Collaborative research
Alongside its main programme of research, TSRC regularly engages in research and evaluation for, and with, partner organisations. The research utilises TSRC’s expertise on the third sector in order to inform policy and practice. We work with partners in the third sector, and in the public and private sectors.
Below are examples of some of the recent collaborative projects we have been involved in. If you are interested in commissioning TSRC to undertake a piece of research or evaluation, or in developing a collaborative research project, please contact us on 0121 414 3086 or info@tsrc.ac.uk
Latest partnership research
Keys to the Future
Independent evaluation of Shelter Children’s Services: England and Scotland
Shelter piloted a programme of children’s services between 2007 and 2011, in some of the most deprived areas of England and Scotland. The programme was developed in response to Shelter’s Million Children Campaign (2004), which raised public awareness of the hidden nature of child homelessness.
Researchers from TSRC at the University of Birmingham carried out an independent evaluation of this programme between 2007 and 2011. The report summarises research findings over a four-year period.
Executive Summary | Full report
BIG as a Policy Actor: Exploring BIG's impact on third sector policy and practice
The Third Sector Research Centre is working with the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) to explore perceptions of BIG’s impact on the strategic development of the Third Sector. Although only representing a small proportion of charities’ overall income, BIG has been recognised as an important source of third sector funding. During the current period of public sector cuts its significance is likely to increase... more
Single point of access to third sector services: the Conwy Collaborative approach
TSRC has recently been involved in researching a collaborative arrangement designed to help improve and strengthen the planning and commissioning of services from the third sector to support health and social care needs.
Read more
Evaluation of the Compact - 'use it or lose it'
A summative evaluation of the Compact, the framework for partnership working for government and the voluntary and community sector in England, has recently been published by the Commission for the Compact. The Commission has now closed down, and as a result the report is no longer available from them. We have therefore agreed to make the pdf accessible through our website....more
BIG and small: Capacity building, small organisations and the Big Lottery Fund
This study aimed to provide evidence to the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) on how best to target its efforts to support or build capacity in the small groups that apply to it for funding. The research took place between March 2009 and March 2010 and was carried out by a team led by the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR), in collaboration with the Third Sector Research Centre, the University of the West of England and Cordis Bright.
The report brings together the findings of a review of relevant literature, an analysis of information from Merlin (BIG’s grant-making database), interviews with 13 BIG staff and 24 applicant organisations, and an online survey completed by 122 applicants
Executive Summary | Full Report
Migrant and minority community organisations: funding, sustainability and ways forward
TSRC and Middlesex University have been working with MODA (Migrant Organisations’ Development Agency) on a research project about funding and resources available to migrant and minority organisations in London.
The project has gathered information about the role of minority and migrant organisations, including details about the services they provide, the community needs they address, the financial and organisational challenges they face and the creative ways they are finding to cope. Read report
Joining the Dots: Social impact measurement, commissioning from the third sector and supporting social enterprise development
Professor Fergus Lyon and Dr Malin Arvidson contributed to this research on measuring social impact. The project was led by consultancy, The Guild and funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
Read research report
Independent evaluation of Shelter programme
Since 2007, The University of Birmingham and Merida Associates have been involved in a longitudinal evaluation of a Shelter initiative, Keys to the Future (KTTF). KTTF aims to prevent homelessness amongst families, children and young people, improve the outcomes for children experiencing homelessness and raise national policy awareness of, and responses to, the impact of homelessness on children's lives.
Seven interim evaluation reports have recently been published and involved Third Sector Research Centre staff. These cover individual local KTTF projects in England and Scotland, provide an overview of legal and influencing work in each nation as well as offering a summary overview of the programme as a whole. Reports and more information available here
Research contact: Angus McCabe
The effect of twins and multiple birth on families and their living standards
Professor Steve McKay, of the Third Sector Research Centre, worked with the Twin and Multiple Birth Association (TAMBA) on research into the costs and implications of multiple births. This report, compiled for TAMBA, shows that parents of multiple birth children are more likely than other parents to experience both material deprivation and family breakdown.
See report for more details
Northern Rock Foundation - Third Sector Trend Study
Professor John Mohan, Deputy Director of TSRC, leads the quantitative research for this collaborative research programme on the scale, dynamics and needs of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in North East England and Cumbria. More details
Beyond 'flat earch' maps of the third sector - see report
Evaluation of ChangeUp
The Third Sector Research Centre, in collaboration with BMG Research, Guidestar and Sustain Consultancy, was comissioned to provide independent evaluation of the ChangeUp programme. The first phase of this evaluation has now been published. The report notes that there has been 'significant distance travelled at both national and local levels', especially in terms collaboration, effeciency and focus within local infrastructure organisations. However, the report leaves question marks over the extent of ChangeUp's impact on front line organisations.
More
Policy and future sources of EU funding for the social economy
This report was prepared by Andrea Westall, for the Third Angle Partnership. It explores future sources of EU funding for the social economy. It looks at potential funding in the context of new policy priorities, created by the 2007-2013 multi-annual Financial Framework within the EU.
Its recommendations include an increased understanding of the potential of social economy to meet EU objectives and an expansion of research programmes beyond science and technology.
The report can be found here
The rural social economy: surviving the credit crunch
This report by Angus McCabe examines the effect of the recession on social enterprise in a rural economy, through a case study of a community owned village shop.
Read case study