New Researchers – Call for Papers
Welcome event: Tuesday, 2 September 2025
Main Conference: Wednesday – Thursday, 3-4 September 2025
Location: Bayes Business School, City, University of London, London, UK
Submit your abstract by the deadline, 12 May 2025: https://www.vssn.org.uk/vssn-conference-abstract-submissions-2025/
Questions? Email us at VSVRConference@vssn.org.uk
As part of the Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference 2025, we will continue to welcome New Researchers. The Conference is an ideal opportunity for new or early career researchers looking to discuss and present their research in a supportive setting. The New Researchers stream is intended for all early career researchers in the field of voluntary sector/volunteering studies. Our definition is inclusive of students, those new to an academic career, practitioners, and those in-between.
Our aim is to foster a strong community amongst New Researchers by providing an opportunity to:
- present your research to other voluntary sector and volunteering researchers
- receive constructive feedback in a supportive environment
- develop relationships with other new researchers
- network with established researchers and practitioners
Many well-established researchers in our sector started out their careers by participating as new researchers at the conference. Feedback from past years suggests that attending as a new researcher helps establish a positive network at the conference and beyond.
Submissions and presentations
At the conference, New Researchers have the opportunity to choose to present in one of two ways:
- Within the main conference proceedings. We encourage New Researchers seeking subject-specific feedback to choose this option. In your submission, you can propose a formal conference presentation or choose other ways to present your research, such as a short workshop, a poster, or creative session. Each presenter will be given around 20-30 minutes for their presentation and Q&A.
- In front of other New Researchers only, at the New Researchers Welcome Event (see further details below). This is a more informal environment where New Researchers can practice their presentation skills. We anticipate these presentations will be shorter than the main conference (approximately 15 minutes each).
Submit your abstract here: https://www.vssn.org.uk/vssn-conference-abstract-submissions-2025/.
Full abstracts should be 500 words max. You should also include a summary abstract of 100 words (for inclusion in the conference programme). When submitting your abstract, please indicate whether you would prefer to present during the main conference or New Researchers Welcome Event.
New Researchers Welcome Event
In addition to the main conference on Wednesday and Thursday, we will be hosting a Welcome Event solely for New Researchers on Tuesday, 2 September, including lunch. This event is for all New Researchers: both those presenting in the main conference, and those who prefer to present in this less formal environment.
This will be a great chance to get to know each other before the main conference, build networks and share learning. This event is included in the main conference price for new researchers.
Opportunity for feedback
For those presenting at the New Researchers Welcome Event, we aim to have one or two established researchers at each of the sessions to provide feedback. We also encourage participants to give each other feedback.
Duncan Scott New Researchers’ Prize
If you submit a full paper by a deadline of 11th August it will be considered for the Duncan Scott New Researchers’ Prize which includes an award of £100. Your paper should be between 2,500 and 4,500 words, including references, and include:
- a literature review
- a methodology section
- analysis of (early) findings if appropriate
- full references using a recognised referencing style (e.g. Harvard)
If you have not yet completed some aspects of your research (e.g.: 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.
Fees
As part of its commitment to New Researchers, VSSN subsidises the cost of attending. The exact fee will be announced soon, but we anticipate that it will be in the region of £140-160 for the three days. The fee will include registration for both main conference days and the Welcome Event on Tuesday, 2 September, lunch and refreshments on all days, and the conference dinner on Wednesday, 3 September.
Please note:
- you or your employer must be a member of either VSSN, Voluntary Action Islington, or NCVO to receive the subsidised rate (membership of VSSN starts at £35 and includes a lot of great benefits: https://www.vssn.org.uk/join/)
- please book as early as possible to ensure your place in the programme
- the fee does not include accommodation or travel
VSSN provides a limited number of bursaries to cover conference fees for individuals who do not have access to funding from their organisation/institution and would not otherwise be able to participate. For more information, please email VSVRConference@vssn.org.uk
Booking a place at the conference
Bookings for the conference are open until 22nd August. See the Conference Event page for pricing and details. Early Bird rates apply until 18th July 2025.
More information
If you have any queries about the New Researchers’ Stream, please contact us at: VSVRConference@vssn.org.uk
