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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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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The STAGE Partnership: Learning and Legacy
We explore a partnership between small, medium and large charities who provide specialist women’s services across the North East, led by Changing Lives. It is a positive story of a partnership in action – sharing not only success factors, but also a frank account of the challenges and measures put in place for the partnership to grow together and establish a legacy. We hope this provides inspiration for other charities interested in working together.
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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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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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03 February 2021
Four ways now can be a moment for transformational learning
Tanya Beer| IVAR associate
In reflection, Tanya Beer – IVAR associate – shares the four key reflections from the Evaluation Roundtable 2020 session to enable transformational learning for funders.
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28 January 2021
Health inequalities and Covid-19: How can we respond collaboratively?
Dr Esther Oenga, Cecily Mwaniki | Utulivu
Panellists Dr Esther Oenga and Cecily Mwaniki from Utulivu reflect on how responding collaboratively can help us to address health inequalities among the ethnically diverse and refugee communities’ – following IVAR’s Transforming Healthcare Together Virtual Conference in November 2020.
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