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Phase Seven: 2025-26
The seventh iteration of the study will begin in 2025. For updates on this phase of the study, later in 2024, see Research News.
Phase Six: 2022-23
The sixth iteration of the study was undertaken intensively across England and Wales, producing a sample of over 6,000 respondents and a minimum of 400 in each English region and 440 in Wales. The principal statistical reports which are listed below are preceded by a link to the final report of the 15 year running qualitative study of 50 organisations in North East England and Cumbria.
Chapman, T. (2022) Going the distance: how Third Sector organisations work through turbulent times, Newcastle upon Tyne: Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2022) Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2022: structure, purpose, energy and impact, Newcastle upon Tyne: Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2022) Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2022: employees, volunteers, diversity and investment in people, Newcastle upon Tyne: Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2023) People, places and policy: Third Sector Trends 2023, Newcastle upon Tyne: Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2023) Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2022: relationships, influencing and collaboration, Newcastle upon Tyne: Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2023) Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2022: finances, assets and organisational wellbeing, Newcastle upon Tyne: Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2023) Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2022: shaping social change through campaigning and influencing, Newcastle upon Tyne: Millfield House Foundation.
Chapman, T. (2023) Community businesses in the North of England, London: Power to Change.
Research methodology and analytical techniques.
Chapman, T. (2022) Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2022 research methodology, Durham: Policy&Practice, St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Chapman, T. (2022) Structure and Dynamics of the Third Sector in England and Wales: technical paper on working definitions and baseline data analysis, (second revision), Durham: Policy&Practice.
This phase of the study had an additional focus on social impact of the Third Sector in the field of public health and health inequalities.
Chapman, T. and Wistow, J. (2023) Local health and social wellbeing: the contribution of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West, Durham: Policy&Practice.
Chapman , T. and Wistow, J. (2023) Local health and social wellbeing: the contribution of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Cumbria, Durham: Policy&Practice.
Chapman , T. and Wistow, J. (2023) Local health and social wellbeing: the contribution of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Yorkshire and Humber, Durham: Policy&Practice.
Chapman, T. (2022) The contribution of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to health and wellbeing in Humber, Coast and Vale, Durham: Policy&Practice.
Chapman, T. (2022) The structure, dynamics and impact of the VCSE sector in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. Durham: Policy&Practice.
Phase five: 2019-21
The fifth iteration of the survey work took place intensively across Northern England and (with a slightly shorter questionnaire) across the rest of England and Wales, garnering a sample of over 4,000 respondents. Data were collected prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, but a shorter interim study was undertaken in 2020 to do an initial assessment of impact.
Chapman, T. (2020) Third Sector Trends in North West England 2020: a digest of findings, Newcastle, Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2020) Third Sector Trends in North East England 2020: a digest of findings, Newcastle, Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2020) Third Sector Trends in Yorkshire and Humber 2020: a digest of findings, Newcastle, Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2020) The structure and dynamics of the Third Sector in England and Wales: technical paper on working definitions and baseline data analysis. Durham, https://www.stchads.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/THIRDS2.pdf
Special areas of focus in this stage of the study included: relationships with the private sector and charitable foundations, perceptions of social impact, diversity and inclusion in Third Sector organisational leadership, and trading interactions amongst community businesses/socially enterprising organisations.
Chapman, T. (2021) Going the extra mile: how business work with the Third Sector, London: Pro-Bono Economics / Law Family Commission for Civil Society (July 2021).
Chapman, T. (2020) The Strength of Weak Ties: How charitable trusts and foundations collectively contribute to civil society in North East England , Newcastle upon Tyne, Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T. (2020) Diversity and Inclusion in organisational leadership: evidence from Third Sector Trends 2020, Newcastle upon Tyne: Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Chapman, T., Longlands, S. and Hunter, J. (2020) Third Sector Trends Survey: Covid-19 and its potential impact on the Third Sector in the North, London, IPPR.
Chapman, T. (2020) Third Sector Trends Covid Impact Study, Newcastle, Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Newcastle.
