Research output per year
Research output per year
The Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) aims to enhance our knowledge of the sector through independent and critical research, giving us a better understanding of the value of the sector and how this can be maximised.
We work closely with practitioners, policy makers, and other academics to gain input into our research and explore its findings.
This page summarises key information about the Centre and its work - follow the links below to explore in more detail.
The third sector is a debated term. We take a broad definition, to include all organisations operating outside the formal state or public sphere that are not trading commercially for profit in the market.
This means charities and voluntary organisations, community groups, social enterprises, cooperatives and mutuals. Whilst these organisations are exceptionally diverse, they share a broad common theme of being value driven.
Our research is divided into research streams focused on different areas of the sector. All research papers are published on our website, along with summaries and short ‘briefing papers’.
Browse our Research streams
TSRC is reviewing existing research and building comprehensive databases to create lasting resources for third sector research.
We are also working to grow the sector's potential to use and conduct research, through collaborative research projects.
TSRC first launched as a Venture Funded ESRC Research Centre, co-funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the UK government Cabinet Office's Office of the Third Sector (renamed the Office for Civil Society in 2010), and the Barrow Cadbury Trust.
This funding ran from September 2008 to August 2013.From September 2013 until March 2014 the centre was further funded by the ESRC under bridge funding arrangements, supporting a range of new and continuing research activities until the outcome of our application for further funding under the Centres and Large Grants Competition was known. Unfortunately this application was unsuccessful.
The Barrow Cadbury Trust (BCT) are continuing their funding support for TSRC's work focusing on 'below the radar' third sector activity, as over its first five years.
The Centre is accountable to a Steering Committee made up of its funders.
An Advisory Board informs the Centre's overall work. It is made up of leading practitioners, policy-makers and academics from across the third sector. Their main role is to advise on the general strategy for TSRC, supporting its impact strategy, acting as ambassadors for the Centre, receiving, commenting and approving the Annual Report.
Reference Groups meet with researchers from the streams. They also work ‘virtually’ to advise and comment on our research. They act as advisors - informing the development of the research, discussing implications of the findings, and promoting its dissemination in the field.
TSRC continues to undertake research for other funders and commissioners in the third sector field.
Person: Academic
Person: Academic
Person: Academic
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Economic & Social Research Council
1/11/18 → 18/03/19
Project: Research Councils
Economic & Social Research Council
1/07/18 → 31/03/19
Project: Research Councils
Economic & Social Research Council
1/07/18 → 31/01/19
Project: Research Councils
McDonnell, D. (Creator), Mohan, J. (Creator) & Norman, P. D. (Creator), University of Birmingham, 2019
DOI: 10.25500/edata.bham.00000392
Dataset