Voluntary organisations
Get support
Every day we see voluntary organisations doing amazing work, often in trying and stressful circumstances. In every community, small groups and organisations work round the clock to improve quality of life and opportunity for local people. Home visits for the elderly; after-school clubs; skills training for teenagers; advice for people out of work; beds for people without a home – all provided at low cost, with minimum fuss.
Some common areas of stress persist – here we set out those stress points and direct organisations to relevant resources. We share research insights to help organisation leaders to strengthen their practice, so that they can withstand the challenges, grasp opportunities and concentrate on what matters most to them.
Common stress points
-
Strategy & planning
-
Collaboration & partnerships
-
Assessing & describing impact
-
Funding & stability
New microsite 
New microsite
We have developed a new microsite, designed to deliver our research in a useful and usable format for CEOs and Trustees of small voluntary and community organisations. We are planning to publish this new area of our website on 29 Jan 2018.
If you would like to receive an email when this new resource has been launched, do get in touch with emily@ivar.org.uk
We work directly with voluntary organisations all across the UK through our research and through direct support.
Values and mission first
We believe organisations that flourish and thrive are those that are self-determining and able to seek, engage with and make use of support in order to learn, adapt and improve. So we encourage organisations to put their values and mission first to ensure that any changes they make are rooted in why their organisation exists and what it stands for. And we encourage funders to consider operating flexible funding that will help organisations navigate challenges and change.
Our approach
Our experience of delivering support to over 60 small social welfare organisations has found these to be the most valued elements of our approach. (Including grantees of the Tudor Trust, Travellers Aid Trust and Esmėe Fairbairn Foundation)
- We begin with a practical problem or challenge
- Our approach is rooted in an understanding of the history, values and context of each organisation
- We act as a ‘critical friend’ to help organisations find their own realistic and feasible responses to the challenges they face
Achieving a meaningful connection
Our support is carried out by a team that has worked in the voluntary sector for many years as volunteers, practitioners and trustees, as well as researchers. Team members have an extensive experience of supporting organisational development which enables us to establish a meaningful and useful connection with each organisation.This in turn gives them the confidence to be open and honest with us about the challenges and choices that they face.
As well as delivering practical, hands-on support to organisations (for example, drafting a funding bid, facilitating board meetings) we always encourage organisations to step back from their immediate, pressing concerns and reflect on fundamental questions about their organisation: Who are we? What are we trying to achieve? What do we need to do to get there? This enables us to build confidence and leave a legacy that extends beyond our direct involvement.
learn more about our strategic review process
06 November 2016
Getting on the impact bandwagon
Marilyn Taylor
IVAR associate, Professor Marilyn Taylor shares her thinking on Impact.
read more
Source
Source
Drawn from IVAR’s research & support with 180+ small and medium sized organisations on behalf of:
- The Tudor Trust
- Travellers Aid Trust
- Esmėe Fairbairn Foundation
- Lankelly Chase Foundation,
- Lloyds Bank Foundation in England Wales
- Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland
In practice
Learn more about IVAR