2019 Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference
A civil society for the future: setting the agenda for the voluntary sector and volunteering research in the 2020s
Increasingly the voluntary sector and volunteering are viewed through the lens of ‘civil society’ and the past 12 months have witnessed considerable public and political debate about how civil society can be at the heart of the changes needed to ensure that all communities can thrive. This includes how to strengthen social value within communities, how civil society can revitalise and enhance democracy, and the potential for reshaping state-civil society relationships.
These debates present opportunities and challenges for civil society actors and for research undertaken on, with and for them. Each year, the Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference - organised by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) - provides a unique opportunity for academics, policy makers and practitioners from the UK and further afield to come together to share findings and discuss the implications of research. This year the conference - hosted by Aston University Business School - will focus on ‘a civil society for the future’.
Conference details
| Date | 10–11 September 2019 |
|---|---|
| Location | Aston University, Birmingham, UK |
Aims and themes
We welcome submissions for individual papers, panel sessions and workshops. Given the conference theme, we are particularly keen to receive proposals offering critical reflections on the future of civil society, but we welcome submissions that address a range of issues relevant to any aspect of the voluntary sector and volunteering, including:
- The Conference Track - Critical Reflections on Civil Society
- Democracy and grassroots voluntary action
- Diversity, race, (in)equality and inclusion
- Volunteering, participation and social action
- Advances in theory and methods
- Funding, fundraising, philanthropy and social investment
- Organisational management and governance, including law and regulation
- Historical perspectives on civil society, the voluntary sector and volunteering
- Civil society at the boundaries: relationships with the state and/or private sector
- Measuring civil society: outcomes, impact and social value
- New researchers stream
Please consider submitting a proposal. The full call for papers on the VSSN website provides all the necessary details for proposal submissions.
Deadline for submissions is 13 May 2019.
New researchers
The conference is an ideal opportunity for new or early career researcher looking to meet, discuss and present their research with other new researchers in a supportive setting. A special series of parallel sessions will be run as part of the conference for ‘new’ researchers. Attendance at this part of the conference is subsidised and is intended for all early career researchers in the field of voluntary sector studies, whether postgraduate students or working/volunteering in the voluntary sector.
Find out more information about the new researchers’ session.
Want to find out more?
Should you have any queries on the 2019 Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research conference please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
