VSSN Members make major contributions as Warwick storm fails to mar conference

This year's NCVO/VSSN Researching the Voluntary Sector Conference was held at the University of Warwick on 31st August and 1st September. The conference is a unique meeting place for both researchers and users of research to discuss current research and its implications for the voluntary and community sector.

Margaret Harris opened with a review of the development of voluntary sector research in the UK and the role that VSSN played in it. The parallel sessions contained a wide variety of papers but with volunteering and the sector's relationship with the state having particular prominence. A lively session for new researchers gave them the opportunity to present shorter papers and receive guidance on publishing strategies from Pete Alcock. Christine Goodall of Staffordshire University and the Disability Law Service won the Campbell Adamson Memorial Prize for the best paper in which she addressed the role of trust in civic engagement. The Conference closed with plenary presentations by Gerry Stoker, University of Manchester and Marilyn Taylor, UWE about the role of the sector in building democracy. This prompted an engaged debate.

The sun shone, the venue and food were good and even an almighty thunderstorm before the conference dinner failed to dent the productive but relaxed spirit of the event.

Full details of the contributions made to the conference by VSSN's Margaret Harris and Marilyn Taylor, and by Gerry Stoker, are available online, with thanks to NCVO