Third Sector Trends North West England 2020 – A tale of three sectors

The world was a very different place when the latest Third Sector Trends for the North West was published in 2019. The relative stability of the sector highlighted in previous reports continues in the latest report but will that still be the case in a post-coronavirus world in 2020 and beyond?

This ground-breaking longitudinal study explores the scale, dynamics and needs of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in the North West. The report, based on a representative sample of over 1,000 organisations, is the latest of a series of reports that began in 2008. This gives the study a long-term view not available from other research on charities and community organisations regionally or nationally.

A launch event was held on 18th June where report author Professor Tony Chapman discussed the findings of the survey, while Jack Hunter (Institute for Public Policy Research) spoke about the consequences of these findings for the North.

You can view a recording of the event here and Tony Chapman’s presentation here.

Social Prescribing in Greater Manchester

In February 2018, the Greater Manchester Devolution VCSE Reference Group (The Reference Group) decided to commission from amongst its membership a review of social prescribing in Greater Manchester. The main task of the research was to carry out a mapping exercise of the existing patterns and nature of social prescribing across Greater Manchester (GM). The particular focus was to establish what was happening across the GM Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in relation to social prescribing.

Working in partnership, the University of Salford and Salford CVS have undertaken a review of existing research, a survey of social prescribing activity across GM and a deep dive involving interviews and qualitative investigation in one locality (Salford).

To read an executive summary of the report, please click here.

EU Funding and Brexit Briefing for Liverpool City Region

Warren Escadale and Sam Popper

Following the implementation of Brexit, what is the likely impact of lost investment and delivery, and how can the case be made for future investment in driving inclusive growth?

Sector expertise lies in connecting mainstream delivery to those furthest from mainstream support and furthest from employment. It also lies in providing tailored, person-centric approaches to tackling multiple barriers and building confidence.

We calculate that if investment in inclusive growth and VCFSE involvement in delivery ended in the City Region…

• Over 13,400 of the hardest to reach people acrossthe City Region will lose out on life-changing support. This will cost the City Region at least £56.3m per year in lost GVA.

• This includes additional welfare costs of at least £12m per year.

• We would lose a return on investment in VCFSE delivery in our City Region of £8 for every pound invested.

• Direct job losses in VCFSE organisations in the City Region would exceed 245.

• The City Region would lose out on significant additional inward investment in our most economically disadvantaged communities.

• In the light of extensive public sector cuts, it would become increasingly challenging for local organisations to remain financially viable. Additional indirect job losses would exceed 145.