Black, Minority and Ethnic dimensions within the Third Sector: a cross-cutting work stream

Overview
The Black, Minority and Ethnic (BME) work stream is being developed within TSRC to improve our theoretical and conceptual understanding of the BME third sector, and examine the extent to which it can be considered a distinct element within the sector. As a cross-cutting work stream, the programme of work will include engagement with other TSRC stream leads to ensure, where appropriate, that BME dimensions to analyses are incorporated into their work.

Current work
An initial literature review on the BME third sector is in its final edit phase and will be on the website soon. Key questions covered in this paper include: 

• To what extent is the BME third sector distinct from the wider sector?
• What is the BME third sector?

Next steps
Building from the initial literature review and work from other streams, a cross-cutting programme is being developed to include:

• A selection of cases in TSRC’s core qualitative research project, Real Times. This will allow for comparative analyses, in depth and over time, on third sector activities and organisations that have varying BME dimensions to them 
• A review of large-scale statistical datasets on paid work in the third sector and volunteering, such as the Labour Force Survey and the Citizenship Survey, to examine their usefulness for comparative analyses in these areas. See Workforce and Workplace research stream.
• In addition, there are overlaps with the Below the Radar (BtR) work stream, including the micro-mapping project on third sector activities, groups and organisations and intended work on migrant and refugee organisations.

Research contacts
Andri Soteri-Proctor - stream lead