related to deprivation, and were more likely to be larger charities run by professionals with statutory funding. The paper considered how charitable resources in deprived areas would be affected by the coalition government's public spending cuts and 'Big Society' agenda.
Source: Rose Lindsey, Exploring Local Hotspots and Deserts: Investigating the local distribution of charitable resources, Working Paper 06.2012, Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Jun
A think-tank paper said that state funding weakened the independence of charities, making them less inclined to criticize government policy. This could create a 'sock puppet' version of civil society, giving the illusion of grassroots support for new legislation. State-funded charities usually campaigned for causes that did not enjoy widespread support among the general public (such as foreign aid). They typically lobbied for bigger government, higher taxes, greater regulation, and the creation of new agencies to oversee and enforce new laws. Unrestricted grants to charities should be abolished, and a new category of 'non-profit organization' should be created for organizations that received substantial funds from statutory sources.
Source: Christopher Snowdon, Sock Puppets: How the government lobbies itself and why, Institute of Economic Affairs
Links: Paper | Summary | NCVO press release | Charity Times report | Public Finance report
Date: 2012-Jun
A new book examined the relationship between corporations and charities. It said that the two sectors were coming together as never before. The third sector had increased its business capacity through the experience gained from a decade of providing commissioned services to the public sector. Society increasingly expected employers to do more to engage with both communities and good causes: but business also realized that charities 'did conscience' better than they could, and so co-working was increasingly being sought.
Source: Tom Levitt, Partners for Good: Business, government and the third sector, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-May
A study examined the role of voluntary organizations in promoting pro-environmental behaviour change. It found evidence of success around small-scale, local initiatives: but it questioned whether these could be scaled up to reach the wider public.
Source: Milena Buchs, Rebecca Edwards, and Graham Smith, Third Sector Organisations Role in Pro-Environmental Behaviour Change: A review of the literature and evidence, Working Paper 81, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | Abstract | TSRC press release
Date: 2012-May
A study examined the existing state of knowledge in relation to the delivery of social care in England by third sector organizations. The findings were set out in relation to the themes of: approaches to research in third sector and social care; the distinctiveness of the third sector in delivering social care; relationships with commissioners of social care; and the role of volunteers.
Source: Helen Dickinson, Kerry Allen, Pete Alcock, Rob Macmillan, and Jon Glasby, The Role of the Third Sector in Delivering Social Care, School for Social Care Research, National Institute for Health Research
Date: 2012-May
A think-tank pamphlet examined the potential of the 'Big Society' agenda for delivering greater social justice and reducing poverty (drawing on contributions at a roundtable discussion in November 2011). The voluntary and community sector wanted those in poverty to have a demonstrable voice in decision making: local community organizations were better placed than government to increase social action and influence the delivery of public services, and had a long track record in the area. But the sector should take the initiative rather than let itself be led by the state through commissioning and resource dependency. The sector should use the term 'Big Society' for its own purposes: it should define its preferred relationship between the state, the market, and civil society; and it should set out what it wanted to achieve in terms of democracy, social justice, and poverty and inequality reduction.
Source: Ines Newman, Poverty and the Big Society: Views from the community sector, New Policy Institute
Links: Pamphlet | NPI blog post
Date: 2012-Apr
A paper outlined a version of third sector leadership that involved a 'strategic narrative' to frame and shape the direction of debate regarding the future role of the sector.
Source: Rob Macmillan and Vic McLaren, Third Sector Leadership: The Power of Narrative, Working Paper 76, Third Sector Research Centre
Date: 2012-Mar
A report summarized findings from an evaluation of an initiative to support voluntary and community sector involvement in integrated offender management.
Source: Kevin Wong, Caroline O Keeffe, Linda Meadows, Joanna Davidson, Hayden Bird, Katherine Wilkinson, and Paul Senior, Increasing the Voluntary and Community Sector's Involvement in Integrated Offender Management, Research Report 59, Home Office
Date: 2012-Mar
A paper said that ex-offenders faced significant barriers to securing accommodation. Local authorities often posed a barrier to prisoner resettlement, despite the intention of local homelessness strategies. Stronger relationships were needed between prisons, housing advice agencies, and local authorities.
Source: Dina Gojkovic, Alice Mills, and Rosie Meek, Accommodation for Ex-Offenders: Third sector housing advice and provision, Working Paper 77, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | Abstract | TSRC press release | Southampton University press release
Date: 2012-Mar
An article examined the tensions in Conservative philosophy between liberals favouring the free market and a small state, and those favouring community self-help and local distinctiveness, in the context of the Public Services (Social Value) Bill.
Source: Simon Teasdale, Pete Alcock, and Graham Smith, 'Legislating for the big society? The case of the Public Services (Social Value) Bill', Public Money and Management, Volume 32 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Mar
A paper said that there was a lack of solid evidence regarding the involvement of third sector organizations in the Work Programme, and questioned whether the Programme's framework would allow them to fulfil their potential in this area. The anecdotal picture was that at best the sector's potential was being underutilized, and that at worst it was being completely dismantled by the existing policy.
Source: Chris Damm, The Third Sector Delivering Employment Services: An evidence review, Working Paper 70, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | TSRC press release
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined the interaction between trade unions and other civil society organizations (advocacy, identity, and single-issue/campaigning organizations). It found that there was no single, dominant relationship but rather a complex pattern of co-operation, conflict, and indifference.
Source: Edmund Heery, Steve Williams, and Brian Abbott, 'Civil society organizations and trade unions: cooperation, conflict, indifference', Work, Employment and Society, Volume 26 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined the impact of devolution on policy developments in relation to the third sector. Devolution had created important new space for policy development: but the direction of travel in all four countries had remained 'remarkably similar'.
Source: Pete Alcock, 'New policy spaces: the impact of devolution on third sector policy in the UK', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 46 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
A report highlighted the benefits of the services provided by women's voluntary and community organizations – and the significant savings that they created for the state, local economies, and communities.
Source: Hidden Value: Demonstrating the extraordinary impact of women s voluntary and community organisations, Women's Resource Centre
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Jan
An audit report examined the implementation of the national 'Compact' by central government departments following its renewal in December 2010. The Compact was important in helping to encourage effective partnerships between central government and the civil society, and there were good examples of it being applied: but departments did not have arrangements in place that provided a broad level of assurance that the Compact was being implemented.
Source: Central Government's Implementation of the National Compact, National Audit Office
Links: Report | NCVO press release
Notes: The Compact is a voluntary agreement setting out shared principles for effective partnership working between the government and voluntary and civil society organizations in England.
Date: 2012-Jan
A report said that voluntary organizations that provided public services were increasingly reluctant to speak out against social injustice because they feared losing their funding.
Source: Protecting Independence: The Voluntary Sector in 2012, Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector
Links: Report | Independence Panel press release | NCVO press release | Guardian report
Date: 2012-Jan