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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Trust, power and collaboration
Shares practical suggestions for taking a ‘human learning systems’ approach to commissioning and funding relationships. Carried out in partnership with Northumbria University and the Tudor Trust the research aimed to capture the varying experiences of those adapting their practice, and identify both what is happening and what needs to change to enable different ways of working – for both VCS organisations and funders/commissioners.
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Thinking about… Merger, during Covid-19
Our updated Thinking about… Merger advice brings together the experiences of a wide variety of voluntary organisations and advisers that have contemplated or carried out merger.
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Blogs
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Youth volunteering in hospitals
Learning and resources from 32 NHS Trusts for those setting up or running youth volunteering programmes in hospitals.
Free resources and support for health, care and VCSE professionals
Transforming Healthcare Together
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21 October 2020
Promoting equitable, inclusive and transparent grant making
Himali Dave | UMI Fund
In the second of our learning from lockdown blog series, Himali Dave (Urban Movement Innovation Fund), reflects on what she and colleagues have been learning about how best to support organisations to create a collective impact.
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14 October 2020
Making ‘relational’ real: Our experience of funding during Covid
Hazel Robertson | The Robertson Trust
The first in our new series of blogs about learning from funding during Covid, Hazel Robertson reflects on The Robertson Trust's experience of funding during Covid.
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