Sustainable Livelihoods Analysis as a Response to the Crisis in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Abstract

The aim of this article is to recognize the crisis currently experienced by the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and to consider a creative response to this crisis utilizing VCS assets. The article uses a creative assets based response to the VCS crisis, utilizing sustainable livelihoods’ analysis (SLA) as a means of identifying VCS assets. SLA, traditionally used to explore vulnerabilities and assets at a household level, will be expanded and utilized to analyze the effects of austerity on small voluntary organizations. We use SLA as a theoretical lens through which to analyze our data, we propose that small VCS organizations can consider their position using SLA as a tool. The VCS can use SLA to consider its assets and vulnerabilities in the context of austerity; in engaging in this process, the VCS can recognize opportunities. The small VCS organization typically has high-quality community-based social capital, and it has a human capital and community knowledge. This integrated grassroots social capital expertise and strong community-based human capital is unique to the VCS. In mobilizing its assets, the VCS as a sector can seek to overcome the funding crisis that it is experiencing and develop creative solutions to austerity.