Category Archives: Sector Developments

Perhaps oddly, we’ve never had an introduction to the sector on VolResource. There are views on what’s different about working in a voluntary organisation, and various issues are mentioned as part of other topics. But in redesigning the site recently, something other than a list of relevant topics seemed a good idea to help those new to the sector, or newly given responsibility when they had previously been happily working away in the frontline.

We’ve started work on this, but as your editor has some 30 years of sector baggage in the way, your thoughts on what newbies need to know would be great.

Here’s our starter:
- With increasing attention from politicians on what voluntary organisations can deliver, and a higher profile for some charities from recent natural disasters and upcoming new charity law, the ‘operating environment’ is increasingly complex. But most people in most organisations still just need to get on with establishing good practice.

(We’ll make noises about the best being the enemy of the good later.)

The Canadian Charity Village site has this week’s cover story as “Mandatory volunteering”: What’s in a name? As it says, “While “mandatory volunteering” is an oxymoron, it is a growing trend that is worth watching.”  While there are differences between how the sectors work in Canada and UK, much is very similar.

Would we call it ‘community service’ rather than ‘mandatory service’ this side of the pond, and does the high profile of CSV confuse matters further?

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story

Must say I tend to agree with Adrian Sargeant on the misguided approach to GuideStar UK, in this December article from Professional Fundraising just published online:

Double trouble is on horizon for the sector, Adrian Sargeant on Professional Fundraising.

In it he says “….. I wonder who will use the site. Charities will, as they will want to
identify potential competitors or collaborators, and to look at their
performance. Academics will use the site for research. I suspect some
highervalue donors looking for an organisation in a particular cause
category might use it. But the idea that charity donors will flock to
the site and achieve £6m worth of value is nonsense.”

I’ll declare neutrality on his other point, whether “The sector has scored a huge own goal….. on the [fundraising] self-regulation scheme.” Probably, but then I don’t trust any professional fundraisers myself anyway!