Every so often, the Voluntary Sector Studies Network’s Trustee Board undertakes a review of our organisation’s strategy. This includes going back to first principles: looking at our charitable objectives and assessing how best to meet them, to serve our members and the wider voluntary sector and associated research communities. At the start of 2023, with […]
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Honour for VSSN Executive Officer
The Voluntary Sector Studies Network is very proud that our Executive Officer, Dr Meg Wright, has been awarded an MBE in the Birthday Honours List. Meg has been recognised for her outstanding service to the voluntary sector across the UK. Of special focus in her award is the support Meg has provided to organisations going […]
Colin Rochester 1942-2023
Obituary of Colin Rochester, 1942 – 2023 It is with great sadness that we are informing you of the news that our friend and colleague Colin Rochester died on 16 February 2023. Colin was an academic, teacher, practitioner, mentor, colleague, editor, author and thought leader with an independent and sharp mind. He helped establish and […]
VSSN event: A one day conference on community and voluntary organisations and polarisation #VSSN_Aber | 24 May 2023, Aberystwyth University
+ iCal+ Google Calendar 24th May 2023 (9:00 am – 4:00 pm) The role of community and voluntary organisations in polarisation in local communities The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK Full details: Eventbrite Registration Information Questions? Email cwps@aber.ac.uk Introduction “A high level of polarisation can be destabilising and dangerous. It’s this we have to counteract.” Goldsworthy et […]
Details of the VSSN autumn seminar: Women and girls, feminism, and the voluntary sector
A Voluntary Sector Studies Network day event Tuesday 8th November 2022 | 10am – 3pm | Hosted on Zoom and recorded | Free The women’s voluntary sector is operating in a context of both increased difficulty and opportunity. Research points to the gendered impact of significant events such as austerity and Covid-19 (Fawcett […]
Event report: Learning from Failure – Airing our Dirty Laundry
Failure is an inevitable aspect of human experience, but in a social environment that demands success, it tends to be swept under the carpet and forgotten, along with the opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Is it possible to create a space where we can openly share stories of our failures and what we have […]
Voluntary sector data gap to be plugged by new national observatory
By Daniel King Data poverty has been widely identified as a core weakness for the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. Whilst there is good work going on, ultimately data is disjointed, fragmented and sporadic. This has key implications, where it is argued that “the low quality of data on the sector is hampering […]
VSSN New Researchers Online Support Session
Thursday 5th May 2022: 1pm-2pm With our first session of 2022 we’ll continue to offer an informal space for people to bring their interests, questions, successes, and worries. Our definition of ‘new researchers’ is very broad and includes people in voluntary sector organisations who may be embarking on research for the first time as well […]
Steering Group statement on equality, diversity and inclusion.
VSSN Steering Group statement on equality, diversity and inclusion in our work and voluntary sector research In recent years there has been an increased focus on failures within the voluntary sector to provide a space that is equally accessible for all, free of discrimination, and inclusive of people from different backgrounds. Several research reports into […]
Learning experiences of doing small grant events during Covid, by Philippa Davies
I am a PhD researcher at Cardiff University and WISERD and I was lucky to receive a VSSN development grant in 2020. I applied for the grant to disseminate the findings of my study to the policy sector which was the focus of my study; women leaders’ experience in Welsh sport. My results included women […]
