Public attitudes and social trends 

The future is an uncertain place when you are working with a phenomenon that is as complex and changeable as homelessness. This briefing aims to help homeless agencies to understand the significance of the key social, political and economic forces that affect their work so that they may be better prepared for what is to come.

Is the public falling out of love with charities? Those operating within the voluntary sector may feel concerned that today's public are growing increasingly sceptical about charitable activity. As a result, there is much discussion about the need for tighter regulation of charities in order to inspire greater public trust and confidence and therefore future financial success. In order to investigate whether public trust in charities is in fact waning, nfpSynergy has carried out research over the past year based on three different waves of research (using different methodologies and taking place at different times). This paper is a presentation and analysis of those results.

A representative sample of the UK population was asked to think about charities and the work that they do and pick up to five issues from a prompted list that they found 'off-putting, worrying or irritating'. The biggest single response was 'concerns about the amount that goes to the charity' - 68% and only 5% of respondents said nothing irritated or concerned them.

Much of the social dialogue about young people is focused on the behaviour of a minority of troubled young people. While this is understandable in some respects, there is a danger that these individuals are taken to be representative of all young people in Britain. nfpSynergy was commissioned by the Scout Association to conduct a robust research study that would help to ensure the voices of young people are included in this debate and the findings provide us with a representative view of what young people aged 13 - 18 think and feel

A representative sample of the UK population was asked to identify which of a variety of groups involved with charities was paid or unpaid. The results showed that while the public was right about whether directors and chief executives were paid (around 90% thought they were definitely or probably paid) far less accuracy was seen for trustees and fundraisers (only 8% thought trustees were definitely unpaid and only 6% thought fundraisers were definitely paid). Indeed more thought that trustees are paid than fundraisers.

This report is the result of a year's work by nfpSynergy, CAF, and the Institute of Fundraising. It aims to encourage greater use of mobile phones and text messaging as a fundraising and communications tool for chariites. It includes useful case studies, data on current usage, analysis of the barriers to using these methods, and inspiration and ideas on SMS fundraising and communications.

This in-depth report, produced for the Vodafone Foundation, looks at how young adults seek help, and how charities can meet their needs. The report collates relevant knowledge and presents it in a practically focused way, with case studies and useful tips. We hope that the report will help local and national not-for-profit organisations in their support work with young adults, and improve the way organisations communicate with and provide services to this audience.

A summary of our report on using SMS and mobile phones for fundraising and campaigning. Includes our ten top tips, and case studies from other organisations.

nfpSynergy has created this report to contribute to the knowledge of charities, policy makers and community organisations work¬ing to support young people involved with and affected by street violence, explore the facts about young people’s involvement in street violence and identify the groups most at risk and examine the solutions proposed by charities and not-for-profit organisations working to sup¬port young people with their needs and aspirations to prevent them becoming offenders.