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Third Sector Trends
Dynamics of the Third Sector
Our ground-breaking study tracks trends within the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector across England and Wales.
Originally conceived and commissioned by Northern Rock Foundation, Third Sector Trends has been running since 2008, when research was conducted by the Universities of Southampton, Teesside and Durham into the structure, dynamics, energy, purpose and impact of sector in the North East and Cumbria.
Community Foundation North East took on responsibility for the study in 2015 and continues to co-fund the research, which is carried out through St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Since 2010, the study has undertaken a large-scale survey every three years to gauge how the sector is faring across themes including people, finance and relationships, expanding its scope since 2019 to encompass the whole of England and Wales.
With over 8,600 responses to the survey in 2025, it is the biggest of its kind and provides a robust picture of the strengths, issues and changes affecting the VCSE sector.
