Research & publications

Special publications

• Developing Sports Volunteering Action Groups [PDF, 1.17mB].  A guide to setting up a partnership of organisations that have an interest in developing sports participation and volunteering within an area.
• Infrastructure facing forwards [PDF, 835kB]. A series of case studies illustrating how infrastructure bodies are gearing up in the current political and economic to address the significant changes affecting their operational and strategic environment.
• Engaging with LEPs [PDF, 1.71mB].  A West Midlands case study.
• RAWM: ten years of supporting the third sector [PDF, 750kB].  A series of 'thinkpieces' charting developments in the voluntary and community sector over the last decade.  Written to commemorate RAWM's tenth anniversary.

Research reports

• 'Under the Radar: Study of Voluntary and Community Organisations not on the Business or Charities Register'  [PDF, 1.75mB] 
  A comprehensive overview of the third sector by focusing on organisations which are not currently on the Business or Charities Register, but who nevertheless provide much needed services within local communities.
• 'The Economic Footprint of the Voluntary and Community Sector in the West Midlands' [PDF, 774 kB] (March 2009)
  A study of the contribution made by non-statutory, not-for-profit organisations to the financial economy of the region.
• 'Community Empowerment: Working Together to Achieve! A case study on the Women Organising in Wolverhampton Network' [PDF, 538 kB] (2008)
  Part of a series of four publications to support regional empowerment work this report documents the building blocks to the successful development of the Women Organising in Wolverhampton Network.
• 'Parish plans community empowerment and engagement' [PDF, 749 kB] (2008)
  Part of a series of four publications to support regional empowerment work this research evidences the parish plan process as an effective mechanism through which genuine community empowerment and engagement can be achieved.
• 'Community empowerment and the Local Area Agreement process' [PDF, 938 kB] (2008)
  Part of a series of four publications to support regional empowerment work this report maps the extent of community involvement and empowerment in the developing Local Area Agreement process.
• 'BME communities and the empowerment agenda Research on the development of a black and minority ethnic voluntary & community sector practitioner network' [PDF, 1.4 MB] (2008)
  Part of a series of four publications to support regional empowerment work this report documents the common issues faced by BME voluntary and community organisations when engaging in consultations with public sector agencies.
• 'A Digest of National and Regional Government Led Policy Drivers and Strategies' [PDF, 792 kB] (January 2008)
  A factual digest of the changing environment. It will equip us with knowledge and intelligence that will support us to remain a thriving and prosperous sector.
• 'ESF Community Grants Evaluation'  [PDF, 1.23mB] (September 2010)
  The West Midlands European Social Fund Community Grants fund has recently undergone a robust external evaluation to demonstrate the value of the grant to small community groups and individuals within the community, and the impact of the voluntary sector in its delivery.

Event reports

• 'Commissioning for thriving and sustainable communities: report of the annual conference 2009/10' [PDF, 301 kB] (January 2010)
• 'Nick Hurd consults with the West Midlands third sector' [PDF, 2.4 MB]
  (December 2009)
  Part of the Talking Westminster series, Nick Hurd, Shadow Minister for Charities; Social Enterprises and Volunteering discusses the Conservatives’ third sector policy
• 'How to have your say in government structures' [Word, 1.1 MB] (December 2009)
  Part of the Talking Westminster series, this report covers a workshop run by The Houses of Parliament Outreach Team on how to have your say in government structures

Briefings

• ‘Fuel and cleaning in communal rooms in supported housing’: sector briefing 8 [PDF 193 kB] (Feb 2012)

  Implications of the Oxford City Council versus John Basey case which ruled that fuel and cleaning in communal areas in most supported housing is currently eligible for housing benefit

• West Midlands Voluntary and Community Housing Network on the Localism Bill Neighbourhood Planning [PDF, 164kB] (Nov 2011) This briefing summarises the intended provisions of the Neighbourhood Planning part of the Localism Bill.
• Consultation on Open Public Services White Paper [PDF, 202kB] (Aug 2011) RAWM commentary on each section of the white paper relevant to the VCS.
• West Midlands Listening Event [PDF, 241kB] (May 2011) A report summarising the consultation events that took place regarding the Health reform.
• Strong local economies need strong local communities part three [PDF, 1.23mB] (Mar 2011) Building Sector VOICE, INFLUENCE and ENGAGEMENT with LEPs - an update
• Strong local economies need strong local communities part two [PDF, 268kB] (Dec 2010) A response from the voluntary and community sector
• The comprehensive spending review: implications for the voluntary and community sector [PDF 327kB] (Nov 2010) Headlines and analysis on the recent spending review
• Transport and third sector involvement: issues and challenges [PDF 308kB] (October 2010) An update on the current transport agenda from the Third Sector Transport Policy Group
• Strong local economies need strong local communities [PDF, 2.46mB] (August 2010)  An offer of partnership from the voluntary and community sector
• Responding to the ‘big society’ and preparing for the comprehensive spending review [PDF, 345kB] with Consultation questions [PDF, 64 kB] (August 2010)
  A consultation document seeking Views on some key issues posed by the coalition government’s ‘big society’ policy, the 22 June 2010 emergency budget cuts and associated policy statements.
• '2012 Games: a West Midlands legacy' [PDF, 215 kB] (July 2010)
• 'Partnership working with voluntary and community organisations' [PDF, 259kB] (July 2010) One of a series of briefing written for West Midlands MPs and Councillors
• 'The impact on the third sector of government cuts and the emergency budget' [PDF, 202kB] (July 2010)
• 'Responding to the Economic Downturn: sector briefing 6' [PDF, 1.1 MB] (December 2009)
  Community and Voluntary Sector Workforce and Worklessness
• 'Responding to the Economic Downturn: sector briefing 5' [PDF, 84 kB] (July 2009)
  Funding Round-Up: Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises
• 'Responding to the Economic Downturn: sector briefing 4' [PDF, 1.4 MB]
  (April 2009)
  Building understanding of the impact of the economic downturn on the voluntary and community sector
• 'Responding to the Economic Downturn: sector briefing 3' [PDF, 83 kB]
  (February 2009)
  Building understanding the impact of the economic downturn on the voluntary and community sector
• 'Responding to the Economic Downturn: sector briefing 2' [PDF, 100 kB]
  (February 2009)
  Understanding the impact of the economic downturn on the voluntary and community sector.
• 'Responding to the Economic Downturn: sector briefing 1' [PDF, 64 kB]
  (February 2009)
  Case studies illustrating the impact of the economic downturn on the voluntary & community sector.