Social Futures Institute
     

Third Sector Development Group

The third sector makes a significant contribution to the regeneration of local communities and economies in the UK and internationally. The sector is renowned for its ability to provide flexible and responsive services, for placing itself close to the communities it serves and for the positive impact it has in areas that have suffered significant economic disadvantage.

What is the Third Sector?
From left to right: Dr Peter van der Graaf, Sarah Cardew, Dr Barbara McGuinness, Jonathan Roberts, Professor Tony Chapman, Professor Fred Robinson (Durham University), Georgina Chiinaka, Robert Crow and Dr Victoria Bell

The 'third sector' describes a range of institutions which occupy the space between the State and the private sector. These include small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities both large and small, foundations, trusts and the growing number of social enterprises and co-operatives.

Third sector organisations share common characteristics in the social, environmental or cultural objectives they pursue; their independence from government; and in the reinvestment of surpluses for those same objectives.
 National Audit Office Report 2005-06 (pdf - 1.01mb)

At Teesside University, we have built up a substantial expertise in this area and have made significant contributions to knowledge and practice. The Third Sector Development Group was established as a way of capturing this expertise by bringing together academics, researchers and practitioners from across the University.

We also recognise the expertise that others in the region and beyond make, and the value of creating strong partnerships and networks. The group therefore brings together academics and researchers from other Universities and from practitioners in the sector. As such, it provides a focal point for developments relating to the sector at a regional, national and international level.

The group is convened by Professor Tony Chapman whose research and policy interests include third sector development, sustainable communities and domestic life. He is a Steering Group member of Ignite, the Centre for Excellence for Sustainable Communities in North East England; a Director Catalyst, the Stockton-on-Tees Voluntary Development Agency; and, a member of Middlesbrough Partnership’s Sustainable Communities Action Group.

What we do

  • Research the contribution of the third sector to the development of sustainable communities.
  • Initiate and contribute to discussions and debate relating to the third sector regionally, nationally and internationally.
  • Inform and influence practice via training courses and consultancy.
  • Contribute to the conceptual and theoretical understanding of the sector.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of policy and project interventions.
  • Communicate key developments to strategic stakeholders.

Members of the Third Sector Development Group

Convenor

  • Professor Tony Chapman

Third Sector Development Group research staff

  • Dr Peter van der Graaf, Research Fellow
  • Robert Crow, Research Associate
  • Dr Victoria Bell, Research Associate
  • Dr Joan Heggie, Research Fellow
  • Sarah Cardew, Account Manager
  • Georgina Chinaka, Research Administrator
More information

Read news relevant to the Third Sector Development Group.

View the Third Sector Development Group's recent publications and lectures.

Academic staff

  • Helen Bussell, Teesside University Business School
  • Fred Hutchinson, Teesside University Business School
  • Dr Barbara McGuinness, School of Social Sciences & Law
  • Jonathan Roberts, School of Social Sciences & Law

External advisors

  • Allison Aguis, Chief Executive, Catalyst
  • Helen Black, Chief Executive, North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations
  • Simon Davidson, Chief Executive, One Voice Network
  • Karen Grundy, Chief Executive, Evolution
  • Rob Williamson, Chief Executive, Tyne and Wear Community Foundation
  • Chris Beety, Chief Executive, Community Ventures Limited, Middlesbrough
  • Judith Brown, Independent Researcher and Consultant
  • Carl Ditchburn, Community Campus 87, Stockton-on-Tees
  • Deborah Forbes, Newcastle University
  • Chris Ford, Independent Researcher and Consultant
  • Lawrence McAnelly, Community Campus 87
  • Professor Mary Mellor, University of Northumbria
  • Graeme Oram, Chief Executive, Five Lamps Organisation, Thornaby
  • Professor Martin Parker, University of Leicester
  • Liz Richardson, Research Fellow, Manchester University
  • Professor Fred Robinson, St Chad’s College, Durham University
  • Barbara Roche, Visiting Fellow, Social Futures Institute, former Government Minister with responsibility for social exclusion
  • Professor Alan Roulstone, De Montfort University
  • Sue Shaw, Independent Researcher and Consultant
  • Professor Alan Townsend, emeritus professor, Durham University

International colleagues

  • Professor Tomoaki Shibukawa (Tohoku University of Community Service and Science)
  • Assistant Professor, Dr Tomohito Nakajima (Sanno University)
  • Professor Tokihiko Takatani (Tohoku Koeki University)
  • Akira Kurimoto (Consumer Cooperatives Institute Japan)

Recent events

  • Health Wellbeing and Happiness conference
  • Third Sector Policy Seminar Series - Breaking down boundaries, creating opportunities Study visit of Social Enterprise in Tees Valley by colleagues from Yamagata, Japan
  • Community cohesion event
  • Helping Young People Make Positive Life Choices Event

Current projects

Contact details

Professor Tony Chapman
Address: Third Sector Development Group
Social Futures Institute
Teesside University
Middlesbrough
United Kingdom
TS1 3BA
T: 01642 342301
E: t.chapman@tees.ac.uk