Cornwall’s VCSE Sector: A Census 2025

Cornwall VSF is carrying out this survey in collaboration with the University of Exeter to update our understanding of the current shape and size of the VCSE sector in Cornwall.

It’s vital that sector colleagues complete the survey as it will give us all a collective view of the contribution you make, the challenges you face, the support you need and the opportunities for the sector over the coming years. It will also specifically shape the support offer Cornwall VSF and other VCSE infrastructure partners develop for the VCSE sector to better meet your needs.

Thank you for your valuable time and input.

Survey guidance

The Census method that is being codeveloped by Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, Volunteer Cornwall and the University of Exeter aims to advance standard survey-based approaches for understanding the sector’s reach and needs in Cornwall.

Currently, research into the sector is dominated by State of the Sector surveys and reports, which tend to involve the application of large surveys every two to three years. The Census method will create an approach that uses more frequent, shorter surveys. In addition to the surveys, we will develop a brainstorming activity that is applied in communities to detail the VCSE support that is present in specific places as told by the community.

Overall, the Census’s vision is to produce a regularly updated full picture of who is involved in the sector in Cornwall and what key needs exist. Importantly, the in-community brainstorming exercise will help to create a dialogue with the smallest grassroots groups in the county and provide a channel for such groups to be acknowledged.

This survey is the Census method’s first step and will help us to build the overall approach. In 2025, we plan to roll-out two more similar sized surveys and test our brainstorming activity in various Community Hubs across Cornwall. These activities will help us to produce a rich picture of the sector and develop guidance around how the Census can be applied and coordinated in the future.

The work is being coordinated through funding from:

1. University of Exeter’s Bridging Communities Fund
2. Cornwall Community Foundation and
3. Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA).