Mobilising Voluntary Action in the four UK jurisdictions: Learning from today, prepared for tomorrow
Lead Research Organisation:
Northumbria University
Department Name: Fac of Arts, Design and Social Sciences
Abstract
The overarching aim of this four nation comparative study is to critically evaluate social welfare voluntary action responses to the pandemic, to help guide the UK volunteer effort to support the national recovery and prepardeness for future crises, and indoing so inform UKRI research questions on inequality and national recovery (1).
The four nation study will be delivered by a UK-wide team (academics, the four key sector infrastructure bodies for each nation), supported by a Project Partner advisory panel (from professional networks, organisations and related ESRC investments).
It has been co-designed, and will be co-delivered practising the principles of co-production. The analytical framework is a theory-based evaluation technique (2) with refinements from process evaluation of complex systems (3).
A desk-based collection of evidence will be undertaken across the four nations facilitated by CoIs (Q 2.2) from the infrastructure bodies and supported by Project Partners (2.3). Key evidence: national voluntary action policy documents; virtual interviews with policy makers; rapid evidence gathering via voluntary action pro-forma (CoI and Project Partner networks) and anonymised data from matching apps/ platforms.
A common coding frame will be employed for data analysis, within country analysis preceding integrated analysis, linking the four nations to identify similarities and differences. Critical feedback and validation will be provided by Project Partners (second Advisory Panel meeting).
Emerging findings will be shared via an interactive website; regular webinars; mid review briefings to inform recovery, end of review briefing informing future planning, presented at virtual end of award events (one per nation).
The four nation study will be delivered by a UK-wide team (academics, the four key sector infrastructure bodies for each nation), supported by a Project Partner advisory panel (from professional networks, organisations and related ESRC investments).
It has been co-designed, and will be co-delivered practising the principles of co-production. The analytical framework is a theory-based evaluation technique (2) with refinements from process evaluation of complex systems (3).
A desk-based collection of evidence will be undertaken across the four nations facilitated by CoIs (Q 2.2) from the infrastructure bodies and supported by Project Partners (2.3). Key evidence: national voluntary action policy documents; virtual interviews with policy makers; rapid evidence gathering via voluntary action pro-forma (CoI and Project Partner networks) and anonymised data from matching apps/ platforms.
A common coding frame will be employed for data analysis, within country analysis preceding integrated analysis, linking the four nations to identify similarities and differences. Critical feedback and validation will be provided by Project Partners (second Advisory Panel meeting).
Emerging findings will be shared via an interactive website; regular webinars; mid review briefings to inform recovery, end of review briefing informing future planning, presented at virtual end of award events (one per nation).
Organisations
- Northumbria University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Volunteer Now (Collaboration)
- Be Collective (Collaboration)
- Wales Council for Voluntary Action (Collaboration)
- TeamKinetic (Collaboration)
- Volunteer Scotland (Collaboration)
- GATESHEAD COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) (Collaboration)
| Description | The pandemic has brought into sharp relief the impact of devolution as some policy fields are non-reserved, including volunteering and the voluntary and community sector. Consequently, there has not been one national policy response, rather there have been different pandemic policy responses across the four UK jurisdictions. In the context of voluntary action, this divergence has emphasised the dividing lines of UK devolved government, reflecting the very different policy framings of the scope and value of voluntary action across the four jurisdictions. Our thematic analysis of 70+ UK-wide research reports identified six themes, especially the role of Mutual Aid and Hyperlocal voluntary action during the pandemic but with sustainability challenges. Analysis of app data (UK wide) during the pandemic highlighted surge in numbers of individuals responded to the start of the crisis by registering to volunteer. But this brought challenges for organisations matching supply and demand. There was an increase in participation of those aged 30-60; decline in disabled volunteers. Wales: most organisations reported a significant increase in new volunteers, particularly in areas related to the pandemic (foodbanks and support with daily living); organisations, eg in nature and conservation, reported significant challenges in being able to deliver activities, with effects on volunteers' health and well-being; befriending services underwent significant developments; blended delivery models emerged along with online delivery models; and flexible approaches to volunteering; improved cooperation and sustainable funding. Northern Ireland: lockdowns adversely affected charity shops, education (both children and adults), sports and religious activity. Main