Have questions about submitting an abstract for #VSVR2026? Join our online drop-in on 29 April, 12–1pm to ask about papers, panels, workshops and what to include in your abstract. Join using this link: teams.microsoft.com/meet/3270446...
A quick reminder to sign up for next Thursday’s New Researchers’ online session, 12:00-13:00 (UK time) on 16th April 2026. If you haven’t already, please sign up here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c26728...
Don’t forget to submit your abstract for #VSVR2026. We’re pleased to be organising this year’s conference in partnership with @bvscresearch.bsky.social and @ncvo.bsky.social
Submission deadline: 18 May
Read more and submit your abstract:
www.vssn.org.uk/2026-volunta...
VSVR 2026 call for papers is now open!
We welcome submissions for both the main conference and New Researchers Day. New for 2026: posters and lightning talks for New Researchers.
Read more: www.vssn.org.uk/2026-volunta...
Vol 17 Iss 1 of Voluntary Sector Review is out now! This issue includes research on digital volunteering, increasing volunteer participation, ethical leadership and more bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
@vssn1.bsky.social #ThirdSector #ThirdSectorStudies #Volunteering #Philanthropy
Why connection matters: our Co-Chairs reflect on VSSN’s trustee away day, shared priorities for the year ahead, and ways to get involved in the network. Read the blog: www.vssn.org.uk/2026/03/19/c...
A picture of Aoife O’Leary McNeice seated by a window in front of a seascape.
Our next seminar is in less than two weeks! 🗃️
Aoife O’Leary McNeice (University of Galway/Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) will be presenting their research on the history of volunteering and the River Lee Hydro Electric Scheme
23 March, 6pm online via Zoom
Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
🗓️ The Power of Us Conference 2026 @bvscresearch.bsky.social
VSSN is delighted to support this one-day event
📍 Birmingham City FC, St Andrew’s
📅 Thu 23 April 2026
🎟️ Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-...
Theme: In Partnership - creating spaces for trust, understanding & shared impact.
Don't forget to join the New Researchers informal online catch-up tomorrow!
📅 Wed 4 March | 13:00–14:00
Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a69d2f...
We hope to see you there!
VSSN New Researchers online session on careers!
📅 Thu 16 April 2026 | 12:00–13:00 (UK time)
Join former New Researchers @helenabnett.bsky.social and Chris Mills as they share their experiences of moving from PhD study into research careers.
Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c26728...
Yesterday our trustees and exec officers came together for a VSSN Away Day. Thanks to @prof-stig.bsky.social for hosting us at the University of Wolverhampton!
It was a chance to pause, reflect, welcome new trustees, and think ahead.
More reflections from the Co-Chairs soon - watch this space!
📣 VSSN member @helenabnett.bsky.social is speaking at the launch of Using Documents In Research, @brisunipress.bsky.social, editors Helen Kara & Aimee Grant
🗓️19 March | 🕙10am
Helen’s talk: using charity annual reporting data to explore representation
Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/part-1-boo...
📝 VSSN member @pbphd.bsky.social is recruiting participants for a study on AI in donor/supporter comms.
If you work or volunteer in comms/supporter engagement, join an online workshop to share how you judge voice and authenticity.
💻 Online workshop | ✅ No prep
📲 Scan the QR code to sign up
Register for 4 March: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a69d2f...
Register for 2 June: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/cf7ffe...
New Researchers: informal online catch-ups (save the dates!)
We’re hosting two informal online New Researchers sessions to help you connect with others working on voluntary sector and volunteering research:
📅 Wed 4 March | 13:00–14:00
📅 Tue 2 June | 13:00–14:00
We hope to see you there!
For this Special Issue, submissions are especially welcome on:
• networks between small voluntary orgs
• volunteer workforces impact on survival & influence
• the role of founders/key people in growth & reach
Send a 300-word abstract + 50-word bio to vsrassistant@vssn.org.uk by 27 March 2026.
📢 Voluntary Sector Review Special Issue – Call for Papers: Unravelling Smaller Organisations.
🗓️ Abstracts due 27 March 2026 | Full papers due 29 May 2026
Guest editors: Katy Adams & Ellen Bennett
Details: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
@brisunipress.bsky.social
🗃️Our next seminar is next week!
Delzar Sadiq (Salahaddin University in Erbil) will be talking about his use of Geographic Information Systems to reconstruct forgotten volunteer networks in 19th-century London.
6pm, Monday 9 February, Online via Zoom
Sign up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
The most read articles published in Voluntary Sector Review in 2025 are available to read for free throughout February 2026.
Explore the collection here: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/subject/Most...
@brisunipress.bsky.social
Voluntary Sector Review's Early View @brisunipress.bsky.social
Strategic adaptation in a cold funding climate: Third sector experiences of employment support funding and commissioning in the UK after Brexit
Authors: J Rose, J Payne, P Butler
Read bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
💫 Early View from Voluntary Sector Review, @brisunipress.bsky.social
Money, power and free lunches: examining foundation–non-profit power imbalances in the context of capacity-building programmes
Author: Katy Adams
Read here: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
🗃️This is next week!
Sign up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
💫 Early View from Voluntary Sector Review @brisunipress.bsky.social
A behaviour change intervention to increase volunteer participation in charity
Authors: Daniel Guzmics, Elena Kalfova, Simeon Petrov, Tatyana Tomova, and Ivo Vlaev
Read here: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
Did you know? @brisunipress.bsky.social and Policy Press offer free or low-cost journal access, including Voluntary Sector Review, for eligible universities & nonprofits via Research4Life (www.research4life.org)
More info: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/journals/sub...
#VSR #Research4Life
📢 There’s still time to register for the VSSN New Researchers’ Online Session:
Tue 20 Jan 2026 | 12:00–13:00 GMT
This month: Jon Dean (Sheffield Hallam Uni) on researcher positionality & reflexivity + discussion, survey feedback, networking.
Sign up: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/03bf38...
Free resource sessions. How to explore decision making and the role of evidence. Date: 29th of January 2026. Time: 1:20pm – 2pm. Making Sense: Analysing qualitative information. Date: 26th of February 2026. Time: 11:30pm – 12:10pm. Making Sense: Analysing quantitative information. Date 19th March 2026. Time: 1:20pm – 2pm.
Free resource sessions are back! In this series of short lunchtime sessions, we will introduce a resource and share tips to help you get the most out of it.
Book now 👉 evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk/events/resou...
Our next seminar is two weeks away! 🗃️
Dr Sarah Flew (@c19thphilanthropy.bsky.social ) will be sharing her research on Lord Overstone’s philanthropy
26 January, 6pm to 7.30pm
Online via Zoom
Book through the IHR website: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
(As ever, it's FREE)
📖 Great to see a new VSR @brisunipress.bsky.social article by VSSN trustee @caitlinmcmullin.bsky.social on refugee social integration and the role of voluntary organisations in creating meaningful connection and belonging beyond service delivery.
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
📚 Read Voluntary Sector Review 16(3), @brisunipress.bsky.social, with articles on volunteering during COVID-19, non-profit worker wellbeing, care ethics & leadership, digital emotional labour, homelessness services and more.
Browse the issue: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
Reminder: the Voluntary Sector Review @brisunipress.bsky.social special issue on Evaluations for better philanthropy is open. If you’ve got an idea brewing, take a look at the Call for Papers and consider submitting.
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...