Valuing the role of the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector in social care research

This report presents the findings of a piece of work undertaken by NIHR RDS (now the NIHR RSS) in partnership with Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC),  to explore good practice in involving the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in social care research. Three listening events were conducted in 2022: two  cross regional and one national. The aim of the work was to understand the role of the  VCFSE sector in social care research, identify barriers and facilitators to engagement, explore differences in barriers and facilitators for small and large VCFSE organisations,  and make recommendations regarding VCFSE involvement in social care research.