This page contains information on the research conducted as part of the Speaking Out project:

• Current research - Scoping research on community empowerment and health and well-being

• Survey of policy priorities for 2009-2011

• Every Organisation Matters: Mapping of the children and young people's voluntary and community sector

Research on community empowerment and health & well-being

The Speaking Out project has commissioned scoping research on community empowerment issues relating to children and young people. The research identifies key emerging challenges for the children and young people’s voluntary and community sector (CYPVCS), highlight existing good practice and recommend areas for further development.

The final reports can be read here: Community Empowerment briefing and Health and Wellbeing briefing 

For more information contact Faiza Chaudary (T: 020 7278 1041).

Speaking Out partner Children England is conducting similar research on health and well-being with Ecotech. More information can be obtained from Kathy Evans (T: 020 7833 3319).

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Policy priorities for 2009-2011

In December 2008, the Speaking Out project conducted a survey to help shape and prioritise the project’s policy work and future activities for 2009-2011. Overall, respondents found the issues of social exclusion and community empowerment to be the most useful policy issues that the Speaking Out project has covered to date. The top five areas that respondents would like to see the Speaking Out project focus on in the future include:

• youth employment, education and training;

• community cohesion/citizenship;

• health;

• youth justice;

• and housing and homelessness.

Every Organisation Matters is the first ever mapping of the children and young people’s voluntary and community sectors, which was undertaken by a team from the University of Hull led by Professor Gary Craig as part of the Speaking Out project. The mapping research was published on 9 July 2008.

Key findings:

• The children and young people’s voluntary and community sector employs over 160,000 people in England – as many as 1 in 3 of all those employed by voluntary and community organisations - and generates income in excess of £15 billion a year.

• Small organisations, many of whom work with highly vulnerable children and young people, are under threat because of the government’s shift towards commissioning services.

• Children aged 7-13 appear to be poorly provided for, with an emphasis on early years provision and a growing government agenda around services for young people leading to this transitional age group missing out.

• Effective understanding of the children and young people’s voluntary and community sector is currently hindered by poor quality data.

• Voluntary and community sector organisations need to be doing more to measure the long-term impact of their work.

To find out more:

>> Every Organisation Matters - Full Document (PDF)

>> Every Organisation Matters - Executive Summary (PDF)

>> Research launch press release July 08 (PDF)

Alternatively you can order a hard copy of the executive summary by contacting the policy and communications team (E: speakingout@ncvys.org.uk T: 020 7278 1041).

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