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The distinctiveness of smaller voluntary organisations providing welfare services
Dayson, Chris Bennett, Ellen Damm, Chris Rees, James Jacklin-Jarvis, Carol Patmore, Beth Baker, Leila Terry, Vita Turner, Katie
Dayson, Chris
Bennett, Ellen
Damm, Chris
Rees, James
Jacklin-Jarvis, Carol
Patmore, Beth
Baker, Leila
Terry, Vita
Turner, Katie
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2022-02-15
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Abstract
This article presents empirical findings about the distinctiveness of smaller voluntary sector organisations (VSOs) involved in welfare service provision, based on in-depth, qualitative case study research. We identify a series of organisational features and practices which can mean that smaller VSOs are distinctive from larger organisations. These include how they are governed and managed, their approach to their work, and their position relative to other providers. To explain our findings, we draw on the concept of stakeholder ambiguity. This idea was posited by Billis and Glennerster (1998) and is commonly cited in relation to distinctiveness. We identified several manifestations of stakeholder ambiguity and confirm the concept’s explanatory importance, although we argue that our understanding of distinctiveness is enhanced when stakeholder ambiguity is considered alongside other closely related features, such as being embedded in a local geographic community and informal, familial care-based organisational cultures. Our findings also highlight the fragility of smaller VSOs. We argue that this combination of distinctiveness and fragility creates a tension for social policy makers, many of whom recognise the value of smaller VSOs and the risks that they face but must weigh this against a requirement to allocate resources for statutory services as effectively as possible.
Citation
Dayson, C., Bennett, E., Damm, C., Rees, J., Jacklin Jarvis, C., Patmore, B., Baker, L., Terry, V. and Turner, K. (2022) The distinctiveness of smaller voluntary organisations providing welfare services. Journal of Social Policy, 52(4), pp. 800-820. doi:10.1017/S0047279421000970
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Journal article
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en
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© 2022 The Authors. Published by Cambridge University Press. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279421000970
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0047-2794
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The research underpinning this article was funded through a grant from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales.