What is it?
The Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference (#VSVR22) is the largest conference devoted to voluntary sector-related research in the UK. Organised by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN), in partnership with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and this year with Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS), over 100 researchers, practitioners, writers, and policy practitioners gather to discuss current issue in the voluntary sector in the UK and worldwide, and the latest ground-breaking research.
When is it?
15th and 16th September 2022, starting at about 9am each day.
Where is it?
The conference takes place at the Charles Street Building, at Sheffield Hallam University’s City Campus. The address is: Charles Street Building, Sheffield Hallam University, Charles Street, Sheffield, S1 2ND. A Campus map is available to download here: https://www.shu.ac.uk/-/media/home/business/events/shuspace-pdf-map-city.pdf.
Is there a theme?
The theme of the conference is ‘Politics, Partnerships, and Power: Raising Questions for Civil Society’. This year we have over seventy papers being delivered, workshop and panel sessions, and plenary sessions. Plenary speakers include:
- Professor Angela Eikenberry (University of Nebraska at Omaha)
- Sue Tibballs OBE (Sheila McKechnie Foundation)
- others to be confirmed
What about new researchers?
As ever, our New Researchers Session offers a supportive environment for new scholars to present their work and receive detailed feedback. New Researchers have already submitted their abstracts and can also attend for a much-reduced fee, but must be VSSN members.
All delegates of the New Researchers Session are invited to attend the plenary sessions of the main conference. You will also have plenty of opportunities to network with established researchers and practitioners during refreshment and lunch breaks. We have in the past also given NRS delegates a ‘wildcard’ to attend one of the sessions at the main conference. If you want to attend more than one session, you will need to register for the main conference and pay the main conference fee.
Getting to the venue
Located in the heart of the UK, Sheffield is one of England’s largest cities, with excellent road, rail and air networks. City Campus is approximately ten minutes from junction 33 of the M1, a two-minute walk from Sheffield’s railway station and right next to Sheffield’s bus and tram transport interchange. More information on travelling to the university can be found here: https://www.shu.ac.uk/business/event-services/information-for-delegates/getting-to-us.
How do I book?
You can book your place at the conference here https://store.shu.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/central-services/events/voluntary-sector-and-volunteering-research-conference-2022. You can book either to attend one or two days. Both days include refreshments and lunch, with the two day rate including the conference dinner on the first night.
The MEMBER rate is available to individuals and those from organisations who are members of VSSN, NCVO and VSSN.
The VSSN DISCOUNT rate is available to VSSN members who are retired, unwaged, or from small organisations (under £250k annual income).
Your conference rate does not include accommodation or travel.
How do I join VSSN?
Not a member of VSSN? Membership rates start from £35, with reduced events fees and a subscription to Voluntary Sector Review. Details here: https://www.vssn.org.uk/join.
Where should I stay?
Sheffield offers a wide range of hotels, many of which are located close to Sheffield Hallam’s City Campus. Sheffield Hallam can offer preferential rates with a number of hotels. Please see this link for details of suitable hotels and discounts https://www.shu.ac.uk/business/event-services/information-for-delegates/accommodation.
There are also several budget hotel chains locally, including:
Please make yourself aware of any cancellation policies.
What about cancellations and coronavirus?
Bookings can be cancelled with a full refund up to 14 days beforehand (1st September). Please email vsvrconference@gmail.com.
Regarding coronavirus, we will keep close eye on public health developments and government advice, and if the regulations change and the conference has to be cancelled, we will move to an online event. In the event of cancellation, conference fees will be refunded, and the online event will run at a much reduced cost.
What else happens at the conference?
Alongside a range of great papers and stimulating plenary sessions, the conference includes plenty of time for networking and meeting other people. The conference dinner on the first night (included for those booking for two days) is included, and will cater to all dietary requirements. We’ll also have our annual prize ceremony, including the Campbell Adamson Prize for best conference paper, the Duncan Scott New Researchers Prize for best new researcher paper, and the Best Voluntary Sector Review Article prize. There’ll also be an opportunity to meet the editors of Voluntary Sector Review to discuss publishing your work.
Where is the conference dinner?
The conference dinner will be hosted at our partner, Voluntary Action Sheffield, with catering supplied by a local social enterprise. The address for the conference dinner venue is: The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, Sheffield City Centre, S1 4FW. Please let us know about any dietary requirements when booking.
How do I enter the Campbell Adamson Prize for best paper?
If you would like your research paper to be considered for the Campbell Adamson Prize for best paper at the conference, then the deadline for submitting these is the 25th August. Papers should be up to 4500 words long including references, and will be judged by a panel consisting of VSSN associates and colleagues from NCVO. Papers will be judged for their insight, quality, and potential use for voluntary sector practitioners. Papers should be emailed as a Word document to vsvrconference@gmail.com.
The prize is £500, sponsored by NCVO.
You do not have to submit a paper to present.
How do I enter the Duncan Scott New Researchers Prize for best new researchers stream paper?
If you would like your research paper to be considered for the Duncan Scott New Researchers Prize for best new researcher paper, then the deadline for submitting these is the 25th August. Papers should be up to 4500 words long, including references. Your paper should:
- set out the purpose and context for the research
- include a literature review
- include a methodology section (if applicable)
- provide analysis of (early) findings if appropriate
- include full references using a recognised referencing style (e.g. Harvard)
If you have not completed your research data collection or analysis, it is fine to give some idea of any emerging themes or your next steps in the project – they do not have to be fully-formed. We accept that other researchers may have worked on your research project and so may be listed, but the paper itself must be written by one or more new researchers. Papers should be emailed as a Word document to vsvrconference@gmail.com.
The prize is £100, sponsored by VSSN.
You do not have to submit a paper to present.
What should I do if I have more questions?
Please email vsvrconference@gmail.com, or ask @VSSN_UK on Twitter.
