Acevo pushes for research fit for the future

At a seminar jointly organised by acevo and the Centre for Public Service Partnerships (CPSP), Stephen Bubb outlined his vision for the future of the third sector as the context for the new Third Sector Research Centre. The GBP 9 million research centre is to be run by the Universities of Birmingham and Southampton, and CPSP and acevo will be at the heart of research on third sector public service delivery in particular.
 
Speaking to a select audience of academics, government policy makers and third and private sector leaders, Mr Bubb sketched out a growing role for the sector in delivering public services, strengthening community cohesion and revitalising democratic politics.
 
But he cautioned that the sector will need to change if it is to carry out its growing role more effectively, becoming more professional, improving its governance arrangements and working better with the private and public sectors. Repeating his 2007 Cass lecture call for such a shift, Mr Bubb said, ‘we have built castles in the air; now we need to build the foundations beneath them’.
 
John Tizard, Director of CPSP, furthered these comments stating that ‘The third sector is and will increasingly deliver a range of public services; many complex and many personalised to individual choice; and will form delivery partnerships with business and public sector agencies. The Research Centre and CPSP will contribute to this development with evidenced based analysis of partnerships and their outcomes. We are delighted to be working with acevo – it brings many added dimensions to the Centre.’
 
It is in that context that the Third Sector Research Centre will soon begin its work, and the Chatham House discussions that followed Mr Bubb’s talk will help inform the Centre’s research priorities.