Northern Rock Foundation announces three-year study on voluntary and community organisations

The University of Teesside is part of a three year £500,000 research project to explore the scale, dynamics and needs of the voluntary and community sector in the North East and Cumbria.

The project, entitled the Third Sector Trends Study, is funded by the Northern Rock Foundation. The University of Teesside is a joint partner in the research with the University of Southampton.

Dr Tony Chapman from the University of Teesside’s Social Futures Institute, working with Professor Fred Robinson of Durham University, will explore how the sector changes in a study which is planned to run for seven years. They will focus closely on 50 voluntary and community sector organisations at different stages of their development to see what factors help organisations thrive. The researchers will return to organisations on a regular basis to see how they change their practices to support beneficiaries. The researchers will also undertake regular questionnaire studies to act as a barometer on the wellbeing of the sector over a seven year period.

Dr Tony Chapman said:

‘This important longitudinal study will build our understanding of the ‘anatomy’ and ‘soul’ of the voluntary and community sector as it adapts to changing social, political and economic conditions.’

‘By understanding the internal mechanics of the sector, we will be able to make sense of the growing connections with the public and private sector activity.’

‘The research results promise to challenge many taken-for-granted assumptions about what makes the sector tick and will inform all stakeholders about its dynamics and catalytic contribution to civil society.’

Fiona Ellis, Director of Northern Rock Foundation, said:

‘For too long, the distinct lack of detailed, consistent, good quality information on the scale and dynamics of the third sector in the UK has hindered its work. Our programme will address that problem by providing better data about voluntary and community organisations in our area. But we will also be a pathfinder, playing a leading role in efforts to develop more effective research on the sector nationally. As a large, regional independent funder we are uniquely placed to innovate, inform and influence in exactly this way.’

At Southampton University, researchers led by Professor John Mohan will map the sector’s activities statistically, including its finance, workforce, governance and activities. Professor John Mohan of the University of Southampton will lead this work.

The Foundation will directly commission and manage the research, and contribute to the improvement of third sector research nationally by making both the findings and the research tools widely available.

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