Operationalising love within austerity: an analysis of the opportunities and challenges experienced by the voluntary and community sector in Greater Manchester under the coalition government (2010-2015).

Goldstraw, Katy (2016) Operationalising love within austerity: an analysis of the opportunities and challenges experienced by the voluntary and community sector in Greater Manchester under the coalition government (2010-2015). Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

The British voluntary and community sector (VCS) is currently experiencing unprecedented funding cuts. Many small voluntary groups are ceasing to exist under the strain of increasing demand for services and simultaneous funding cuts. As a consequence, the VCS is in transition, experiencing new challenges and opportunities. This thesis is an analysis of the opportunities and challenges experienced by the adult social care VCS in Greater Manchester under the Coalition government 2010-2015. I have developed a reflexive feminist ethnography, using participatory approaches within the adult social care VCS of Greater Manchester and one adult social care homelessness VCS organisation. The thesis begins by considering the historical, ideological and policy background to the VCS before exploring the challenges and opportunities that the VCS of Greater Manchester experience. I then focus on the experiences of one adult social care homelessness VCS organisation in depth. Gender is considered throughout the thesis comparing the experiences of women within the VCS and reflecting on my gendered role as a researcher. As a piece of feminist emancipatory participatory research, my thesis has implications for VCS policy and practice. Part of my participatory focus has included the development of a Sustainable Livelihoods Toolkit for VCS organisations. This toolkit supports VCS organisations to carry out an assets based organisational evaluation. The toolkit empowers small community and voluntary groups to focus on organisational assets and supports groups to develop strategy based upon these assets. The adaptation of SLA for VCS groups and my addition of a sixth sustainable livelihoods capital, love, forms my contribution to original knowledge.