Future Focus

Future Focus is a series of introductory pocket guides to help organisations understand important trends that may impact on them in the future.  They are aimed at small and medium sized VCOs, but should provide a useful analysis for all VCOs interested in their external environment.  Each one focuses on a different topic and discusses 5 or 6 key trends within each topic. 

"Congratulations on your excellent publication ‘Future Focus 1’, which communicated a potentially complex subject with impressive clarity." (from a CVS)

We will be writing two more guides this coming year. If you would like to be kept informed about future issues of Future Focus please email us. 

Future Focus 1: What will our funding be like in 5 years time?

Published: May 2007 

This guide looks at 6 key trends:  

1. Increased expectation of trading and charging for services 
2. Increasing complexity - contracts and loans 
3. Strategic and engaged grantmaking 
4. Stronger expectations of evidence 
5. The importance of cost and value 
6. Competition for funds

• Download (PDF 823 KB)

Future Focus 1 is only available to buy as part of a collect the set deal from NCVO.

Future Focus 2: What will our volunteers be like in five years time?

Published: August 2007

This guide looks at 6 key trends:

1. More 'professional' volunteering
2. The ageing population
3. Time poor society
4. Weaker ties to geographical communities
5. 'Consumer culture'
6. Changing ideas about volunteering

• Buy a hard copy. Special offer: Buy for 10 for £8.50 or £1 each

• Download (PDF 1.78 Mb) 

Future Focus 3: How will we use new technologies in five years time?

Published: December 2007

This guide looks at 5 key trends:

1. A wealth of information and choice
2. Increasing ease of making new connections
3. New ways to engage people
4. Lower barriers to publishing and broadcasting
5. Ability to work flexibly

• Buy a hard copy. Special offer: Buy for 10 for £8.50 or £1 each
• Download (PDF, 669 Kb)

Future Focus 4: How is local democracy changing?

Published: March 2008

This guide looks at 6 key trends:  

1. Devolution of power
2. National minimum standards
3. Consolidation of public sevice contracts
4. Complexity of governance structures
5. More citizen engagement
6. Changing nature of community leadership

• Buy a hard copy. Special offer: Buy for 10 for £8.50 or £1 each
• Download (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Future Focus 5: How are social attitudes changing?

Published:April 2008

This guide looks at 6 key trends:

1. Poverty and the welfare state
2. Class and socio-economic status
3. Ethnicity
4. Personal identity
5. Different generations
6. Gender and family structures

• Buy a hard copy. Special offer: Buy for 10 for £8.50 or £1 each
• Download (PDF, 1.4 Mb)

A collect the set deal for all 5 guides is also available.