The innovative capacity of voluntary organisations: Managerial challenges for local government

Abstract

This paper describes a recent major study of the innovative capacity of voluntary organisations in the provision of local community services. It uses this to draw out the key challenges for local government of managing this capacity in the context of the plural provision of public services. In particular it emphasises the importance of understanding the active role that local government can play in stimulating this capacity, and the importance of trust and of inter‐organisational collaboration in its management.