Who said what: different perspectives about the role of VCSE organisations during Covid-19

There are lessons to be learnt here about how VCSE organisations can work together and with public services to support individuals and communities. Before deciding what exactly these lessons are though, it is necessary to take a step back to understand what different stakeholders in local and central government, NHS, and VCSE organisations themselves are saying about what happened.

What we found

We looked at 34 different reports and briefings about the role of VCSE organisations in the pandemic response. Most came from the VCSE sector itself. Perhaps not surprising given they have the keenest insight and understanding of what they have been doing during the pandemic, of the complexities of the sector, and what their role could be in the recovery.

Government perspectives on the VCSE’s contribution were fewer and more distant, tending to focus on narrow areas of policy like volunteering passports – they felt like rather simplistic responses to the complex actions, relationships and challenges occurring at a local level.

An impactful response

The reports and briefings we looked at described:

• How VCSE organisations worked hard during the pandemic response to support communities
• The significant positive impact this had on community wellbeing; from increasing ‘community spirit’ and community cohesion to improving levels of trust – both between community members but also between the community and local services
• How VCSE organisations worked successfully alongside other sectors in the pandemic response – often out of necessity due the overwhelming need to deliver more with less
• The abundance of assets VCSE organisations contributed to partnerships – like deep local knowledge, local leadership, and a community-led infrastructure
• The challenges faced by VCSE organisation along the way – adapting services rapidly to comply with changing government guidelines, additional costs and admin that more volunteers create, as well as the sheer demand for services. Lack of trust, poor communication between partners and stakeholders, and a poor understanding of long-term needs have also been issues

Again, most of the information was being put forward by the VCSE themselves.

Moving forward

The collective purpose of responding to the pandemic response facilitated collaborative working between VCSE organisations and other sectors, helping set aside competing interests and different ways of working. However, what we have found suggests that the vital role of the VCSE in supporting individuals and communities has not been fully understood at a government level – or, at least, decision makers are not clearly articulating their understanding in publications.

The evidence suggests policymakers should embrace the VCSE and legislate for how to support and enhance the role of VCSE organisations in local health systems. Funding is, of course, a key topic. Fully recognising and valuing the role of the VCSE should be accompanied by increased funding.

We have seen attempts to professionalise and capitalise on the VCSE sector through the years – think the Big Society in response to austerity – but given their obvious central role over the past 18 months, now seems an opportune moment for VCSE organisations to get a bigger seat at the table to influence change, be included in local decision-making, and support post-pandemic recovery for communities.

Our full report ‘Through different eyes: How different stakeholders have understood the contribution of the voluntary sector to connecting and supporting people in the pandemic’ can be downloaded from the Space to Connect project webpage.