News

Abstract submission for the 2020 Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference is now live!

Each year, the Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference – organised by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) – provides a unique opportunity for academics, policy makers and practitioners from the UK and further afield to come together to share findings and discuss the implications of research for the sector’s future as a site of social leadership and social justice.

• For full information on the main conference, including links to abstract submission, please follow this link.
• For the ‘new researchers stream’, including a separate abstract submission process, please follow this link.

We welcome contributions from a variety of disciplines, including sociology, social policy, politics, psychology, geography, economics, business studies, social anthropology, philosophy and ethics. Submissions are encouraged from across the UK, and indeed from around the world, particularly those that offer international comparative perspectives.

Call for papers: Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) Day Conference, 19^th May 2020

Volunteering in Health and Social Care: making a difference in a complex landscape of rising demand.

VSSN’s next day conference will take place on 19th May 2020, hosted by the Institute for Volunteering Research at University of East Anglia in Norwich. We will explore volunteering in health and social care, considering the opportunities and challenges encountered in a complex landscape of rising demand and the difference volunteering makes in this context.

Pressures are growing on volunteer-involving organisations, locally-based community organisations and social enterprises to respond to increasing and diverse demands for volunteers to provide health and social care services. These range from national newspaper campaigns to recruit large numbers of new volunteers for a variety of new tasks and settings, to the current drive for social prescribing and increased community involvement.

This day conference specifically aims to explore:

• the current context of volunteering in health and social care,
• the current policy drivers
• new and innovative approaches now being promoted to deal with demand,
• what difference volunteering makes to health and social care, volunteers, volunteer involving organisations and wider society.

Abstracts

We welcome contributions from researchers, academics, doctoral students and practitioners from a broad range of fields around innovative initiatives taking place in different communities, and critical theoretical debates on what is happening to voluntary and community sector innovation and enterprise in the current period.

We will be pleased to consider proposals on related topics which may include (but are not limited to) organisations working with diverse groups in the population, for example refugee groups, those facing inequalities due to geography, black and minority ethnic led, women’s and faith-based groups.

Your abstract should outline your proposed paper, showing how the issues you raise will contribute to the themes for the day.

Abstracts of 250-300 words should be sent to: j.grotz@uea.ac.uk by March 13^th 2020.

Please also attach contact details.

If helpful, please contact Jurgen Grotz j.grotz@uea.ac.uk to discuss contributions informally in the meantime.

We are also happy to accept poster proposals, if you wish to submit a poster please contact Jurgen on the email address above.

Attending the event

VSSN aims to promote an understanding of the UK voluntary sector through research. The event is aimed at researchers, academics, doctoral students and practitioners in voluntary organisations or foundations interested in the UK voluntary sector. We also welcome policymakers and practitioners engaged in relevant fields. We are always pleased to meet and receive contributions from colleagues in similar settings in other countries. The working language is English.

Bookings will open shortly and the normal costs for day seminars will apply: £35 for members, £70 for non members and £25 for non members without institutional support.

We look forward to welcoming you at the University of East Anglia on May 19th 2020.

Applicant guidelines: VSSN development opportunity grants

2019-20 Call Outline

The Voluntary Sector Studies Network invites applications from members for proposals to support and develop an idea or activity that will benefit voluntary sector studies in the UK. The grant can be used to fund seminars, workshops, roundtables, webinars, podcasts, film/animation and other activities linked to research, learning and teaching. The main focus will be to bring individual researchers and/ or practitioners and/or policy makers together to create a dialogue on a voluntary sector and volunteering related issue. In particular, we encourage applications that will provide on-going dialogue.

Eligibility and suitability

Successful applicants will be expected to:

• Ensure that the proposed activities are undertaken and the grant is spent within 12 months of the notification of the award. However, any events should not be held in May, September or November due to potential clashes with key VSSN events and conferences.
•  Publicise their event as widely as possible, including through VSSN channels Write a short report/ statement/ blog after the event for the VSSN website.
• Use this as an opportunity to advertise the VSSN to potential new VSSN members (including marketing via other channels, distribution of VSSN leaflets, use of VSSN logo, etc.).
• Tweet during the event using the VSSN account.
• Consider the venue/ location of the event to widen the reach of the audience, except where proposed activities are for a pre-specified group of people.