Chapman, T. (2020) Community businesses in the North of England 2020: new comparative analysis from the Third Sector Trends Study, London: Power to Change.
Phase four: 2016-18
This phase of the research concentrated solely on the North of England and achieved a response rate of over 3,500 cases. Analytical reports for each region were produced and in addition, thematic reports were written with colleagues at IPPR North.
Chapman, T. and Hunter, J. (2017) Third Sector Trends in the North of England: a summary of key findings, Manchester: IPPR North. third-sector-trends-in-the-north-of-England_Mar2017
Chapman, T. and Hunter, J. (2018) The value of volunteering in the North, Manchester: IPPR North. The Value of Volunteering in the North IPPR North October 31 2018
Chapman, T. and Hunter, J. (2018) The value of business to the Third Sector in the north, Manchester: IPPR North. value-of-business-to-the-third-sector-march18
Chapman, T. (2017) A digest of findings from the Third Sector Trends Study in North East England, Durham: St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Chapman, T. (2017) A digest of findings from the Third Sector Trends Study in Yorkshire and the Humber, Durham, Policy&Practice, St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Chapman, T. (2017) A digest of findings from the Third Sector Trends Study in North West England, Durham, Policy&Practice, St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Chapman, T., Mawson, J., Robinson, F. and Wistow, J. (2018) How to work effectively with the Third Sector: a discussion paper for public sector organisations, Durham: Institute for Local Governance.
Chapman, T. (2017) ‘Journeys and destinations: how Third Sector organisations navigate their future in turbulent times’, Voluntary Sector Review, 8:1, 3-24.
Chapman, T. (2017) ‘The propensity of Third Sector organisations to borrow money in the UK’, Policy Studies, 38:2, 185-294.
A number of local area studies were also commissioned in this phase of the research.
Chapman, T. (2017) Third Sector Trends in Bradford, Durham, Policy&Practice, St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Chapman, T. (2017) Third Sector Trends in Kingston upon Hull and East Yorkshire, Durham, Policy&Practice, St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Chapman, T. (2016) Third Sector Trends in Tees Valley, Durham, Policy&Practice, St Chad’s College, Durham University.
A new line of analysis on community businesses, funded by Power to Change led to two new reports, one involving qualitative research in Tees Valley and Bradford, and a statistical study using data from Third Sector Trends.
Chapman, T. and Gray, T. (2019) Trading interactions amongst community businesses in Bradford, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, Bristol, Power to Change.
Chapman, T. and Gray, T. (2018) How do community businesses differ from other Third Sector organisations in the North: evidence from Third Sector Trends. Durham, Policy&Practice.
In response to current initiatives by a primary funder, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, there was a special focus on the extent to which the sector addressed the issues of alleviation of poverty in the North.
Chapman, T. (2017) Tackling Poverty in the North: evidence from Third Sector Trends, Briefing Paper, Durham, Policy&Practice, St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Further work on strengthening capability of smaller organisations was also undertaken, including additional qualitative work, for Lloyds Bank Foundation.
Chapman, T. (2019) The social process of supporting small charities: evaluation of the Grow project, London: Lloyds Bank Foundation.
Phases one to three: 2008-2015
Third Sector Trends was initiated by Northern Rock Foundation in 2008 involving a research partnership between the universities of Durham, Southampton and Teesside together with NCVO and Guidestar.
Durham and Teesside universities engaged in three elements of work between 2008-15. First, the establishment of the Third Sector Trends survey, which began in 2010 and was repeated in 2012 and 2014 in North East England and Cumbria.
The field of study was widened for the survey in 2013 to Yorkshire and Humber, supported by Involve Yorkshire and Humber and Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Baseline data for Yorkshire and Humber were assembled by Southampton University and NCVO in 2010.
Chapman, T. and Robinson, F. (2011) Taking Stock, Moving On: a summary report on the results of the Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation.
