Third Sector Foresight

What is Third Sector Foresight? 

Find out more about drivers (trends and forces) affecting the voluntary sector.

www.3s4.org.uk exists to support those who are involved in planning for the future of their organisation.

Visit it for help on u nderstanding your environment, how it is changing and the impact on your organisation

www.3s4.org.uk provides:

• a searchable library of over 100 constantly updated drivers (trends and forces) shaping the future of the voluntary and community sector.
• an online community for idea sharing and peer support, building on the information and knowledge on the website.

• practical tools for strategic planning and information on upcoming events and training

• Keep up to date with news, events and research affecting the future of the sector.
• regularly updated news about drivers, relevant research and events

This website explains what we do.  It includes details of all our resources including information about the drivers (trends and forces) shaping the future of the VCS and practical guides to help with the strategic planning process.

Latest News

Call for partners for foresight research in specialist sectors

Are the organisations you support bogged down with day to day problems with no time to look ahead?

Want some space to think about how external factors will impact on the organisations you support in the medium to long term?

Want to help organisations to respond positively and proactively?

Want to take part in cutting-edge research with an experienced team? 

The workstream on change are requesting expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations to tender for a joint research and strategy project into the drivers (external forces/trends) affecting your specialist sector.

Five different organisations are sought for five separate partnership projects (each of 6 months) over 2009 – 2010. Partners will receive a grant of £5,000 as a contribution towards the staff time required for participation.

Taking part in this project will enable you to support organisations to be more: 

• Sustainable
• Risk-aware
• Innovative
• Proactive
• Mission-focused 

Expressions of interest will be evaluated according to ‘best fit’ principles and success factors will include fit with a gap analysis of the work so far completed and/or planned. This is also the opportunity to work with leaders of foresight analysis on a groundbreaking research project.  If you want an idea of the experiences of staff from our current subsectoral partners, have a look at what they’ve said here.  

It is the intention to award all partnerships now, with start dates of April 2009 (two organisations), October 2009 (one organisation) and April 2010 (two organisations).  Organisations can suggest their preferred start dates as part of the tender.

For full application criteria and processes, terms and conditions, please email us for an application pack. 

Have you seen the newest edition of Tools for Tomorrow - updated and improved. You can buy your copy here Tools for Tomorrow - A practical guide to strategic planning for voluntary organisations 

“ I wish   that this guide had been put into my hands seven years ago as I began to lead a medium sized, local charity into more strategic growth and development”

Contact us: email or call 020 7520 2510

NCVO Third Sector Foresight is part of NCVO's Leadership Services.