Professor Tony Chapman delivered a speech last night at the Community Foundation for Tyne and Wear and Northumberland at the Sage in Gateshead. His talk referred to early findings from the Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends study which was part funded by the Community Foundation. Tony explained to the audience that it was now possible to show that the voluntary sector was starting to bounce back after a difficult period during the depths of the recession. Whilst a majority of organisations have maintained similar levels of income over last two years, some have lost out – but to a lesser extent than in 2010-12. And some organisations are still raising their overall level of income significantly.

But as Tony explained, it’s not all a matter of money. The sector was showing considerable signs of resilience, and flexibility to adapt to a new situation – and in many respects the sector was feeling more confident about itself. However, the sector is still heavily dependent on grants to do its work, while earning income from contracts was still a minority interest. Even those organisations which are involved in social enterprise activities still tend to rely on grants to a large extent – showing that this part of the social marketplace still needs support. After all, Professor Chapman commented, if it was possible to make a significant surplus without support – the private sector would already be operating in this domain.

It is important to remember that the smaller organisations and groups which dominate the sector continue to make a huge contribution to the social wellbeing of North East England and Cumbria, Professor Chapman argued, and that the relatively modest levels of grant support they receive helps them achieve a great deal entirely through their voluntary efforts. They may not achieve transformational change for their communities, but they make a real contribution to the social glue and social wellbeing. If they were not there to do such work, society would be much the worse without them and especially so in less affluent areas.

The website for Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland can be found at this web address. A full set of reports from the Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study can be found here. All reports are free to download.

Professors Tony Chapman and Fred Robinson have completed a major new research report and discussion paper on how the public sector can develop strong and productive relationships with the voluntary sector.  Based on studies across Cumbria, North East England and Yorkshire, the report produces practical advice on what can be achieved and also some guidance on issues that are best left alone. An event is being organised by the Institute for Local Governance on 24th October 2014 to launch the report and to present its main findings.

The seminar will take place at Teesside University’s Darlington Campus and will be opened by Cath Whitehead, Deputy Chief Executive of Darlington Borough Council.  Expert practitioners will also speak at the event including Fiona Ellis, Millfield House, Judy Robinson, CEO, Involve Yorkshire & Humber and Karen Bowen of Cumbria CVS alongside senior officers in local authorities including: Lesley King, Stockton Borough Council; Gordon Elliot, Durham County Council and Kirsten Francis, Northumberland County Council.

This new study, to be undertaken by Professor Tony Chapman, is funded by Institute for Local Governance and will conclude with a regional seminar on Japanese inward investment which, it is hoped, will take place at Teikyo University in Durham.  The study aims to get a better understanding of the social, cultural and economic  ‘journeys’ Japanese companies have made in establishing themselves in the North East.

The study will explore what attracted Japanese firms to establish in the North East and see how well industrial interactions and employee relationships have become embedded in economic, political and cultural terms. The study will also find out what contribution Japanese inward investment has made to strengthening social growth in North East England.

Interviews will take place with senior executives in Japanese firms which are well established in the region together with Hitachi which is building a major new plant in Newton Aycliffe. Professor Chapman will also interview key stakeholders in local authorities, chambers of commerce and local politicians to assess what can be done to build an enterprise culture in the region by capitalising on Japanese inward investment.

Northern Rock Foundation commissioned Professors Tony Chapman and Fred Robinson of St Chad’s to undertake this major seven year study in 2008.  In its sixth year, a third wave of its major statistical survey of Cumbria and North East England is shortly to close.

The survey involved sending over 6,000 questionnaires to charities as well as promoting the study online.  More than 1,250 responses have been received so far which means that robust analysis can take place, comparing the situation with 2010 and 2014.

This year the study was also generously supported by Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland and by Charity Bank in Cumbria.

Professor Tony Chapman recently completed a report for O2 on its Think Big programme.  This is the fourth year of the evaluation process and involved, as a new element to the study, a new survey on the alumni of the programme.

