This document discusses perceptions of and trends affecting voluntary and community organizations in the UK. It notes that over 50% of such organizations are "micro" with less than 1% of total funding, while 0.3% are "major" organizations that receive nearly 44% of total funding. The document also outlines typical funding sources for these organizations, with the largest being individual giving and statutory sources. It identifies current trends such as the economic downturn, public spending cuts, new government policies promoting localism and the "Big Society," and increasing use of technology.

1. Working with Voluntary & Community Organisations Richard Piper Georgina Anstey 14 th September 2011

2. This session Perceptions The “sector” Funding Major trends Jargon The typical charity Behaviours and motivations Engaging with them

3. Perceptions

4. Civil Society General Charities Co-operatives Universities Housing associations Employee-owned businesses Independent schools Sports clubs Faith groups Building societies Clubs & Societies Trade Unions Political parties

5. Civil Society & Voluntary Sector Civil Society Voluntary & Community Sector Universities Housing Associations Independent Schools Sports clubs Charities Unincorporated organisations Employee owned businesses Trade unions Co-operatives 171,000 Political parties

6. Small … and beautiful? Over 50% are ‘Micro’ organisations but they account for <1% of total income 438 organisations (0.3%) are ‘Major’ accounting for nearly 44% of total income

7. Civil Society & Voluntary Sector Civil Society Voluntary & Community Sector Universities Housing Associations Independent Schools Sports clubs Charities Unincorporated organisations Employee owned businesses Trade unions Co-operatives 171,000 Political parties ?

8. What do VCOs do? Provide services Influence knowledge, opinion or policy Make grants Support other charities/organisations

9. Most ‘popular’ causes Activities Social services Culture & recreation Development Religion Beneficiaries Children / youth Public at large Elderly people People with disabilities

10. Funding Source of Income 2007 / 08 £bn Individual giving 13.1 Statutory sources 12.8 Internally generated 4.1 Trusts and foundations 3.0 Private sector 2.0 National Lottery 0.5 Total 35.5 Source: UK Civil Society almanac 2010 NCVO

11. Current trends The Multi-crunch Economic downturn, public spending, natural resources Coalition Government policy Big Society, public service delivery, localism Technology and Power Open data, impact, hierarchies falling

12. Jargon Quiz

13. Example charity structure & context Trustee Board CEO/ Co-ordinator Staff/Volunteers Beneficiaries Staff/Volunteers Funders Target Audience Regulator Service Users

14. Behaviour & Motivations Competition Slow-moving Lack of arbiter of decisions – profit (money) not the goal Committed Passionate – stubborn – independent - anti-establishment – anti-business

15. Engagement: Barriers Hugely busy, need to see absolute relevance Suspicion of planning, hand-to-mouth, wait for a crisis Resistance and right to resist, identity, independence Complexity: of purpose, of stakeholders Founder-syndrome and other egos Anti-business – culture, fear, values

16. Engagement: Solutions Busy: prove the relevance Anti-planning: play ‘firefighting’ card Resistance: listen Complexity: acknowledge it, don’t try to tidy it up and pretend it’s simpler than it really is Egos: find allies, don’t fight fire with fire! Anti-business: don’t be their stereotype

17. Keep in touch Richard Piper [email_address] Georgina Anstey [email_address] Useful resources on NCVO website www.ncvo-vol.org.uk