Knowledge sharing

We hold workshops, conferences and seminars in collaboration with many other organisations – bringing together practical and research knowledge to tackle vital questions. These events enable us to share research findings and explore implications for those working in or with the third sector.

Some examples include a conference on housing and community empowerment with HACT; a consultation on self-help housing with the Building and Social Housing Foundation; public policy seminars in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Council; and discussions on public services and the commissioning agenda with local government officers and councillors, held in partnership with the Public Management and Policy Association.

Other events have brought together a number of voluntary groups and others to discuss issues faced by the third sector working in the criminal justice arena; the future of the third sector workforce and emerging issues around social investment.

These are just a few examples. See all past events for more information.

As well as face to face events, we use social media to discuss issues arising from our research, and have worked with a number of organisations to hold online discussions. 

Social media partnerships include work with Globalnet21, which brought those from social enterprises, community groups and government together to explore social enterprise and issues of equality.

Through our Beyond the Radar project we worked with groups including Barrow Cadbury Trust, NatCAN, and Big Lottery to host a series of online discussions around supporting community activity.  

TSRC also works with organisations and individuals in other countries to explore similarities and differences between civil society issues. 

Some examples of international collaboration include work with Georgian civil society organisations to expore community development in the South Caucasus, joint work with Dutch researchers on Housing Associations in England and Holland, and work with American researchers to explore changes in the earned income of third sector organisations.  

We also work with a number of Fellows from international universities and other organisations, who spend time working with researchers at TSRC. 

TSRC researchers often give presentations at international conferences and events. 

We also work with others to help organisations and individuals access and use research.

Our Knowledge Portal, created in partnership with the British Library and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is helping to do this by via an online database of research related to the sector.

In April 2011, we worked with SRA, NCVO, NCRM, ARVAC and Ipsos MORI to run workshops to help voluntary and community groups use, conduct and commission research.