The state and voluntary sector in austere times: 10 years of National Citizen Service

ABSTRACT

In this article we examine the latest chapter in the relationship between the state and the voluntary sector in the UK. We present an analysis of the UK Government’s ‘National Citizen Service’ (NCS) scheme and map the landscape of youth services over the past decade. Drawing on interview data with delivery providers of the programme, and key government and policy actors, we explore the new geographies NCS has created and reflect on the wider implications of this programme in austerity Britain.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ES/L009315/1). Thank you to all our research participants and to Jo Hickman Dunne for supporting our literature engagement.

The research material referred to within this manuscript received ethical approval from Loughborough University’s Ethics Approvals (Human Participants) Sub-Committee [HPSC Research Proposal R15-P001].

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah Mills

Sarah Mills is Reader in Human Geography at Loughborough University, UK (email: [email protected]; Twitter: @mills_sarah).

Catherine Waite

Catherine Waite is Senior Lecturer in Geography, University of Northampton, UK (email: [email protected]; Twitter: @catherine_waite).