ArticleBMC health services research2024
"I'll meet you at our bench": adaptation, innovation and resilience among VCSE organisations who supported marginalised and minoritised communities during the Covid-19 pandemic in Northern England - a qualitative focus group study.
Article in BMC health services research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.
- Challenges and enablers of collaborative working in the voluntary, community, social, faith and enterprise sector: impact, effectiveness, and sustainability.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Putting Voluntary, Charity, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Organisations at the Heart of Research: Creating a Northern Ireland VCSE Research Directory.International journal of population data science · 2026Article
- Understanding the challenges, opportunities, and drivers to addressing health inequalities within local health systems: the UNFAIR case study qualitative project.BMC health services research · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and increased adversity and challenges for vulnerable and marginalised communities worldwide. In the UK, the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector play a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people who are marginalised or experiencing multiple complex needs. However, only a small number of studies have focused on the impact that Covid-19 had on the VCSE sector.
methodsAs part of a Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (HIIA), we conducted qualitative focus groups with staff and volunteers from five organisations to examine short, medium and longer-term impacts of Covid-19 upon the VCSE sector in Northern England. Nine online focus groups were conducted between March and July 2021.
findingsFocus group transcripts were analysed using Framework Analysis and yielded three central themes: (1) exacerbation of pre-existing inequalities, adversity and challenges for vulnerable and marginalised populations; (2) the 'price' of being flexible, innovative and agile for VCSE staff and volunteers; and (3) the voluntary sector as a 'lifeline' - organisational pride and resilience.
conclusionsWhile the voluntary sector 'adapted at pace' to provide support during Covid-19 and in its continued aftermath, this resilience has potentially come at the cost of workforce and volunteer wellbeing, compounded by political obstacles and chronic shortage in funding and support. The VCSE sector has a vital role to play in the post-lockdown 'levelling up' agenda. The expertise, capacity and resilience of VCSE organisations, and their ability to respond to Covid-19, should be celebrated, recognised and supported adequately to maintain its resilience. To not do so threatens the sector's sustainability and risks jeopardising attempts to involve the sector in addressing the social determinants of health.
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Registered trials
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