Research and policy
Overview
Capacitybuilders’ Policy and Strategy Committee advise us on our strategy development and considers how best to evaluate our work.
Learning from the sector
Throughout 2006/07, the committee has reviewed a number of commissioned reports including: local authority relationships with the voluntary sector; peer review; mainstreaming equalities in ChangeUp; support for sub-sector infrastructure and funder coalitions supporting capacity building.
Shaping our programme of work
Discussions around these reports have led to proposals for programmes of work aimed at encouraging stronger local authority partnership with the voluntary sector and supporting community foundation led funder coalitions.
Commisioning research at a regional level
The Committee has commissioned research at the regional level examining the need for sub-sector infrastructure and is developing proposals for work with Learning and Skills Councils proposing some joint work with the Performance Hub on peer review.
Identifying our priorities
In addition, the committee has considered the research priorities for Capacitybuilders which include: developing understanding of the appropriate support services at national, regional and local levels together with the roles of various organisations; generic, subsectoral etc; which organisations are supporting advocacy and campaigning and the methods they use, and on the quality principles, systems, standards and outcomes for support providers.
Achieving our mission
Through improving support demonstrating its benefits; increasing equality of access; influencing funders and policy makers and engaging with the public sector, we will achieve what we have set out to do.
We will demonstrate to key stakeholders the benefits of support services.
Evidence
We will gather evidence that demonstrates to government, other public sector bodies and non-statutory funders that investment in support services is money well spent and an effective way to strengthen the third sector. We will base this evidence on:
- information routinely collected by support providers
- research and rigorous evaluations to independently assess the outcomes achieved by ChangeUp
- information from other sources such as the Charity Commission, Third Sector Almanac, GuideStar, and the State of the Sector Panel
- in-house statistical and qualitative data.
Our newly appointed Director of Strategy and Policy, Jon Fox, will work alongside Chief Executive, Simon Hebditch and Board to develop the ongoing strategic direction of Capacitybuilders, coordinating the research, policy and commissioning agenda.
