2.2b What are the factors influencing the sustainability of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector?
Background
As set out in the Civil Society Covenant, we recognise the value of civil society’s economic and social contributions, including the inherent social value civil society organisations bring, and their ability to build cohesive, inclusive communities. Many of the invaluable activities and services delivered by the sector are provided free or heavily subsidised at the point of use, and therefore may not have clear market values like goods and services provided in other sectors. This can lead to considerable undervaluation. We are interested in research that helps us better understand, compare, and communicate the holistic value of civil society.
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Related UKRI funded projects
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IMPROVING ACCESS TO AND USE OF ORGANISATION-LEVEL DATA ON THE THIRD SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY
The voluntary sector is widely acknowledged as containing very large numbers of organisations that make an enormous contribution to well-being and social cohesion in the UK. It encompasses charities, social enterprises, ...
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The project aims to create a national database on the population of organizations forming the third sector, linking it with various datasets to better understand the contribution of these organizations to public service delivery and the overall value of the sector.
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Reconstructing Social Enterprise
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Why might this be relevant?
The project focuses on reconstructing social enterprise and exploring critical research agenda informed by practitioners, which partially addresses the factors influencing the sustainability of the VCSE sector.
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Democratic renewal in Civil Society Organisations
It is often argued Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are central to a vibrant, democratic society. Charities, voluntary groups, community associations, and informal networks of like-minded individuals, are praised for b...
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Why might this be relevant?
The project examines the features that promote and undermine the role of CSOs within democratic civic renewal, which partially addresses the factors influencing the sustainability of the VCSE sector.