Application procedure

Applicants for the development opportunity grants are required to fill out the application form either online or download and email to grants@vssn.org.uk . The application form asks for details of the applicants involved (name, role, institutions), and a clear outline of the activities proposed, purpose of these selected activities, rationale for this proposal and timescale. Please include a provisional budget providing a breakdown of anticipated costs (e.g. travel, refreshments, venue hire) and whether any other funding has been applied for or received from other sources. These costings need to justify the proposed activities.

You may bid for an amount up to £750 and can bid as an individual or as a group (although there will need to be a lead on the application as the main contact and will be responsible for the small grant). The cut off point for funding applications is a combination of how much money we have earmarked in the annual budget for the programme (£1,500 for 2019-20) and the application quality. The lead applicant must be a member of VSSN. If the application involves a group please specify the reason for this collaboration. The deadline for applications is Friday 13th March 2020.

If you are interested in using an alternative medium application e.g. video please do get in touch. Please send your application or any enquiries to grants@vssn.org.uk

Selection process

The VSSN development opportunity grant assessment panel will consider all applications that have been submitted for call (applications submitted outside of this period will not be reviewed). Successful applications will be expected to provide a short end of funding award report on the activities, a version of which will be published on the VSSN website. We will announce the successful applicants mid- April2020.

Payment

All expenditure must be auditable including a breakdown of costs incurred, receipts and invoices, and will need to be claimed no later than 6 months after the activity.

During November Wiserd hosted a joint day conference with the Voluntary Sector Studies Research Network entitled ‘Civil society in the four UK nations: past, present and future challenges’. The day included a diverse range of papers from academics and third sector organisations. The first session presented research findings on civil society and the state across time and territories. Irene Hardill (Northumbria University) and Rob Macmillan (Sheffield Hallam University) presented ‘Moving frontiers: Voluntary action and social welfare’ exploring and comparing dominant discourses from the 1940s and 2010s on the shifting relations between the state and civil society. Hannah Ormston from the Carnegie UK Trust introduced the recent report ‘Carnegie UK Trust: The Enabling State’. This compared approaches to public policy-making in the nations of the UK and found the devolved legislatures involved a complex process of learning and dissemination but also enabled generally more favourable developments in Wales and Scotland in relation to civil society than those in England. Other presentations included analysis of changing governance and voluntary sector engagement in Wales (Amy Sanders Cardiff University, WISERD) and in Scotland (Jane Cullingworth University of Glasgow), highlighting the complex trade-offs many voluntary organisations have to negotiate as they seek to influence government.
Rich insights were shared in the panel discussion, ‘Community action in local places – Building leadership and leading change’. James Rees (University of Wolverhampton) highlighted the importance of relational networks within civil society in generating place leadership. This theme was picked up by Dr Sarah Lloyd-Jones, who outlined the Rank Foundation funded project ‘The Llechi, Glo a Chefn Gwlad (Slate, Coal and Countryside) partnership’ which will work with 9 community organisations to support the development of local leaders. Finally within this Panel, Sue Denman (Solva Care and Solva Community Land Trust) and Jessie Buchanan (Trecadwgan Campaign Group) provided rich evidence of how community ownership and delivery of social care can grow through local community action.
The initial afternoon panel focused on the ‘politicisation/ de-politicisation and/or re-politicisation of children and young people’s voluntary action’ and considered how this group engages in voluntary action. Contributions from Alison Body (University of Kent), Esther Muddiman (WISERD, Cardiff University) and Emily Lau (Canterbury University), highlighted the importance of how we involve children and young people and its subsequent impact on ongoing civic action. Rich empirical data demonstrated the role of schools and families in both facilitating and shaping values and action by young people.
The final panel reflected on lessons from practice, with contributions on ‘the impact of government initiatives to end rough sleeping on voluntary sector organisations across England, Wales and Scotland’ (Mike Hemmings York Saint John University); ‘Tensions from volunteer befriending inside a British immigration detention centre’ (Joanne Vincett Open University); and ‘Welsh Town Twinning: A future for civil society across borders, or the end of association?’ (Bryonny Goodwin-Hawkins Aberystwyth University). Joanne Vincett described the tensions negotiated by the volunteers she studied, as ‘quietly advocating’. This term captures a key theme emerging from the day, highlighting how voluntary organisations are continually challenged to find ways to advance their actions whilst maintaining working relationships with the institutions of government.

