Study title

In-depth semi-structured interviews focused on understanding the experiences and perspectives of third sector representatives, regional development staff, local authority officers and representatives of national third sector organizations and policy actors. These interviews were conducted across four case study regions in Wales based on the following Regional Partnership Board (RPB) areas: North Wales; Mid and West; Cwm Taf; and Gwent. Actors from a number of national agencies were also interviewed.This project investigates how the territorial administration of the third sector in Wales has changed over the post-war period in response to shifting patterns and processes of governance. Additionally, it explores how this has affected the way third sector organizations shape and deliver welfare. More specifically, our research investigates the distinctive Welsh policy context and how state and third sector actors were responding to the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) (SWBA) Act 2014, which ascribed a specific role to the third sector. This proposal is for a National Research Centre (WISERD/Civil Society) to undertake a five year programme of policy relevant research addressing Civil Society in Wales. Established in 2008, WISERD provides an 'All-Wales' focus for research and has had a major impact on the quantity and quality of social science research undertaken in Wales. As part of WISERD, WISERD/Civil Society will enable this work to be deepened and sustained through a focused research programme that further develops our research expertise, intensifies our policy impact and knowledge exchange work and strengthens our research capacity and career development activities. WISERD/Civil Society will therefore aim to develop key aspects of the multidisciplinary research initiated during the first phase of WISERD's work to produce new empirical evidence to inform our understanding of the changing nature of civil society in the context of devolved government and...