challenges: reduction in volunteers; volunteer mental health and burnout; lack of resources for managing and supporting volunteers. While existing structures for collaboration were not fit for purpose new structures were established quickly (regional and local); and cross- community volunteering emerged in ways that had not previously happened; new relationships have developed. Scotland: improved understanding of role of mutual aid and informal volunteering by the infrastructure organisations; Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) played critical role in helping to address social isolation and loneliness, mental and physical ill-health; tackling poverty, disability, homelessness and unemployment; VIOs reconfigured their business model: online/phone communication for coordinating volunteers and engaging with beneficiary groups where possible; utility of pre-pandemic resilience planning; coordination and partnership working worked well including local level. England: four key areas of focus for recovery: bringing back volunteers; sustaining the involvement of new volunteers; volunteer diversity and inclusion and collaboration and the importance of local. Looking forward recurrent issues include the importance of collaboration and relationship building; the need for setting a strategic direction locally and nationally; re-thinking the volunteering 'ecosystem' and building on positive changes (continuing making volunteering accessible and inclusive). Understanding the involvement of volunteers during the pandemic, and especially their ongoing involvement as part of the recovery has been identified as a priority in all four nations. Key infrastructure organisations are relying on evidence from the project and governments have engaged and are engaging to varying degrees. In Scotland, our Scottish Co-applicants are working directly in partnership with the Scottish Government, for example, delivering a joint survey and sharing findings with the Third Sector Unit and key policy colleagues in the Strategic Resilience Unit. In Wales our Welsh Co-applicant was seconded to the Welsh Government. In Northern Ireland our Co-applicant are preparing a conference involving key stakeholders and in England our English Co-applicants are also working with national and local government and are part a major voluntary cross sector initiative redefining the 'Vision for Volunteering'. Finally, the pandemic has provided an opportunity to think beyond volunteering binaries (formal and informal); as there is spectrum of participation and for organisations to rethink the way they deliver services. Collaborations and partnership working especially locally has been a feature too. |
| Exploitation Route | Key infrastructure organisations are relying on evidence from the project and governments have engaged and are engaging to varying degrees. In Scotland, our Scottish Co-applicants are working directly in partnership with the Scottish Government, for example, delivering a joint survey and sharing findings with the Third Sector Unit and key policy colleagues in the Strategic Resilience Unit. In Wales our Welsh Co-applicant was seconded to the Welsh Government. In Northern Ireland our Co-applicant are preparing a conference involving key stakeholders and in England our English Co-applicants are also working with national and local government and are part a major voluntary cross sector initiative redefining the 'Vision for Volunteering' to be launched in 2022. An 'accessible' open access book, a Policy Press Short is to be published October 2022 'Mobilising Voluntary Action in the UK: Learning from the Pandemic' https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/mobilising-voluntary-action-in-the-uk |
| Sectors | Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Description | Our project was underpinned by the principles of co-production, the mobilisation of multiple knowledges, not merely epistemic knowledge. This was especially important during the pandemic as emergency legislation necessitated that the project be delivered online. Sector experts from the four key volunteering infrastructure organisations in the UK (National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Volunteer Now, Volunteer Scotland and the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action) sometimes identified as 'research users' were co-applicants and co-researchers, acting as gatekeepers with first hand lived experience of the 'practice' of voluntary action in the pandemic. Through animating Theory of Change we delivered data gathering, we held interactive project meetings, which provided a reflexive space for thinking about the implications of the project findings for the sector in the four UK jurisdictions. The knowledge generated by the research project had the potential to deliver instrumental and conceptual impact during the currency of the award adding to the evidence base of our four user CoI organisations and in addition we held interactive knowledge sharing events (two per jurisdiction) to contribute to a new understanding of the impact of the pandemic on mobilising and sustaining voluntary action. Wider conceptual impact was facilitated by the knowledge sharing with other VCS organisations in each jurisdiction: via participation in knowledge exchange events, detailed in our submission, and included other presentations at regional sector events. Please also see how key findings are being taken forward We have made use of digital technologies and social media |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Gateshead Council |
