"So many tiers, so many agendas, so many pots of money": The challenge of English regionalization for voluntary and community organizations

Margaret Harris*, Ben Cairns, Romayne Hutchinson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper looks at the challenges facing voluntary and community organizations (VCOs) within the new policy context of English "regionalism", drawing primarily on an empirical study in one of the emerging Regions. Barriers to voluntary and community sector (VCS) engagement with the new regional governmental organizations and the new regional policy agenda are identified. The role of VCS "infrastructure" organizations in facilitating relationships with regional levels of government is also considered. The concepts of exchange, ownership, trust and legitimacy are then employed to analyse and explain the implications for English VCOs of working with a new tier of government at regional level. The paper concludes by reconsidering the nature of the relationship between VCOs and "government" in the light of the new policy context presented by English regionalism combined with central government interest in building the capacity and infrastructure of the voluntary sector.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)525-540
Number of pages16
JournalSocial policy and administration
Volume38
Issue number5
Early online date20 Aug 2004
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2004

Keywords

  • Capacity
  • Funding
  • Regional government
  • Voluntary sector

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