VSSN is delighted to announce the results of recent elections for the VSSN steering group and the Voluntary Sector Review Editorial Management Board (EMB).

For the steering group:

• Jane Cullingworth was re-elected
• Vita Terry was elected
• Jurgen Grotz was elected

For the EMB:

• Feilim OhAdmaill was re-elected
• Joanne Vincett was elected

Congratulations to the successful nominees and thank you to everyone who stood for election, it is much appreciated. We would also like to thank again retiring steering group members Linda Milbourne and Mike Woolvin and retiring EMB member Eddy Hogg for their huge contributions.

VSSN is organising a structured writing retreat exclusively for interested members (i.e. only those who have paid their annual membership fee). The event is on the 23-25 March and will be at the Chapel Garth estate in North Yorkshire for three days of concentrated writing time.

This is a great opportunity to break the back of that article or book chapter that has been sat at the top of your to do list for ages! The venue is beautiful and catering is amazing (all home cooked, vegetarian): https://www.chapelgarth-estate.co.uk/retreats  We will be the only group on the writing retreat, but will follow their programme – led by a trained facilitator Dr Marcella Sutcliffe – of writing slots interspersed with plenty of breaks and social/relaxing time. Writing takes place in a shared space.

For the accommodation there is a mix of single, twin and triple rooms. Some of the rooms have ensuite facilities, for others the bathrooms are across the corridor. Please be assured that all the rooms are very comfortable and spacious – sharing shouldn’t be a hardship.

The nearest train station to the venue is Northallerton (2 hours on the train from London), and it is then about a 30 min taxi journey away. We would try to coordinate group taxis from the station (about £10 each, each way).

There are 15 spaces available (assuming people are willing to share bedrooms), which will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

As we are a group booking they have agreed a reduced rate. Exact price will depend on final numbers and room sharing arrangements, so please see the email sent out to the JISCmail for details on pricing.  The price covers accommodation and all food. You would then need to pay for your own individual travel.

I have been on a writing retreat here before and can thoroughly recommend it!

Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis, and payment will be required in advance so only sign up if you can definitely make it. If you want to attend please email me asap (a.ellispaine@bham.ac.uk), stating whether or not you would be willing to share a room (as mentioned above, if we do not have enough people willing to share we won’t be able to accommodate as many people and prices will go up). Please also let me know whether you have any access requirements. Once we have 15 people, in the correct room sharing arrangements, I will close the bookings.

NCVO has just published the NRS best paper blog.

Emily Lau, winner of the New Researchers Prize at this year’s Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference organised by VSSN and NCVO, is a lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Canterbury Christ Church University. She is completing her PhD in Education looking at young people and their experiences of social action. At the VSVR conference in September, she presented her paper which looks at how universities have a vital role to play in creating spaces where young people can actively explore their own role in civil society.

Young volunteers and social action: The task for universities, the voluntary sector and communities

Voluntary Sector Review – Vacancy for an Editor

The Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) and the Policy Press invite applications for the position of an Editor to join the current editorial team for the Voluntary Sector Review from February 2020 to February 2023. Voluntary Sector Review (VSR) is a journal with a growing international profile that publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed, accessible papers on third sector research, policy and practice.

