This book brings together papers by voluntary sector scholars which were specially commissioned to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the LSE's Centre for Voluntary Organisation. The papers address key issues currently facing UK voluntary sector managers including: What place do values have? And what does contracting do to voluntary agencies?

Introduction.- What is a Voluntary Organisation?; T. Marshall.- What are the Key Influences on the Work of Voluntary Agencies?; M. Taylor.- How are Values Handled in Voluntary Agencies?; R. Paton.- Are Voluntary Agencies Accountable?; D. Leat.- How do Voluntary Agencies Manage Organisational Change?; D. Wilson.- What Kind of Leadership do Voluntary Organisations Need?; R. Kay.- Do We Need Governing Bodies?; M. Harris.- What does Contracting do to Voluntary Agencies?; J. Lewis.- What does Contracting do to Users?; N. Deakin.- Are Voluntary Agencies Really More Effective?; M. Knapp.- Can Volunteers be Managed?; J. Davis Smith.- What Kind of Training does the Voluntary Sector Need?; S.P. Osborne.- Who Cares Whether your Organisation Survives?; D. Billis.- Conclusion.

'Most of the leading research commentators on the voluntary sector in the UK have provided useful and timely chapters which cover subjects as diverse as volunteering, definitional problems, accountability, contracting, governance, leadership and training. Each of these subjects is tackled systematically and each of the chapters provides an insight into modern thinking.' - Community Care 'Overall, the book is an excellent resource for anyone - students, researchers or practitioners - wanting a clear and comprehensive account of the current state of research on the practical problems facing the voluntary sector.' - Professor Peter Halfpenny, University of Manchester

'Most of the leading research commentators on the voluntary sector in the UK have provided useful and timely chapters which cover subjects as diverse as volunteering, definitional problems, accountability, contracting, governance, leadership and training. Each of these subjects is tackled systematically and each of the chapters provides an insight into modern thinking.' – Community Care 'Overall, the book is an excellent resource for anyone – students, researchers or practitioners – wanting a clear and comprehensive account of the current state of research on the practical problems facing the voluntary sector.' – Professor Peter Halfpenny, University of Manchester

'Most of the leading research commentators on the voluntary sector in the UK have provided useful and timely chapters which cover subjects as diverse as volunteering, definitional problems, accountability, contracting, governance, leadership and training. Each of these subjects is tackled systematically and each of the chapters provides an insight into modern thinking.' - Community Care 'Overall, the book is an excellent resource for anyone - students, researchers or practitioners - wanting a clear and comprehensive account of the current state of research on the practical problems facing the voluntary sector.' - Professor Peter Halfpenny, University of Manchester