Transcript

Karl

Our data tell us that there are lots of differences within the sector. In fact, it’s a truism to suggest that there is probably as much difference within the sector as there is between the sectors. There are very different business models, for example. So some organisations, their model is based primarily around fundraising. There are some very large charities whose models are primarily based around legacies, for example.

But then you will see other charities whose models are primarily based around income generation and contracting with government. And the sort of organisation that you need for those different models is very different. There are some organisations, our data tell us, that are primarily based on paid staff to deliver those services. Whereas, there are some organisations that are much more based on volunteers.

The differences between a very large national or international charity and a very small community-based organisation are probably as big as the differences between Tesco’s and that small shop that you might know on the corner where you know the owner, and so on. So yes, there are lots of differences within the sector. There are similarities, though. Our data still tell us that the golden thread that runs through the sector is voluntary income.

It’s the fact that most organisations, even if they are predominantly based on contracting, will receive some form of donations. They will still rely upon an element of volunteerism, even if it’s the trustees, as well.

One final thing. I think our data has been telling us for a long time that the boundaries between our sector and the other sectors are blurring. We are, in some respects, becoming a bit more like the public sector and the private sector at the same time. The boundaries between our sector, and individuals, and households are blurring as the digital economy sort of disrupts what we do and enables citizens to do what they do.

So trying to understand this issue about difference, and what are the sources of that difference, whether it’s just values, or whether it’s about things that we can see in the data, those sorts of questions, I think, are going to become more important.