Understanding the social and political environment
Websites and online resources
NCVO’s Third Sector Foresight (or 3S4) project looks at the factors likely to affect people’s lives in coming years and the effects they might have on public policy. It’s a log-in and discussion site but worth visiting just for a read as well.
Revitalise, from the Centre of Charity Effectiveness is a clear and easy to use guide to environmental scanning and includes tools that you can print out and use to help you in your discussions and planning
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation funds and publishes research into a wide range of social issues. Search by subject here.
Office for National Statistics contains a huge amount of information about population trends and particular issues affecting society. Their social indicator page is a good place to start
Urban Forum’s policy pages are concise, well written and regularly updated. Use the navigation menu on the left to find the issues you’re interested in
The Directory of Social Change policy pages also make for interesting and useful background reading
VolResource’s guide to policy and research provides a typically clear overview and set of links
Books and publications
The Guardian’s Society section can be a great source of background reading about a range of social issues; you can sign up to free regular e-mails on their website
Third Sector magazine highlights stories and issues relevant to the voluntary sector and also sends out regular free mailings
Support organisations
IVAR is the Association for Voluntary Action Research. They run seminars, publish articles on a range of issues relevant to the voluntary and community sector
ARVAC is the Association for Research in the Voluntary and Community Sector; it hosts a database of research and sends out regular briefings