The report demonstrates that when young people engage in voluntary work for the first time, sponsored by the O2 programme, they tend to move on to do more voluntary work and say that they will remain committed to making a positive contribution to society.

It isn’t a one-way street though – young people make great gains for themselves when working on their own projects. And certainly for young people who have had few chances in life so far, it gives a boost to their sense of confidence and resilience. The report can be found here.

Northern Rock Foundation have confirmed that the third phase of a seven year study on the structure and dynamics of the third sector in North East England and Cumbria is to go ahead from April 2014 to May 2015. The study, which will be undertaken by Professors Tony Chapman and Fred Robinson will involve a major survey of third sector organisations in the region which will repeat questions asked in 2010 and 2012. This is the first major longitudinal study of its kind in the UK and promises to continue to develop understanding of the contribution of the third sector to society and the economy. The project is co-funded by Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

The project has now run for several years and many reports have been published. These are all free to download from this website

Policy & Practice research was put to test by Durham University’s Applied Social Science Society on the evening of 13^th March in Leech Hall, St John’s College followed by a social event at Varsity. Professor Tony Chapman introduced a debate on volunteering by asking unconventionally challenging questions about the value of voluntary social action for the people who take part and those it aims to help.

The debate addressed the issue in an equally unconventional way by concentrating on why some people choose not to volunteer. Most of the empirical literature says the same thing: that people don’t have time, don’t know what to do, or haven’t been asked. But is that too simple? Maybe people choose not to volunteer because of deeper reasons and just don’t want to feel embarrassed publicly on admitting why. Equally importantly, Professor Chapman asked why those who do volunteer are attracted to particular causes but are repelled from others. What cultural factors underpin this?

Professor Chapman’s recent paper with Dr Barbara McGuinness on the topic can be found here.

A research team led by Maxine Houston and Fred Robinson has now completed a major new study looking at the future prospects for local councils in North East England. This research was commissioned by the Association of North East Councils and the Institute for Local Governance in response to the pressures facing councils as a result of spending cuts and increasing demand for local services.

The research found that councils in the North East have, so far, managed to cut costs while generally protecting key services, but now have little room manoeuvre. It looks like they will have to focus very largely on delivering statutory services to those in greatest need, with much less scope to provide other services that people expect and often rely on. We conclude that central government needs to clarify what the future role of local government is to be and also review how it is financed – given widespread concerns in the North East and elsewhere about the perceived unfairness of the funding system.

The research will be launched on 11^th March in Newcastle, at the North East Local Government Association’s regional event Rewiring Public Services.

On 31^st March a new report will be launched at Cass Business School, London, for Garfield Weston Foundation on how to help local voluntary organisations win funds from major national charitable foundations to tackle local social problems. The report, was written and researched by Professor Cathy Pharoah of the Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy, City University; Professor Tony Chapman, Policy & Practice at St Chad’s College, Durham University; and Rose Tomlins, Director of qualitative research at GfK NOP Technology.

Tony’s part in the research included a series of interviews with key stakeholders in North East charitable foundations, third sector representative bodies and local authorities to determine how changes in the funding environment had impacted on charities’ access to funding. This work was underpinned with analysis of quantitative data from Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends study.

St Chad’s College recently hosted the latest ESRC-sponsored seminar in a series of discussions assessing the impact of greater Scottish autonomy on the north of England. This seminar looked at the ‘challenges for governance’. Speakers from both sides of the border considered the opportunities for cross-border collaboration, especially in relation to promoting economic development and growth. It was felt that, whatever the outcome of the referendum on independence in the autumn, it was time for northern England to look north and create stronger links with Scotland. Northern England has been too focused on links with London and the south, despite having so much in common with near neighbours in Scotland. Whatever happens, the border needs to become more porous: less of a barrier and more of an opportunity.

Professors Keith Shaw, Fred Robinson and Jonathan Blackie discussed the work they had done for the Association of North East Councils on the potential impacts of greater Scottish autonomy. Their Borderlands report was published a few months ago and is available here.