Voluntary Sector Studies Network
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vssn1.bsky.social
Voluntary Sector Studies Network
@vssn1.bsky.social
VSSN is about promoting understanding of the voluntary sector and voluntary action in the UK and around the world through research, and providing a voice and a meeting place for voluntary sector researchers and practitioners.
📢 Call for Papers – Special Issue of Voluntary Sector Review @brisunipress.bsky.social
Evaluations for better philanthropy

🗓️ Deadline: 17 Jan 2027

🔗 More info: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
November 14, 2025 at 11:45 AM
📢 The latest issue of Voluntary Sector Review @brisunipress.bsky.social is out now and it features research on:

🌀 Volunteer motivations
🌀 NGO roles in homelessness
🌀 Leadership & care ethics
🌀 Digital emotions
🌀 Corporate volunteering & more

Read: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
November 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The VSSN Small Grants Scheme 2025 is now open!
Deadline: 21 Nov 2025 🗓️

We fund UK-based activities like workshops, podcasts, seminars or creative outputs that advance voluntary sector research and practice.

Open to VSSN members – more info & how to apply:
🔗 www.vssn.org.uk/small-grants/
October 31, 2025 at 10:01 AM
VSSN friends – can you help us grow the reach of Voluntary Sector Review?

We're keen to connect VSR with wider audiences. LinkedIn is a key space for that.

Support us by:
Following the page
Reacting & commenting
Reposting
Tagging others

www.linkedin.com/company/volu...

@brisunipress.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 7:16 PM
📖 New open access research from VSR
@brisunipress.bsky.social

What about the migrants? An exploration of organisational change in an asylum seeker and refugee voluntary sector organisation by Elizabeth Cookingham Bailey and Vita Terry

Read: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
October 13, 2025 at 9:23 AM
📖 New open access research from Voluntary Sector Review @brisunipress.bsky.social

Ten years evaluating VCS women-centred support for vulnerable women and girls: what works? by Louise Warwick-Booth, Susan Coan & Ruth Cross

Read: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
October 13, 2025 at 8:13 AM
🔍 New open access research from Voluntary Sector Review @brisunipress.bsky.social @bupjournals.bsky.social

Boundary crossing and elite attributes in European civil societies by Malin Arvidson, Jayeon Lee, Roberto Scaramuzzino & Anders Uhlin

Read: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
October 10, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Are you a new researcher in the voluntary sector? We want your views. Help shape the future of our New Researchers Online Sessions by filling out a short survey.

Your input helps us:

Choose the right topics
Get the format right
Offer the support you need

The survey: tinyurl.com/new-research...
October 9, 2025 at 9:33 AM
🎥 Watch the Day 2 #VSVR2025 plenary:
"Staying true while gaining traction: Civil society’s contribution to system change from the edge and the centre"

With Vita Terry, Navinder Kaur, Ken Kanu, Dawn Plimmer and John Everson.

📺 Recording here: echo360.org.uk/media/6082e3...
October 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
📝 VSSN member Jenny Raschbauer is researching learning and development in social sector organisations and needs your help!

If you work or volunteer in a charity, CIC or VCSE organisation, share your experience in a short survey.

📲 Scan the QR code in the image to take part (10 mins max)!
September 11, 2025 at 9:18 AM
That’s a wrap on #VSVR2025!

We’re grateful to our conference partners: the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at @bayesbschool.bsky.social, @ncvo.bsky.social and @volactionislington.bsky.social for making it all possible.
September 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
We’re closing out #VSVR2025 with our final session, a practical workshop on building cross-sector research collaborations to create change together, led by Ellen Bennett, James Rees, and Carol Jacklin-Jarvis.

A fitting end to two days of learning and collaboration here at @bayesbschool.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
🎙️ A busy afternoon of parallel sessions is underway at #VSVR2025!

From devolution and place-based work to digital inclusion, advocacy, and third sector-university partnerships.

Great to see such thoughtful research and practice being shared across rooms here at @bayesbschool.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 9:44 AM
🌅 Good morning from Day 2 of #VSVR2025 at @bayesbschool.bsky.social !

We’re kicking off with a powerful plenary:
“Staying true while gaining traction: Civil society’s contribution to system change from the edge and the centre”

🎤 Chaired by Vita Terry (VSSN).

Let’s dive in!
September 4, 2025 at 8:47 AM
🏆 Congratulations to Toby Blume, Peter John, Dyana Mason @dyanamason.bsky.social, and Marios Petropoulos - winners of this year’s Voluntary Sector Review Best Article Prize!

📖 Read the award-winning article here: doi.org/10.1332/2040...

@bupjournals.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
That’s (almost) a wrap on Day 1 of #VSVR2025 at @bayesbschool.bsky.social!

It’s been a full day of keynotes, panels, and discussions across themes of collaboration, resilience and research impact.

Still to come: the Best Paper Prizes 🏆!

@ncvo.bsky.social @volactionislington.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
We are heading into the first parallel sessions here at #VSVR2025 @bayesbschool.bsky.social ☕📚

Themes include equity and inclusion, volunteer experience, charity leadership, and research-practice collaboration. Plenty of insight ahead!

@ncvo.bsky.social @volactionislington.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Kicking off #VSVR2025 with opening plenary:

📣 Prof Stephen Osborne set the scene with reflections on systems thinking in public services and civil society.

A response panel following:

🔹 Arvinda Gohil (Better Way Network)
🔹 Fiona Longhurst (Royal Voluntary Service)
🔹 Mike Adamson (St Mungo’s)
September 3, 2025 at 9:33 AM
We’re underway at #VSVR2025!

Angela Ellis Paine (Bayes CCE) and Vita Terry (VSSN Co-Chair) opened the conference this morning with a warm welcome and reflections on the theme Creating Change Together.

Great to see the room filling with energy for the two days ahead!

📍 @bayesbschool.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
☕ Not long now until the main conference begins!

Day 1 of #VSVR2025 kicks off today at @bayesbschool.bsky.social. We’ll be exploring the theme Creating Change Together with a packed programme of keynotes, parallel sessions, and panel discussions.

Watch this space for updates throughout the day!
September 3, 2025 at 6:44 AM
That’s a wrap on New Researchers Day #VSVR2025

A full day of discussions from enhancing engagement at conferences to sharing research across volunteering, democracy, and community change.

Thanks to all who joined us today!
@bayesbschool.bsky.social @ncvo.bsky.social @volactionislington.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Before lunch at #VSVR2025 New Researchers Day, we heard:

🗳️ Sue Ansarie @sueansarie.bsky.social on Big Local volunteers
🔍 Thérèse Gaqua on associations & social action
🤝 Linda Cole @lindarcole.bsky.social on co-producing research with disabled volunteers

@bayesbschool.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Next up at #VSVR2025 New Researchers Day:

📣 Workshop on Enhancing communication and engagement at academic conferences: asking good questions!

Facilitated by Rob Macmillan and Amy Sanders, helping us get the most out of presenting, participating and connecting.

@bayesbschool.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 10:06 AM
We also had a warm welcome this morning from Amy Sanders, Co-Chair of VSSN, as we kicked off New Researchers Day at #VSVR2025.

Great to start the day with encouragement and connection across our research community!
@bayesbschool.bsky.social @ncvo.bsky.social @volactionislington.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
🎓 New Researchers Day at #VSVR2025 is starting now at @bayesbschool.bsky.social!

Helen Abnett @helenabnett.bsky.social, Chelle Coulton & Pat Danahey Janin are opening the day with a welcome and intro. A brilliant line-up of early career research ahead – let’s get started!
September 2, 2025 at 9:38 AM