Birkbeck Institute for Social Research

Voluntary Sector in Transition: Hard Times or New Opportunities (Policy Press)
Linda Milbourne (Birkbeck)

Speakers: Rob Macmillan, Mike Aiken and Linda Milbourne

Please come along, join the discussion, and celebrate the book’s publication.

Voluntary and community organisations have moved to the centre of political debates, as the UK coalition government reduces the scope of the state and locates solutions in civil society. This important new book explores the growth and re-shaping of the voluntary sector following sweeping changes to social and welfare policy over 30 years. It draws on contemporary social and organisational theory to consider whether surviving in the voluntary sector now depends on re-aligning activities and compromising independent goals and values.

Mike Aiken says “This book brings together the most important challenges facing the voluntary sector today in a highly readable style. Theoretically informed by institutional theory, it draws on research to illustrate each theme by quotes from practitioners. This book is a treasure trove of ideas which is not afraid to pose some challenges of its own.”

Rob Macmillan is a Research Fellow at the Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham

Mike Aiken is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Open University and an associate at the Institute for Voluntary Action Research

Linda Milbourne is a Senior Lecturer in Voluntary and Community Sector Studies at Birkbeck