| Organisation | Gateshead Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The collaboration is informal, and nominated members of the team work closely with each partner |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaboration began at bid writing stage. We knew and were known by the Council before, Irene Hardill has collaborated with them on previous ESRC investments. The Council provided a letter of support with the project proposal. Their support includes co-organising two knowledge exchange events. The first interactive event was held November 27th 2018 and was to engage with older Gateshead residents to share some emerging findings from the project. Members of the Older People's Assembly attended |
| Impact | We adopted an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach drawing on knowledge and expertise from social policy, sociology, human geography and social history. The collaboration is extant, and outcomes are ongoing and will be reported in future submissions |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Mobilising Voluntary Action collaboration |
| Organisation | Volunteer Now |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The team co-wrote the proposal with Denise Hayward of Volunteer Now. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Denise Hayward is a Co-Investigator on the project, she is using her skills and expertise on voluntary action in Northern Ireland to inform the foru national study |
| Impact | multi-disciplinary |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Mobilising voluntary action Scotland |
| Organisation | Volunteer Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The team co-wrote the proposal with Volunteer Scotland |
| Collaborator Contribution | Matthew Lining and colleagues from Volunteer Scotland are leading the analysis of voluntary action in Scotland |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Mobilising voluntary action Wales |
| Organisation | Wales Council for Voluntary Action |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The team co-wrote the proposal with WCVA |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sally Rees and colleagues from WCVA are leading the analysis of voluntary action in Wales |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Mobilising voluntary action digital volunteering matching tools |
| Organisation | Be Collective |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The team approached Be Collective when bid writing to secure access to volunteer matching data |
| Collaborator Contribution | Be Collective are working with the team to access volunteer matching data |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Mobilising voluntary action digital volunteering matching tools |
| Organisation | TeamKinetic |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The team approached TeamKinetic when bid writing to secure access to volunteer matching data |
| Collaborator Contribution | TeamKinetic are working with the team to access volunteer matching data |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NCVO |
| Organisation | National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | A memorandum of understanding underpins our collaboration. The project is underpinned by the principles of co-production. Nominated members of the team work closely with each partner. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaboration began at bid writing stage. We knew and were known by NCVO and NCVO convened our bid writing meetings. These conversations were lengthy but were essential for us to present detailed fieldwork plans in the application form. Our proposal depended on having access to their archives and interactive engagements with our partners during the research process. The archives we wished to examine were not in the public domain. Our collaboration is articulated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which built on the information in the letter of support submitted with the project proposal to ESRC. The MoU specifies the nature of the support the organisation would give to the project, (access to archives, participation of Steering Group etc) statements on ethics, outputs, archiving and knowledge exchange. The document was signed off by the partner organisation and the research team. |
| Impact | We adopted an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach drawing on knowledge and expertise from social policy, sociology, human geography and social history. The collaboration is extant, and outcomes are ongoing and will be reported in future submissions. Our work adds additional insights on the history of NCVO using a slightly different lens from that of Dr Justin Davis-Smith, Cass Business School who has been commissioned to research and write the History of NCVO. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Working Paper 1: A picture is worth a thousand words using a Theory of Change approach to develop a shared understanding of 'voluntary action' as complex systems |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This working paper outlines the Theory of Change approach used to develop a shared understanding of 'voluntary action' in "Mobilising Voluntary Action in the four UK jurisdictions: Learning from today, prepared for tomorrow (MVAin4)". Working with the project team and key stakeholders in the Advisory panel a common analytical framework has been developed to guide the work across the four nations of the United Kingdom. