We are working in partnership with Devon County Council to understand the strengths and challenges of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across Devon, including Torbay and Plymouth. Among other aspects, the project combines analysis of published data (eg from the Charity Commission) with specially collected information, to create a detailed and nuanced picture of the sector.
This knowledge will inform our own grantmaking, but the data is useful for a wide range of stakeholders, including public sector commissioners, other grant funders, and the sector itself. We are committed to making all the information gathered available to anyone who can use it.
In late 2024 we ran a survey for registered charities and social enterprises. And in 2025 we ran a second survey seeking responses from smaller, unregistered groups, about which there is practically no robust, countywide data.
Data from these surveys, along with planned interviews and group discussions, will help us paint an authoritative picture of the VCSE sector in Devon, beyond what can be learned through already-published information. It will show the sector’s range and scope, and the contribution it makes to improving the lives of Devon residents, but also the challenges faced, for example in achieving sustainable funding, or in recruiting and retaining staff and volunteers. We plan to build a model that can be revisited every couple of years, to show changes and trends.
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