Welcome to the Institute for Voluntary Action Research – IVAR. We are an independent charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. From the very small that directly support the most vulnerable in their local communities, to those that work nationally – across the voluntary, public and funding sectors.
We use research to develop practical responses to the challenges faced and create opportunities for people to learn from our findings. This site is home to our bank of research and resources, providing insights that can help organisations adapt to change and make informed and confident decisions.
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Recently published
Covid-19
Support for voluntary sector leaders and their funders
The outbreak of the coronavirus in the UK presents a shock that is without precedent for almost all of us. This page will be updated with the latest information about our efforts to support voluntary organisations and their funders at this time, and with links to past research that may be useful.
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Youth volunteering in hospitals
Learning and resources from 30 NHS Trusts and their respective charities, who have been welcoming young volunteers since early 2018. We also offer some initial reflections on how hospital volunteering – and youth volunteering in particular – has evolved in response to Covid-19.
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Small charities and social change
Advocacy, lobbying, campaigning and influencing are essential tools in the effort to tackle inequality and injustice. In our latest study, we explored how and why small charities are challenging, shaping and changing policy, practice and attitudes.
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Newsletter
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Principles for grant reporting
We’ve been working with funders and charities to develop a set of principles that make grant reporting a shared, more meaningful and mutually beneficial experience.
Free resources and support for health, care and VCSE professionals
Transforming Healthcare Together
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Blogs
01 June 2020
Thinking about merger in 2020
Ben Cairns
IVAR has learned much over the last two decades about what makes a merger successful. How much of this can applied in the current circumstances?
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01 June 2020
Merger: Practitioner perspectives
This blog shares four perspectives of practitioners who have led merger processes. We asked Laurie Rackind, Joanna Holmes, Ben Hughes and Leah Swain to share their reflections for other leaders contemplating merger in the current context.
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