Future Focus: Issues 1-7

This series of guides, written by NCVO Third Sector Foresight, Authors: Natalie Williams and Megan Griffith Gray in 2009, is designed to help small and medium-sized third sector organisations think about likely changes in their external environment and how these trends could affect them. 

Each pocket guide focuses on a different topic and provides a ready-made analysis of the future changes we will probably see in the coming years in that particular area. Inside, they pose some strategic questions to help you think through these likely future changes, and how you can prepare for them. Topics covered include funding, volunteers, new technologies, local democracy, social trends and membership.

Order the full Future Focus set using the link at the bottom of the page, or order or download individual issues.

The series

Future Focus 1: What will our funding be like in five years' time?
Outlines the major likely changes in funding for the voluntary and community sector in the coming years and asks key questions about your own organisation's funding.
48 pages

 Future Focus 2: What will our volunteers be like in five years' time?
Examines how volunteers are changing - who they are, what they do and what they expect - and suggests ways to use this information to retain, recruit and manage volunteers successfully.
48 pages.

 Future Focus 3: How will we use new technologies in five years' time? 
Explores how developments in technology are changing the way individuals and organisations behave and the effects these technologies might have on your organisation.
43 pages.  

Future Focus 4: How is local democracy changing?
Presents the likely changes to where power will lie locally and how decisions will be made in our communities. 
47 pages.  

Future Focus 5: How are social attitudes changing?
Helps you to understand how changing social attitudes may affect your organisation and to think through how to make the most of likely opportunities and challenges.
48 pages.  

Future Focus 6: What will the UK population be like in 5 years' time?
Provides an overview of how the UK population is changing and how this will affect the voluntary and community sector.
47 pages.  

Future Focus 7: What will campaigning be like in 5 years' time?
Explores how campaigning will change in the future and suggests ways to use this information to help make strategic choices and plan ahead.