VCSE Barometer Data & Insights Observatory
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About The Observatory

We build timely insight into trends, pressures and resilience across the UK voluntary, community and social enterprise sector — so decisions can rest on evidence, not guesswork.

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Who we are

A national research partnership

The VCSE Data and Insights National Observatory is led by Nottingham Trent University in partnership with national infrastructure and membership bodies across the UK.

From NTU’s Centre for Social Action and Innovation, researchers work alongside practitioners and sector leaders to track organisational health, surface emerging risks, and share findings that are free and usable for the whole sector.

The Barometer survey

A quarterly pulse on sector health

Each wave asks organisations about recent experience and near-term expectations — plus a topical theme when the moment calls for it.

What we track
Financial outlook, service demand, operational risk, workforce and volunteer engagement — with wave-specific themes layered on top.
Cadence
Quarterly fieldwork, typically open for about three weeks, so trends can be compared wave to wave.
Who can take part
Any VCSE organisation in the UK. The survey usually takes 15–20 minutes.
How we share
This interactive dashboard, quarterly reports, policy briefings, and online seminars — all free to access.
Connect

Talk to the Observatory

Email vcseobservatory@ntu.ac.uk LinkedIn VCSE Observatory X @VCSEObservatory

See the latest wave in motion

Filters, charts and PDF export — the same live Barometer the sector uses every quarter.

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