The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) is a new, independent, charitable research institute, specialising in action research and capacity building with charities and other voluntary, community and not-for-profit organisations (described here as 'third sector organisations').  IVAR has developed out of the highly successful Centre for Voluntary Action Research based in Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham.  Its first Director is Ben Cairns and its Academic Adviser is Professor Margaret Harris.  Through its partnership with Birkbeck, University of London, IVAR has offices within Birkbeck's Faculty of Continuing Education.

The Institute for Voluntary Action Research is committed to supporting the development and sustainability of third sector organisations through research, education and training.  IVAR is founded on a belief that these bodies have distinctive organisational features and also need to be understood in the context of their policy environment. IVAR's work is concerned with improving practice and contributing to shaping the policy environment for third sector organisations. We aim to achieve this through:

• A commitment to and application of action research principles
• Using theory to inform practice and practice to inform theory
• A team of people who share an ideological commitment to the independence of the third sector.

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