What people say about us

We couldn’t have achieved our merger without the guidance and support of IVAR. Their experience in working with our sector meant they had a wealth of knowledge to draw upon whenever we hit a challenging point in the merger process. The impartial nature of IVAR made their input challenging, thought provoking and most importantly kept us 'on track' every step of the way!

Ashley McCaul, CEO, Skills for Growth Landmark
Merger support

I found it fascinating to observe how you paced things; you sometimes slowed things down and at others rattled things along, always seeming to know the points at which to do this. I think this stopped us getting stuck while allowing enough times to discuss important issues, I thought it extremely skilful.
Joanna Holmes, Chair, Locality
Merger support

IVAR understood the delicacy of issues such as the name, branding, who would be CEO and who would be Chair. I would have no hesitation in recommending IVAR, they bring great knowledge and experience in mergers and collaborative working yet recognise the individual nature of each study and give time to deal with the impact such studies have on individuals as well as organisations.
Kevin Williams, Chief Executive, TACT 
Merger support

We gained a tremendous amount from our participation in the Partnership Improvement Programme. IVAR challenged us to break down entrenched ways of working and thinking and our cross sector partnership is much strengthened. IVAR’s ability to keep us on task, to evaluate and to develop further our relationships is second to none.
Karen Peck, Senior Policy Officer, London Borough of Sutton
Partnership Improvement Programme

It wasn’t “off the shelf” but really tailored to the way we all wanted to work.
Sally Yeoman, Chief Executive, Halton & St Helens VCA
Partnership Improvement Programme

IVAR’s role in developing, refining and delivering the Partnership Improvement Programme has led to tangible improvements and actions in the way councils and the third sector approach and operate within the increasingly complex partnership arena that now exists.
Helen Hughes, previously National Adviser (VCS), IDeA
Partnership Improvement Programme

There were some big decisions to be made… should we look into the idea of merger? How could we expand our membership? Should we think about closing down?
Emer O’Neill, Chief Executive, Depression Alliance
Organisational review

We were able to sit down and think more strategically about the management of our organisation.
Christine Harris, Chair, Bell View
Organisational review

People felt they had a voice in shaping our future strategy … the ideas came from them.
Diana Jupp, Director of Services, Breast Cancer Care
Strategic review

Working with IVAR has changed the way the management committee is run – we discovered that they actually wanted to be more involved with the organisation.
Vicki Laville-Davies, Director, Dalgarno Neighbourhood Trust
Organisational review 

The question of governance has never gone away but IVAR’s research gave us a framework for debates.
Cliff Alum, Chief Executive, Skillshare International
Governance review

Findings from the research have strongly influenced our strategies to support capacity building.
Steve Browning, Evaluation & Research Analyst, Big Lottery Fund
Research into capacity building, small organisations and the Big Lottery Fund

IVAR has been formative in changing the way bassac thinks and works. Through their unique application of action research, they provided us with an unequivocal evidence base from which we’ve been able to shape national policy, along with really strengthening the capacity of our members. IVAR has developed a justifiable reputation as being a powerful force in strengthening the voluntary and community sector, and plays a unique role in linking grass roots activity with academia.
Ben Hughes, former Chief Executive of bassac, now CEO of Community Development Finance Association
Servants of the community or agents of Government study

IVAR's research helped us to build the case for our work and has enabled that story to be told.
Nick Dunne, Chief Executive, Bede House
Collaborative research examining impact assessment