The new journal Editor will join the current team of two Editors: James Rees (Wolverhampton University, UK) and Carl Milofsky(Bucknell University, USA). The editor will be under contract to Policy Press and will work closely with the VSR Editorial Management Board.

Tasks that that the Editor will undertake include:

• Receiving submissions; identifying suitable referees; making editorial decisions on acceptance, revision or rejection in the light of referees’ reports; overseeing the journey of accepted papers from acceptance to publication; liaising with the publisher over publication arrangements
• Maintaining and further developing the national and international reputation of the journal
• Commissioning articles and encouraging submissions
• Participating in person or virtually in twice yearly meetings of the Editorial Management Board

The Editorial Management Board of VSR is looking forward to receiving applications from those interested in taking on this position on the editorial team of the journal from January 31th2020 for an initial period of three years. Applicants should have a strong international reputation in voluntary sector scholarship. They are asked to provide a short CV highlighting relevant experiences and a brief account of their strategic plans to maintain and develop VSR’s international profile.

Prospective applicants may also like to contact informallythe Chair of the VSR Editorial Management Board, Daiga Kamerade (d.kamerade-hanta@salford.ac.uk), or other members of the selection committee:
James Rees (James.Rees@wlv.ac.uk) Co-Editor of VSR and VSSN member
Carl Milosky (milofsky@bucknell.edu) Co-Editor of VSR
Julia Mortimer (Julia.Mortimer@bristol.ac.uk) Journals Director atPolicy Press.

The deadline for applications is December12th2019. Applications should be sent to: d.kamerade-hanta@salford.ac.uk.

Preferred candidates will be interviewed by the Selection Committee. Policy Press will enter into contract with the selected candidatesfor an initial period of three years.

The Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) and Policy Press invite applications for the positions of Practice Editor and Book Reviews Editor to join the current editorial team for the Voluntary Sector Review from February 2019 to December 2022.

Voluntary Sector Review (VSR) is a journal with a growing international profile that publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed, accessible papers on third sector research, policy and practice.

The new Practice Editor will join an existing Practice Editor, and will focus on editing practice-oriented papers. S/he will work closely with the VSR Editorial Team, the Editorial Management Board and Policy Press. Tasks that the Practice Editor will undertake include:

• receiving submissions, identifying suitable referees, making editorial decisions on acceptance, revision or rejection in the light of referees’ reports
• maintaining and further developing the national and international reputation of the journal
• commissioning articles, encouraging submissions, and supporting authors for the Practice section
• participating in person or virtually in twice yearly meetings of the Editorial Management Board.

The new Book Reviews Editor will focus on identifying and receiving suitable books for review, inviting and supporting reviewers, and editing reviews. S/he will work closely with the VSR Editorial Team, the Editorial Management Board and Policy Press.

Job Descriptions for both roles can be found here.

The Editorial Management Board of VSR is looking forward to receiving applications from those interested in taking up these positions on the editorial team of the journal from February 2019 for an initial period of three years.

Applications

The deadline for applications is 10^th January 2019. Applications should be sent to: d.kamerade-hanta@salford.ac.uk.

Applicants should have experience of research, research methods, academic writing and /or teaching in a relevant field, as well as experience of working or volunteering in the voluntary sector/civil society arena.

All applicants are asked to provide a short CV highlighting relevant experience.

Applicants for Practice Editor should also provide a brief account of their strategic plans to maintain and develop the VSR’s Practice Section.

Prospective applicants are welcome to contact the current Practice Editor (Chris Dayson – c.dayson@shu.ac.uk) and Book Reviews Editor (James Rees – james.rees@open.ac.uk) informally to discuss the roles further.

Prospective applicants may also contact other members of the selection committee:

Daiga Kamerade, Chair of the Editorial Management Board (d.kamerade-hanta@salford.ac.uk)

Rob Macmillan, Editor (rob.macmillan@shu.ac.uk)

Julia Mortimer, Publisher (julia.mortimer@bristol.ac.uk)

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the Selection Committee.