Grants for Good: Exploring local authority grant-making to the VCSE sector

A report from the Directory of Social Change exploring grant making by local authorities to the VCSE sector between 2018/19 and 2020/21. Around £600M is granted by UK councils to the VCSE sector each year, with large variations in amounts between councils. The average grant is £12K and 75-80% are awarded through open or competitive processes. Includes recommendations for improved practices by local authorities.

The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Service Delivery: a cross cutting review.

Published by HM Treasury in 2002 this review is an important reference document that aimed to provide a template for how government and the VCS should work together to deliver high quality services. The report led to £188M of funding for the Active Community Unit and Future Builders.

The value of small: in-depth research into the distinctive contribution, value and experiences of small and medium-sized charities in England and Wales

Report identifies the distinctive and valuable contribution made by small and medium charities. These include: a distinctive service filling gaps within communities and public services, promoting inclusion and belonging, taking a person centred approach to their work, being responsive and in it for the long haul. Also covers social value, contribution to economy, challenges faced and makes recommendations to support them further.

In giving, how much do we receive? The social value of volunteering

A speech given by Andy Haldane [when Chief Economist Bank of England] on the contribution of volunteering to the economy and wider society. The lecture explores the economics of wellbeing, volunteering in 2014, measures of the value of volunteering and its benefits and looks at how it can be developed. Although now 10 years old, a very useful reference piece.

Tipping Point: The Cost of Living Crisis: lessons from the voluntary and community sector

A report that draws heaving on experience from NAVCA members and other VCSE organisations to understand how the VCS has responded to the cost of living crisis and the impact it has had on the sector itself.

The Brighton and Hove Money Trail Project

A short report on research carried out in 2019 by NAVCA member Community Works Brighton and Hove, that demonstrates how money invested in the third sector in the local area is reinvested multiple times within the local area. The project calculated that for every £1 invested in participating VCS organisations, an additional £1.21 in value is generated through reinvestment in the local area, an economic multiplier of 2.21.

People, Places and Policy: third sector trends 2023

A summary report of the local third sector in England and Wales in 2023, providing data snap shots of data on distribution of VCS organisations by area, IMD, income, investment and 'energy'.

State of the Sector 2024: ready for a reset

Report on research compiled from surveys of charity leaders and members of the public. Key finding: essential services at risk from underfunded contracts held by charities - propping up state services by £2.4Bn per year.

Lights Out

Report from VCSE Sector Barometer Survey from Nottingham Trent University, December 2022. Uses data to make the case for continued support to the VCSE sector to cover costs of energy bills from central government.

Running Hot, Burning Out

Report from VCSE Sector Barometer Survey from Nottingham Trent University, March 2023. Data demonstrates problems with recruitment and retention, pressures from increased demand for services and increasing costs of delivery

Shifting out of reverse

Report from VCSE Sector Barometer Survey from Nottingham Trent University, June 2023. Evidence suggesting that VCSE sector is likely to be able to meet the increasing demand for services as cost of living pressures continue. Charities are also more optimistic about their finances.

A tale of two sectors

Report from VCSE Sector Barometer Survey from Nottingham Trent University, October 2023. Reflects continued financial challenges for the VCSE sector, due to inflation pushing up costs and eroding the value of grants and contracts. Large charities are able to meet increased demand, but small charities are struggling most with income.

Breaching the Dam

Report from VCSE Sector Barometer Survey from Nottingham Trent University, December 2022. Demonstrates the increasing costs and demand for charitable services with impact of inflation and cost of living crisis.

Hands in the Air Like You Just Do Care

Report from VCSE Sector Barometer Survey from Nottingham Trent University, December 2022. Data explores the impact on volunteering of pressures on VCSE sector from cost of living crisis

Tethered Fortunes: the threat to charities from trouble in local government

Many local authorities are faced with making significant budget cuts to cope with reduced income and rising costs. Local government provides 13p in £1 of charity sector income through grants and contracts and for many charities relationships with and funding from councils are critical for their survival. The report explores this in more detail and explores the risks to the VCSE sector from instability in local government finances.

Charity Density and Social Need: A Longitudinal Perspective

This study links large-scale administrative data on charities registered in England and Wales with local authority-level measures of material deprivation for 5 U.K. census years (1971–2011). In general, charity density is highest in the least deprived local authorities but this varies across different types of organizations and census years.

A Quiet Crisis: local government spending on disadvantage in England

A report on the services that English local authorities provide to support people facing disadvantage. Using a composite measure of ‘spending on disadvantage’, it shows how spending fell by 2% in real terms over five years 2011/12 to 2016/17. It shows disparities in funding for children's and adult services, and larger reductions of 13% on housing, 14% on youth justice and substance misuse by 59%.

The Power of Charity

A speech given by Andy Haldane [as CEO of the RSA and president of Pro Bono Economics] on the contribution of the charitable sector to the economy. He suggests that the estimate of £20Bn in 2020 or 1% of GDP is out by a factor of ten, and the true contribution to the economy is likely to be £200Bn. He makes strong arguments valuing volunteering, adaptability and flexibility of the VCSE sector and what is needed to empower the sector further.

Youth Provision Network Roadmap Presentation

NAVCA member hvoss (Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Service) coordinates a quarterly VCSE youth organisation/worker network. This roadmap sets out how they are developing. The project has helped to increase understanding of what the LIO role is.