Putting the voluntary sector in its place : geographical perspectives on voluntary activity and social welfare in Glasgow.

Milligan, Christine and Fyfe, Nicholas R. (2004) Putting the voluntary sector in its place : geographical perspectives on voluntary activity and social welfare in Glasgow. Journal of Social Policy, 33 (1). pp. 73-93. ISSN 0047-2794

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Abstract

The growing political and social significance of the voluntary sector in contemporary welfare reform is reflected in a wide body of research that has emerged in the political and social policy literature since the mid-1980s. While this work adds considerably to our understanding of the changing role of the voluntary welfare sector, these accounts are largely aspatial. Yet, geographical perspectives offer important insights into the development of the voluntary sector at both micro-and macro-levels. The purpose of this paper is thus twofold: first we wish to draw attention to what it is that geographers do that may be of interest to those working in the field of social policy; and second, we illustrate why such perspectives are important. Drawing on recently completed work in Glasgow, we demonstrate how geographical approaches can contribute to a greater understanding of the uneven development of the voluntary sector across space and how voluntary organisations become embedded in particular places. By unravelling some of the complex webs of inter-relationships that operate across the geographical and political spaces that extend from national to local we reveal some unique insights into those factors that act to facilitate or constrain the development of voluntary activity across the city with implications for access, service delivery and policy development. Hence, we maintain, that geographical approaches to voluntarism are important for social policy as such approaches argue that where events occur matter to both their form and outcome.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Social Policy
Additional Information:
This is an output from an ESRC project on voluntary organisations, space and the city, leading to invitations to speak on the topic in North America, New Zealand and at voluntary sector (non-academic) conferences. RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : Social Work and Social Policy & Administration http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=JSP The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Journal of Social Policy, 33 (1), pp 73-93 2004, © 2004 Cambridge University Press.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3321
Subjects:
?? public administrationmanagement, monitoring, policy and lawsocial sciences (miscellaneous)r medicine (general) ??
ID Code:
3339
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
19 Mar 2008 13:43
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
05 Sep 2024 00:13