The Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership (CVSL) was again represented at the annual Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research (VSVR) Conference which took place entirely online this year.
Director Carol Jacklin-Jarvis and Lecturer Daniel Haslam presented their new project investigating the response of local infrastructure organisations to Covid-19. The project builds on the positive relationships the centre has with practitioners, to focus on an aspect of the voluntary sector that can be overlooked in favour of service delivery and volunteering. Click to see the slides.
PhD student Sally Vivyan also presented a paper (45mins 10 secs in) on international grant-making during Covid-19.
The theme of the conference this year was: voluntary sector responses to and recovery from Covid-19 and the other presentations give a rich picture of ongoing work into this area, including: communities and mutual aid groups, organisational responses, volunteering experiences, and what we can learn from international disaster relief efforts. There was also a great mixture of contributions from both academics and practitioners.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 - 10:00 to 16:00
The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Join us at this year’s annual conference as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of CVSL. Together we’ll reflect on a decade of impact and look ahead to the next ten years, featuring insights and reflections from former CVSL directors.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - 10:30 to 12:30
Online and and in person at The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BB
This event explores the relationship between technology, inclusion, and esports, examining how digital gaming environments can create new opportunities for participation, connection, and belonging in society and organisations.