an article by Valerie Egdell and Matthew Dutton (Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland) published in Voluntary Sector Review Volume 8 Number 1 (March 2017)
Abstract
Third sector organisations deliver a range of public services for government. They are valued and trusted by commissioners, clients and wider society because of their independence.
However, the extent to which the third sector is independent is questioned.
Drawing on qualitative longitudinal research with third sector organisations in Scotland, this article explores how third sector organisations delivering public services manage the demands of changing funding structures and relationships with government, and the implications for their independence. It explores how organisations understand and negotiate the tension between their independence and mission-driven social action, and delivering commissioned and contracted public services.
In doing so, it highlights the challenges to independence in a dynamically changing political, policy and financial climate, as well as opportunities for organisations to emphasise their distinctive contribution to public service delivery.
Showing posts with label independence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label independence. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 May 2017
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Decoupling the state and the third sector? The 'big Society' as a spontaneous order
an article by Rob Macmillan published in Voluntary Sector Review Volume 4 Number 2 (July 2013) and also as Third Sector Research Centre: Working Paper 101
Abstract
Despite a largely indifferent and otherwise sceptical public reception, the 'Big Society' has remained a central feature of the Conservative-led coalition*rsquo;s project in the United Kingdom.
This article asks what the Big Society might mean for the 'third sector' of voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises. The previous Labour government’s approach has been characterised as the development of a closer 'partnership' between state and the third sector.
However, a partial decoupling may now be underway in the new political and economic context. Theoretically, this might signal a shift away from the idea of interdependence between the state and the third sector, and towards a model involving separate spheres: from partnership to an emergent 'trial separation'.
The article draws on Friedrich Hayek's theory of 'spontaneous order', suggesting that the Big Society involves some implicit Hayekian assumptions.
It concludes by considering the implications of regarding the third sector in such terms.
Full text of the Working Paper(PDF 21pp)
Abstract
Despite a largely indifferent and otherwise sceptical public reception, the 'Big Society' has remained a central feature of the Conservative-led coalition*rsquo;s project in the United Kingdom.
This article asks what the Big Society might mean for the 'third sector' of voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises. The previous Labour government’s approach has been characterised as the development of a closer 'partnership' between state and the third sector.
However, a partial decoupling may now be underway in the new political and economic context. Theoretically, this might signal a shift away from the idea of interdependence between the state and the third sector, and towards a model involving separate spheres: from partnership to an emergent 'trial separation'.
The article draws on Friedrich Hayek's theory of 'spontaneous order', suggesting that the Big Society involves some implicit Hayekian assumptions.
It concludes by considering the implications of regarding the third sector in such terms.
Full text of the Working Paper(PDF 21pp)
Monday, 28 January 2013
Voluntary Sector Independence Under Threat
via Poverty Alliance e-news
The latest report from the Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector, Independence under Threat: the Voluntary Sector in 2013, [PDF 52pp] has found that in the last year both explicit UK Government actions, and inactions, has had a serious impact on the independence of campaigning charities working with it.
The report says the UK Government has:
The latest report from the Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector, Independence under Threat: the Voluntary Sector in 2013, [PDF 52pp] has found that in the last year both explicit UK Government actions, and inactions, has had a serious impact on the independence of campaigning charities working with it.
The report says the UK Government has:
- imposed contractual gagging orders on some charities, stopping them speaking out about government policies or publicly releasing data
- advised local authorities not to fund certain campaigning charities
- failed to carry out its own policies to support the independence of the voluntary sector.
Monday, 21 January 2013
New PSI research reveals the erosion of children’s independence
- Unique study covering the last 40-years reveals a dramatic loss of children’s independence outside the home.
- Only 25 per cent of primary school children in England are allowed to travel home from school alone compared with 86 per cent in 1971.
- Primary school children in England have far less freedom than they do in Germany.
Read the full report (PDF 248pp)
Children’s independent mobility: a comparative study in England and Germany (1971-2010) by Ben Shaw, Ben Watson, Bjorn Frauendienst, Andreas Redecker, Tim Jones, with Mayer Hillman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Big Society contractors? Big questions for voluntary organisations
an article by Andrew J. Purkis [author affiliation not stated] published in Voluntary Sector Review Volume 3 Number 1 (March 2012 )
Abstract
The experience of housing associations (HAs) has not been taken into account in many of the discussions about the transfer of responsibility for delivering public services from statutory bodies to voluntary agencies.
This article addresses this omission by reviewing the recent history of the larger HAs. It addresses six [sic] key issues that might yield lessons for other voluntary organisations considering invitations to become mass service contractors in the 'Big Society': independence;
Hazel’s comment:
This article is about housing association but it could equally be about X-town library service. There is a steep learning curve for organisations here – not least of which are the provision of a public service and working to a contract. Conflicts of interest may well occur.
Abstract
The experience of housing associations (HAs) has not been taken into account in many of the discussions about the transfer of responsibility for delivering public services from statutory bodies to voluntary agencies.
This article addresses this omission by reviewing the recent history of the larger HAs. It addresses six [sic] key issues that might yield lessons for other voluntary organisations considering invitations to become mass service contractors in the 'Big Society': independence;
- user satisfaction and empowerment;
- the ability to tackle needs flexibly across the boundaries with other agencies;
- involvement in campaigning;
- recognition as part of civil society; and
- their ability to nurture the spirit of volunteering and giving.
Hazel’s comment:
This article is about housing association but it could equally be about X-town library service. There is a steep learning curve for organisations here – not least of which are the provision of a public service and working to a contract. Conflicts of interest may well occur.
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