In November 2020, Exeter Connect undertook a survey to build a more detailed picture of the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Exeter. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their experiences, and we are now ready to share the final report that has been compiled.
The Coronavirus pandemic had a significant impact on the VCSE sector, nationally and locally, both positive and negative. There are a growing number of reports based on research into the impact of Covid restrictions on community groups and organisations and how they have responded.
In this report, we have focussed on both the challenges and successes identified by the VCSE organisations and groups in the survey. The VCSE sector has had to find new ways to continue to deliver services online or develop services to meet new needs that emerged. The report also looks forward to what support the VCSE sector will need in order to play a role in the recovery from Covid.
This report is the story of the experiences of all these groups and organisations. It is a summary of the challenges and how groups have responded and adapted and focuses on 4 themes:
- Physical Social Spaces
- Changes to Ways of Operating
- Financial Impact
- Staff and Volunteers
We are planning to hold an event in due course to look at what we have learnt from the Survey, what the challenges are for the sector over the next year and to explore how we can address these.
If you have any queries or would like to discuss the report further, please get in touch.
