Clinks report | Key trends for the voluntary sector

The state of the sector 2015

The needs of service users are increasing and becoming more complex, and the majority of organisations rarely achieve full cost recovery on the contracts they deliver.

These are some of the findings from our latest 'State of the sector' survey, which offers us valuable insight into the voluntary sector in the Criminal Justice System. This new report gives us the opportunity to check how the delivery of services to some of society’s most marginalised people is faring amidst new policies and financial arrangements.

It assists our understanding of how the voluntary sector can continue to deliver its essential mission, highlights the impact of policy changes on the wellbeing of your service users, and throws the spotlight on the knowledge, skills and motivations of the sector's staff and volunteers.

"We are seeing increased numbers of clients with complex needs compared to previous years – as additional burdens such as debt, arrears, and benefit changes impact upon their mental health." - Survey respondent

The report also finds...

• Many organisations are relying on their reserves putting them at risk of closure
• The majority of the sector is having to make redundancies
• Organisations are spending more time on funding applications
• Volunteering remains vital for the sector, and volunteer recruitment is increasing

... and asks 'Where next?' for the voluntary sector working with offenders and their families.

Click here to download the report

Click here to read the blog, 'The latest news on the state of the sector'