‘At Least I Can Do Something’: The Work of Volunteering in a Community Beset by Worklessness

The voluntary sector has been mainstreamed into public policy with consequences that include more reliance upon the time, commitment and skills of volunteers. In many policy initiatives to combat social exclusion, volunteering is cast as a form of self-improvement and re-training for the workforce. Qualitative research in a disadvantaged community, however, uncovered the persistence of more traditional forms of volunteering associated with mutual support and identification with the needs of others. Policies intended to broaden the base of the volunteer workforce need to recognise and nurture the intrinsic rewards of volunteering

Faith-based voluntary action: a case study of a French charity

Following legal changes in the 1980s, the Voluntary and Community sector/économie sociale in France has become culturally diverse as faith-based organisations serving minority ethnic communities have developed, including charities inspired by religious and cultural principles of charitable giving. In this article, we use a case study of a social welfare charity established in a Parisian suburb with a culturally diverse population. Worldwide social welfare work is a priority; the charity responds to disasters, but it prioritises long-term development actions, encouraging the direct involvement of local communities. In recent years, its work has also embraced distressed communities within France

Managing reductions in working hours: a study of work-time and leisure preferences in UK industry

This paper is predicated on the view that reductions in work-time are generally desirable. We analyse historical trends in working-hours, the organisation of production, and theories of power and authority in firms and other organisations. Then we consider this in relation to patterns of work in the UK, demonstrating empirically that managers are more wedded to a ‘long-hours’ culture than are other employees. We theorise that this is because managers’ roles align their attitudes with those desired by the firm or organisation and conclude that, as a consequence, the “voluntary” nature of work-time regulation should be revisited.Working hours, Hierarchy, Power, Preferences

Delivering public services in the mixed economy of welfare : perspectives from the voluntary and community sector in rural England

The voluntary and community sector in England is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of public services to older adults and in doing so they rely on unpaid volunteers. In this article, we draw on the findings of a recent qualitative study of the impact on the voluntary and community sector of delivering ‘low-level’ public services that promote independent living and wellbeing in old age. The fieldwork focused on services that help older adults aged 70+ living in remote rural communities across three English regions. Those charged with service delivery, which is increasingly the voluntary and community sector, face particular challenges, such as uncertain funding regimes and reliance on volunteer labour

It’s time to talk: Voluntary action, the state and welfare provision

1. The 1940s and the 2010s were significant periods of transformation in the shape and direction of social welfare services across England. In both periods assumptions about the responsibilities of citizens, the state, voluntary action and the private sector became open to debate. 2. Both decades were also transformational times for the voluntary movement, involving coming to terms with new realities and rethinking its part in welfare provision. 3. Comprehensive discussion in the 1940s about the new role and responsibilities of the state in social welfare has not been matched in the 2010s. 4. In the 1940s the voluntary movement and the Labour government consolidated a pragmatic partnership that overcame initial suspicion on both sides, while the 2010s were marked by a more antagonistic relationship between government and the voluntary sector. 5. It’s time to talk. A national conversation, which tackles the issues and seeks to build consensus on our welfare future, is needed. 6. We invite you to be part of this new debate, by reflecting upon, sharing and acting on this research and its implications

Developing novel research methods to establish and monitor impacts of user engagement in times of austerity: Report on a series of agenda-setting workshops

This report is drawn from a National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) Network for Methodological Innovation project, the key theme,‘Dancing with new partners’ examined methods for engaging non-academic users, especially with people who, in our experience, are often resistant to engagement - and for measuring the impact of research on policy and practice. This Report contains eight ‘think pieces’ (or position papers) which were commissioned for the Launch Conference of the Network. These ‘think pieces’ and their subsequent presentation and discussion among Network members were used to identify three key themes for further discussion. The three themes were explored in subsequent workshops and summaries of the issues explored and the conclusions drawn are outlined below, along with a summary of the closing conference of the Network and abstracts of subsequent papers

Promoting social inclusion? The impact of village services on the lives of older people living in rural England

Drawing on data from a qualitative study, this paper explores the impact of ‘village services’ on the lives of people aged 70 or more years living in rural England. Throughout the paper, the phrase ‘village services’ refers to six community-based services and activities provided to help meet the needs of older rural residents, namely lunch clubs, welfare rights information and advice services, befriending schemes and community warden support, in rural areas in three regions of England. It is argued that, in various ways, village services promote social inclusion by enhancing older rural residents' access to the resources, rights, goods and services that encourage social interaction and meaningful participation in community life. It is clear, however, that the overwhelming majority of users of village services are female, that older men are often reluctant to engage with the services on offer, and that the providers of village services need to find new and innovative ways of engaging with older men in rural areas. It is concluded that restricted revenue and capital resources means that the expansion of village services so that they may better meet the requirements of older rural men is unlikely

Co‐curation: Archival interventions and voluntary sector records

Abstract: There is a growing trend across the social sciences to engage with archives. Within human geography, this has stimulated a debate about the nature of archives, including moving from considering "archive as source" to "archive as subject." We build on and extend this thinking, suggesting that an even more active appreciation of the dynamic nature of relationships between researchers, owners of records, and archival material is needed. This paper draws on an interdisciplinary study of voluntary action and welfare provision in England in the 1940s and 2010s to highlight how the different iterative processes involved in collaborative archival research are part of what we call co‐curation. Co‐curation involves the negotiated identification, selection, preparation, and interpretation of archival materials. This has implications for both research processes and outcomes