Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) : : REPORT

The Value and Independence of the Voluntary Sector
Highlights of this report
This study describes the distinctive values of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) andassesses whether the government’s service delivery agenda has impacted on the sector’sindependence.

• The research suggests that the voluntary and community sector does not see itself indanger of government takeover, even though many of the groups in our sample acceptgovernment money.• A group’s sense of its own independence derives from its income, activities andattitudes. The following five factors enhance groups’ feelings of independence:1. If they receive funding from foundations and charitable trusts, particularlylong-term core funding2. If they raise a portion of their own income3. If they have a positive attitude toward commerce4. If they engage in advocacy5. If they are creative in the way they meet the demands of funders
Values
• Voluntary and community sector groups have distinctive values and qualities thatmake them excellent providers of services and effective advocates of change:1. Passionate, risk taking and persistent – they are willing to speak out andchallenge the system2. Knowledge and ‘cultural competence’ allow them to help the hardest toreach people3. Holistic, person-centred approach allows them to deliver more effectiveservices4. They turn ‘service users’ into agents of social change5. They are uniquely placed to work between different government agencies
Recommendations:
• Government needs to focus on the long term outcomes of VCS organisations’ work,rather than on hitting short term numerical targets, in order to achieve its aims andobjectives for the sector• Foundations can play a unique role by supporting a cadre of bold organizations thatchallenge the system and operate outside of state funding• VCS groups need to better measure their own effectiveness• This limited study has acted as a barometer to test the state of the sector. Moreresearch is required to develop a deeper understanding of the issues facing the VCS. Check out the report:The Value and Independence of the Voluntary Sector

This entry was posted on 23/12/2007 at 01:29 pm and is filed under Community Funding Agencies, charities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.