Chapman, T., van der Graaf, P. Bell, V., Robinson, F. and Crow, R. (2010) Third Sector Trends 2011 Keeping-the-show-on-the-road-Report, Newcastle, Northern Rock Foundation.
Chapman, T. (2014) Third Sector Trends in Yorkshire and Humber, Leeds: Involve Yorkshire and Humber.
Secondly, a qualitative study of 50 organisations in the study region. The first two phases of this work were funded by Northern Rock Foundation, subsequent phases were funded by ESRC (in 2016-17) and the final phase by the Community Foundation (in 2019-21),
Chapman, T., Robinson, F., Brown, J., Crow, R., Bell, V. and Bailey, E. (2010) What makes Third Sector organisations tick? Interactions of foresight, enterprise, capability and impact’’, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation.
Thirdly, a consultation process was begun to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the sector in the study region. This was undertaken between 2008-2011 and involved a region wide set of events culminating in the Forearmed with foresight report and an initial study of local infrastructure organisations in the study region which set the scene for subsequent qualitative and quantitative field work.
Chapman, T. Robinson, F., Brown, J. Ford, C., Shaw, S. Crow, R. and Bailey, E. (2009) Third Sector Trends 2009 Mosaic, jigsaw or an abstract Getting a big picture perspective on the Third Sector, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation.
Bell, V., Robinson, F., Chapman, T., van der Graaf, P., Shaw, S., Brown, J. and Chinaka, G. (2010) Forearmed with Foresight: speculations on the future development of the Third Sector in North East England and Cumbria, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation.
Southampton University, NCVO and Guidestar undertook work to set a baseline for future surveys undertaken by Durham and Teesside universities in North East England, Cumbria and Yorkshire and Humber. The following reports were produced between 2009-12.
Kane, D. and Mohan, J. (2010a) Mapping registered Third Sector organisations in the North East, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study Working Paper.
Kane, D. and Mohan, J. (2010b) Mapping registered Third Sector organisations in Cumbria, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study Working Paper.
Kane, D. and Mohan, J. (2010c) Mapping registered Third Sector organisations in Yorkshire and the Humber, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study Working Paper.
Mohan, J., Kane, D., Wilding, K. Branson, J. and Owles, F. (2010) Beyond ‘flat earth’ maps of the Third Sector, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study Working Paper.
Mohan, J., Rajme, F.G. and Kane, D. (2011a) Paid work and volunteering in the Third Sector in North East England, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study Working Paper.
Mohan, J., Rajme, F.G. and Kane, D. (2011b) Paid work and volunteering in the Third Sector in Cumbria, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study Working Paper.
Two discussion papers were also produced which outlined methodological complexities underlying the study.
Chapman, T., Bell, V. and Robinson, F. (2011) Measuring Impact: easy to say, hard to do: a think-piece to stimulate debate from the Third Sector Trends Study, Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study Working Paper.
Robinson, F., Bell, V. and Chapman, T. (2011) Building Better Boards: What’s the problem? Newcastle: Northern Rock Foundation.
Prior to the launch of Third Sector Trends, development work for the programme resulted in a number of publications and reports.
Chapman, T. and Crow, R. (2008) A Thriving Third Sector: a study of North Yorkshire and City of York, Middlesbrough: Social Futures Institute.
Chapman, T., Crow, R. and Brown, J. (2008) ‘Entering a Brave New World? An assessment of Third Sector readiness to tender for the delivery of public services’, Policy Studies, Vol. 28, No 1, pp. 1-17.
Chapman, T., Forbes, D. and Brown, J. (2007) ‘They think they have God on their side’: the impact of public sector attitudes on the development of social enterprise’, Social Enterprise Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 78-89.
Chapman, T., Crow, R. Brown, J. and Ward, J. (2006) Facing the Future: A Study of the Impact of a Changing Funding Environment on the Voluntary and Community Sector in the North East of England, Middlesbrough: Social Futures Institute.