[cma-l] TSRC launches gateway to voluntary sector research

[CMA-L]

>From recently, anyone needing evidence on issues concerning the
voluntary sector can search the new Third Sector Knowledge Portal.

The Portal was launched recently by the Third Sector Research Centre,
at an event held at the British Library to showcase the first three
years of work by the Centre. It has been built in partnership with the
British Library and funded by £200,000 from the Big Lottery Fund. It
can be found at:

http://www.tsrc.ac.uk.

A one-stop knowledge resource, the Portal brings together evidence on
a range of subjects  including policy, social and economic impact and
funding and will help inform the work of researchers, policymakers,
academics, frontline service providers and other VCS stakeholders
across the country.

The Portal is a growing resource that will provide access to a range
of materials, including academic research, reports produced by
voluntary organisations, government publications and training
materials. It will offer free downloadable content wherever possible*,
as well as linking users to books and other materials via the British
Library.

The Portal will also enable others to share and preserve their
research.  TSRC is working in partnership with organisations and
individuals to make their collections available, and welcomes contact
from those with relevant research. Depositing material in the Portal
will help it reach a wider audience, bridging the gap between research
and the expertise of those working in and with the sector.

Pete Alcock, Director of TSRC said ‘TSRC believes in the importance of
evidence to inform decision and policy making. As well as helping to
develop evidence on the sector, we are committed to increasing the
capacity of the sector to use research. This Portal will make it
easier for people to find and use the wide range of research resources
on the sector.’

Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of BIG who launches the Portal today,
said: “The voluntary and community sector is not short of evidence
reviews, research or information but it is often fragmented and
difficult to access and the Big Lottery Fund is delighted to be able
to offer support in addressing this issue.

“As an Intelligent Funder, BIG is convinced that many of the solutions
to deep rooted social problems can be found in sharing and building on
existing effective practice. A resource such as this, which enables
those working in a field of social interventions to compare notes with
each other and to add to the evidence of what seems to work on the
ground, is key to bringing about long lasting positive changes to
those most in need.”

Source: http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-8MQKMR

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