Summary

Social and caring services in welfare states depend upon the public sector, the market, the household, and the ‘voluntary and community sector’ (VCS) in combinations that vary over time and place. This seminar series was concerned with the expanding responsibilities of charities, community groups, faith based organisations and social enterprises. Six linked seminars provided a forum to explore rationales for this change, to assess its implications, and to think about visions for the future. The focus was mainly but not exclusively on England and the devolved administrations of the UK, where recent ‘mainstreaming’ of the VCS has had profound implications for individuals, organisations and communities.

By animating creative and lively engagement the seminar series brought together distinct perspectives and facilitated dialogue and interaction. Each seminar included at least one presentation from a practitioner and the practitioner perspective was articulated in panel sessions.

Key Findings

Some organizations in the voluntary and community sector including those serving minority ethnic groups and faith communities may be particularly affected by changes in policy and funding.
Volunteering is sometimes called the lifeblood of the VCS. The co-ordination and management of volunteers is an emerging issue for which the evidence base is under-developed.
The mainstreaming of VCS organizations in public services has led to an explosion of information sharing with public agencies. It has also produced contentious information management and information security issues.

External Partners:

Dr Rob Wilson, Newcastle University and Professor Irene Hardill, Northumbria University (Co-investigators)

Outputs

• Baines, S., Hardill, I and Wilson, R. (2011) Re-Mixing the Economy of Welfare: What is Emerging Beyond the Market and the State? ESRC End of Award Report, RES-451-26-0495. Swindon: ESRC
• Wilson R., Cornford J., Baines S. and Mawson J. (2011) Information for Localism? Policy sense making for Local Governance, Public Money and Management, 31 (3): 295-299

A themed section of Social Policy and Society (10,3) guest edited by the three award holders

• Editorial: Baines S., Hardill I. and Wilson R. (2011) Introduction: Remixing the Economy of Welfare? Changing Roles and Relationships between the State and the Voluntary and Community Sector, Social Policy and Society, 10 (3): 337-339.
• Hogg E. and Baines S. (2011) Changing Responsibilities and Roles of the Voluntary and Community Sector in the Welfare Mix: A Review, Social Policy and Society, 10 (3): 341-352.

A themed issue of Public Money & Management guest edited by the three award holders with Martin Fergusson, Policy Director for the Society of IT Management (Socitm).

• Editorial: Wilson, R., Baines, S., Fergusson, M., Hardill, I. (2013). Information for local governance: Data is the solution! What was the question again? Public Money & Management, 33(3):163 - 166.
• Cornford, J., Wilson, R., Baines, S., Richardson, R. (2013). Local Governance in the new information ecology: The challenge of building Interpretative Communities, Public Money & Management , 33(3): 201 - 208.