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | England workshop, October 27 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | An online workshop on the policy making and the sector with particular reference to England were presented. The workshop presentations presented findings from survey data and interviews with policy makers by members of the Mobilising Voluntary Action project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | English Mid Project Briefing, July 5 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | NCVO hosted an interactive briefing for the English voluntary and community. This 'mid project briefing' knowledge sharing event focused on the emerging findings of the impact of the pandemic on voluntary action in England from the Mobilising Voluntary Action |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/resource-details/englandmidprojectreport/ |
| Description | Northern Ireland project briefing December 2 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | As part of an online Volunteer Now conference an interactive session focused on findings from across the four nations of the UK on the impact of the pandemic on voluntary action were presented by members of the Mobilising Voluntary Action project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Podcast Series: Episode 4- Student Volunteering (2) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This podcast considers the impact of the pandemic on student volunteering at Queen's University Belfast. Huge thanks to Lucia, Margarita and Vivienne for discussing their experiences managing and supporting student volunteering. The podcast discusses a range of topical themes including online volunteering, grassroots activity, task forces, virtual volunteer training, managing risk and safety and matching volunteer supply with demand. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/resource-details/podcast-series-episode-4-student-volunteering/ |
| Description | Podcast series: Episode 1- Volunteering paused |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | First episode in our podcast series titled 'Volunteering paused'. Volunteering has played a pivotal role in the response to COVID-19 and while in some areas there has been a surge in volunteer activity, certain forms of volunteering have had to pause in line with the COVID restrictions. This podcast shines a light on how this pausing has impacted volunteers and organisations with a specific focus on nature and heritage, sport, youth and the arts. Thanks to all contributors for sharing their experiences. Tiger de Souza - National Trust Stephanie Walls- Aberdeen Arts Centre Ian Marshall- First Bangor Boys' Brigade David Wellwood- Lurgan Rugby Football Club Peita McAlister- Malone RFC |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/resource-details/episode-1-volunteering-paused-podcast/ |
| Description | Podcast series: Episode 2 - The role of volunteering in national recovery |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Second podcast in our series on voluntary action during the pandemic. The second episode focuses on the role of the voluntary sector in national recovery and the challenges society faces as we move towards recovery. Huge thanks to Sarah Van Putten from Befriending Networks and Josie Robinson from VODA for sharing their experiences. The podcast was chaired and edited by Phil Ward from Eastern Arc Research Consortium. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/resource-details/podcast-series-episode-2/ |
| Description | Podcast series: Episode 3- Student Volunteering (1) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This podcast considers the impact of the pandemic on student volunteering within a higher education setting. The discussion focuses on the experiences of Alex Marlowe (Welfare and Diversity Executive Officer) and Jodie Evans (Action Chair) from Loughborough Students' Union (LSU). As Alex aptly states, "We are a Students' Union, and everything we do is volunteering", as such LSU provides a perfect case study to explore adaptations to volunteering as a result of the pandemic. During the podcast Jodie shares her experiences spearheading the COVID Community Champions Scheme which was designed to provide support for students in self isolation. Alex also shares his thoughts on the impact of COVID-19 on student wellbeing and considers how the adaptations to volunteering have enabled the inclusion of different groups of students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/resource-details/podcast-series-episode-3-student-volunteering/ |
| Description | Podcast series: Episode 5 - Perspectives from Wales | Safbwyntiau o Gymru |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Yn y podlediad Cymraeg hwn ar ran Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru mae Russell Todd yn sgyrsio â Dr Rhys Dafydd Jones o Brifysgol Aberystwyth am ei ymchwil ar effaith y pandemig ar wirfoddoli yng Nghymru. Yn ogystal, mae tri o bobl yn ymuno â nhw i rannu eu safbwyntiau o du fewn y sector gwirfoddol: Carwyn Humphreys, Mantell Gwynedd; Meleri Davies, Partneriaeth Ogwen; and Eironwy Davies, Cefnogaeth Cymunedol Llanfair-ym-Muallt a'r cylch. Recordiwyd yr episod ym mis Gorffennaf a mis Awst 2021. (In this Welsh language podcast, Russell Todd, on behalf of Wales Council for Voluntary Action, chats with Dr Rhys Dafydd Jones from Aberystwyth University about his research on the impact of the pandemic on volunteering in Wales. They are also joined by three people who share their perspectives from within the voluntary sector: Carwyn Humphreys, Mantell Gwynedd; Meleri Davies, Partneriaeth Ogwen; ac Eironwy Davies, Builth Wells Community Support. The episode was recorded in July and August 2021.) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/resource-details/podcast-series-episode-5-perspectives-from-wales-safbwyntiau-... |
