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The Impact of Cost of Living increases on the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector in Bassetlaw and Bolsover 2025

As you may know, current VCSE national surveys often do not report at a district level and present national averages which do not reflect the situation in Bassetlaw and Bolsover.

BCVS is therefore conducting a survey of local VCSE groups to inform decisions and work taking place to address local and regional challenges. The data will also further inform BCVS Strategy Development for 2025 - 2030.

The data collected will feature in an anonymous report to be published on the BCVS website for the purpose of informing policy, funding and investment decisions by key stakeholders. Thank you in advance for your time, the survey contains 35 tick box questions and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
1.Name of your Organisation
2.Area of operation (Please tick all that apply)
3.Over the last 3 months, has demand for your services/activity...?
4.Over the last 3 months, has your paid workforce...?
5.Over the last 3 months, has the number of volunteers in your organisation...?
6.Over the last 3 months, has your financial position...?
7.In the next 3 months do you expect demand for your services/activities to...?
8.In the next 3 months do you expect your paid workforce to...?
9.In the next 3 months do you expect the number of volunteers in your organisation to...?
10.In the next 3 months do you expect your financial position to...?
11.To what extent do you expect to be able to meet demand for your services over the next six months?
12.Is your organisation currently experiencing recruitment difficulties?
13.How have these difficulties affected your organisation? (select all that apply)
14.Please select the three most important concerns currently affecting your organisation:
15.How likely is it that your organisation will be operating this time next year?
16.Has your financial position deteriorated as a result of rising costs?
17.Which of the following actions has your organisation taken as a result of rising costs? (select all that apply)
18.Does your organisation hold financial reserves?
19.Is your organisation using reserves to meet current operating costs?
20.How many months do you expect your reserves to last, based on current levels of expenditure? (please type a number)
21.Over the last 12 months, how has the demographic profile and number of volunteers changed in your organisation?
Decreased a lot
Decreased a little
Stayed the same
Increased a little
Increased a lot
Not applicable to my organisation
Younger (18-25) volunteers
Older (50+) volunteers
Disabled volunteers
Black, Asian, or minority ethnic volunteers
All volunteers
22.Over the last 12 months, has the recruitment of volunteers been…?
23.Over the last 12 months, what methods have you used to recruit volunteers? (Please tick all that apply)
24.Over the last 12 months, what barriers has your organisation faced when recruiting volunteers? (Please tick all that apply)
25.Over the last 12 months, has the retention of volunteers been…?
26.Over the last 12 months, has the unpaid time contributed by your volunteers...?
27.Over the last 12 months, has your organisation had sufficient or insufficient volunteers to meet its main objectives?
28.Over the last 12 months, what benefits have you provided to volunteers? (select all that apply)
29.Over the last 12 months, what barriers has your organisation faced when retaining volunteers? (Please tick all that apply)
30.Over the last 12 months, has volunteer wellbeing in your organisation...?
31.Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about how volunteering has changed within your organisation over the last 12 months?
32.Is your organisation a member of BCVS?
33.Have you received support from BCVS in the last 12 months?
34.If Yes to Q32 or 33, are you happy with the support provided by BCVS?
35.BCVS has spent the last 6 months developing it's 2025 to 2030 strategy 'Growing Together' which will be launched in 25/26. Thank you to all members and partners that have fed into development to date. After reviewing all feedback the proposed framework focuses on 6 goals as listed below and action plans will sit under each goal.

We would be grateful if you would comment on whether you feel these goals reflect your needs from your local infrastructure organisation or if you have any further comments for consideration at this stage.

Do the goals below reflect the needs of the VCSE sector across Bassetlaw and Bolsover in your view? Please tick all that you agree with and add comments below.
36.Is there any support you would like from BCVS? If so, please add details below  with your contact details or email bcvs@bcvs.org.uk    - thank you for your time in completing this survey.