About

Purpose

VSSN functions to promote the advancement of knowledge about, and understanding of, organisations between the market and the state. It provides a virtual and actual meeting point for scholars and researchers both outside and within the voluntary (third or non-profit) sector(s), with a shared analytic interest in this set of institutions. It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK wide focus.

Organisation

VSSN is a charitable association controlled by its members. VSSN became formally constituted in 2003. Annual reports and accounts (and as well as some history) are available below.

The objects of VSSN are the advancement of public education concerning the voluntary sector in the United Kingdom: (1) by the promotion and diffusion of knowledge; and (2) by the publication of research; and (3) by the encouragement of contact between workers in relevant fields of enquiry; and (4) by undertaking such other activities (being charitable in law) as shall be conducive to the attainment of these objects.

Constitution

VSSN is governed by a constitution with charitable objects which is available here (PDF format)

VSSN is a registered charity in England & Wales no 1114742. Details of our charity registration can be found via the Charity Commission. We are also listed in Guidestar UK and CAF online. All contact details including our registered correspondence address are available here.

Trustees

The Trustees are the Steering Group who are elected by the members at the AGM, currently:-

Mike Aiken, Institute for Voluntary Action Research
Pete Alcock, University of Birmingham
Mary Corcoran, Keele University
Chris Cornforth, Open University Business School
Robert Dalziel, University of Birmingham
Véronique Jochum, National Council for Voluntary Organisations
Cathy Pharoah, Cass Business School, City University
Colin Rochester, Roehampton University
Andri Soteri-Proctor, University of Birmingham

NOTE: the Contacts page provides the email addresses and roles of all Trustees

Annual Reports

Our latest annual report (for 2008/09) is available here

Our latest annual report (for 2007/08) is available here

The annual report (for 2006/07) is available here

The annual report for 2005/06 is available here

The annual report for 2004/05 is available here

The annual report for 2003/04 is available here (Word format)

A history of Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings (at which annual reports were presented etc.) is provided via our Events page (under "Other events").

History and context

The roots of the network were in an ESRC-funded seminar series during the period 1993-1995, at which there was agreement among the participants that similar events should continue since there was a demand for an academic forum for collegiate discussion of voluntary sector/voluntary action research. More details are provided here.

Many of the voluntary sector's contributions evolve far beyond the gaze and reach of public policy commentators. At the same time, the activities of a significant number of organisations ranging from such familiar national players as Greenpeace, Age Concern and Oxfam to the smallest community associations and local clubs are developing with varying degrees of proximity to the State. They are subject to unprecedented public scrutiny, bound up with wider debates on 'partnership', 'compacts' and the like.

VSSN seeks to encourage research on organisations in both situations, in what is one of the most rapidly evolving fields of social, economic and political life.