عنوان

An exploration of less visible very small groups and organisations(VSOs)in West Belfast; politics, policy andsocial need

Number

TLets592889

Title Proper

An exploration of less visible very small groups and organisations(VSOs)in West Belfast; politics, policy andsocial need

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Faulkner, Lisa R

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

University of Ulster

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2013

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

University of Ulster

Text preceding or following the note

2013

Text of Note

Throughout the 1990s the weak legitimacy of state institutions and therealisation that the state alone could not meet all social needs came to the fore.This brought with it a surge of interest in the voluntary sector and the role itsorganisations play in contributing to the alleviation of human problems. Theemphasis placed on voluntary action at the national and international levels alsobrought with it an awareness of the loose and amorphous networks ofindividuals, who come together on a regular basis for the good of theircommunities (Kim, 2,004). Nonetheless, third sector inquiry has remained largelyfocused on those larger organisations with a service-providing function (Toepler,2003). As a result, there is virtually no discussion of what small non-formalgroups are, how they work or what theoretical and empirical research traditionsapply to them (Cnaan, et al. 2006).While there is now an evidence base in the United Kingdom (UK) about the typesof small groups which make up what is commonly referred to as the 'below theradar' sector, this attention has not materialised to the same extent in NorthernIreland. In attempting to fill this gap in our knowledge about the small, nonformalgroups at the community level, this study employed various qualitativemethods to identify' and recruit these essentially 'hidden' groups, within thepredominately Catholic Falls and the predominately Protestant Shankill areas ofinner city west Belfast. Given that these groups are rarely studied from aperspective that is both descriptive and conceptual (Cnaan, et al. 2006.1), variousingredients of the grounded theory approach were also adopted in this study inorder to view, what are defined in this research as less visible, very smallorganisations (VSOs), through the most useful conceptual lenses.

Faulkner, Lisa R

University of Ulster

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y