Funding to the volunteering sector has been on a steady decline for the previous 10 years, with a more significant reduction in the number of VRCs still operating. 

Promoting the economic values of volunteering as well as implementing a social strategy is a risky but sometimes necessary advocacy combination for VRCs to take. Findings from three collaborative working group meetings included: 

• Lack of funding in VRCs is never far from anyone's mind (relating to staff at VRCs) 

• VRCs often have a choice between focusing on advocating for economic values or social strategy within the volunteering sector 

• There is always risk involved with focussing on one strategy over another in order to secure funding