Daily Archives: 4th July 2017

Third Sector Trends in North East England

Third Sector Trends research has been running in North East England since 2008 and its most recent biennial survey report has just been published and is featured in today’s Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2017/jul/04/resilient-charity-sector-despite-austerity?CMP=share_btn_tw 

This report presents key findings from the Third Sector Trends study in 2016 from across Northern England and specifically in North East England and for each of its four sub-regions: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Tees Valley.  Key findings  can be found in the Highlights Report.

The Third Sector Trends study was conceived and originally commissioned by Northern Rock Foundation with research conducted by the Universities of Southampton, Teesside and Durham. The Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland was a co-funder of the research and is now responsible for its legacy. The Community Foundation is now collaborating with partners including St Chad’s College at the University of Durham, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and IPPR North to expand and continue the research.

The Third Sector Trends survey was designed to explore the structure and dynamics of the Third Sector and to examine how individual Third Sector organisations (TSOs) fare over time in the context of change. The biennial survey which runs across the North East of England and Cumbria received the following levels of responses; 2010, n=1,055; 2012, n=1,700; 2014, n=1,318; and in 2016, n=1,369.

The final report can be downloaded here: http://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/post/ten-years-of-third-sector-trends/

The Third Sector in Bradford

Professor Tony Chapman spoke in Bradford City Hall Council Chamber on 29th June about his research on the Third Sector in the City. The presentation was based on 167 responses, the best result for a single local authority in a wider survey on the sector across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The audience was a mix of voluntary sector and public sector participants who wanted to know what the key trends were in the funding and financial wellbeing of charities in Bradford.

The session was opened by Councillor Abdul Jabar who has Cabinet responsibility for neighbourhood and community safety in the city and chaired by Amria Khatun of Bradford Council Strategy Office for Stronger Communities.

The presentation, which draws on data from the JRF funded Third Sector Trends study in Yorkshire and the Humber, shows that the voluntary sector in Bradford is resilient but that organisations are more likely to be facing financial vulnerability than in Yorkshire and the Humber as a whole.

The event was organised by Paul Colley of Community Action Bradford and District and joint funded with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

The full report is available here: THIRD SECTOR TRENDS BRADFORD 2016

Choir Tour to Jersey

A couple of weeks ago a slightly depleted Chapel Choir took a weekend trip to Jersey. Though they generally tour for longer this year various commitments meant that tour time was reduced, making the relative proximity of Jersey the ideal choice.

The beautiful Gorey castle and habour, just 5 minutes from our accommodation

It would be fair to say that there were doubts in the choir about what the tour would be like, having become accustomed to more exciting sounding locations, but the doubters were soon proved wrong; Jersey turned out to have plenty to do, excellent weather and some of the best audiences the choir has had.

The Choir at St Aubin’s Methodist Church, with St Chad’s Alumni.

Continue reading Choir Tour to Jersey