| Description | Scottish Briefing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Volunteer Scotland organised an interactive briefing 'road to recovery: mini expo' for the Scottish voluntary and community. This 'mid project briefing' knowledge sharing event focused on the emerging findings of the impact of the pandemic on voluntary action in Scotland from the Mobilising Voluntary Action |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.volunteerscotland.net/about-us/our-work/the-evidence-sessions/the-road-to-recovery-mini-... |
| Description | Wales workshop January 11 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | An online workshop focused on findings on the impact of the pandemic on voluntary action in Wales were presented by members of the Mobilising Voluntary Action project. While the focus was on Wales, insights from the other UK nations were shared |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Welsh Briefing June 28th 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | As part of the WCVA annual conference an interactive briefing for the Welsh voluntary and community. This 'mid project briefing' knowledge sharing event focused on the emerging findings of the impact of the pandemic on voluntary action in Wales from the Mobilising Voluntary Action |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/news-story/gofod3-mid-project-briefing-event/ |
| Description | Working Paper 3: Preliminary analysis of policy differences across the four UK jurisdictions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This working paper describes the development of an initial policy analysis framework for comparative analysis of the voluntary response across the 4 UK jurisdictions. It is intended as a discussion document for the different UK voluntary action research teams. This working paper summarises the analytical work in delineating the different policy frameworks across the 4 jurisdictions to gain an informed understanding of similarities and differences in the 'voluntary action' policy contexts across the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Policy-analysis-WP-25.03.21-final-draft-2.pdf |
| Description | Working Paper 4: Volunteering in the Pandemic - Evidence from two UK volunteer matching services |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Our fourth working paper, produced by Professor Alasdair Rutherford and Rahel Spath, explores volunteering during the pandemic by drawing upon evidence from two UK volunteer matching services. The onset of COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown elicited a surge in individuals expressing a desire to volunteer. However, the scale of these volunteers, and the difficulties of operating under COVID restrictions, meant that the majority were not matched to volunteering opportunities. Later lockdowns saw similar, smaller surges in volunteers coming forward, and by this point organisations were better able to mobilise more of this voluntary action. We examine administrative data from two volunteer-matching systems across the four nations of the UK in 2019 to 2021 to understand the scale, timing and characteristics of this UK-wide desire to help. We highlight the challenge of so many volunteers at once in difficult circumstances; the changing demographics of those coming forward; and the concern that some groups may be left behind as volunteering returns to 'normal' again. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Working-paper-4.pdf |
| Description | Working paper 2: What the existing research tells us |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Mobilising Voluntary Action project is generating UK wide findings to inform recovery and future pandemic preparedness. This working paper explores some of the key themes from a thematic analysis of more than 70 research reports, representing a range of organisations across the UK including intermediaries and infrastructure organisations, volunteer involving organisations (VIO's) and local authorities. Many of these reports were written following the first lockdown, perhaps - with the benefit of hindsight - prematurely reflecting on what recovery would look like. The main trends are comparable across the four nations, yet the key differences relate to the structures, systems and approaches that have supported the mobilisation of voluntary action at different geographical scales. Subsequent working papers will reflect on the divergence in policy frameworks that have underpinned the mobilisation of voluntary action. This paper is structured in two distinct parts, firstly, taking stock of voluntary action trends during the pandemic and secondly by reflecting on recommendations put forth to inform national recovery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mvain4.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Working-Paper-2-300621.pdf |