Always on
This project successfully funded on 27th May 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
This project successfully funded on 27th May 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
The Leicester & Leics VCSE Observatory is a digital platform to host relevant data & research to improve strategic planning and fundraising.
Building on extensive partnership work across Leicester and Leicestershire, including collaborations with local authorities, the NHS VCSE Alliance, universities, VCSE infrastructure bodies and grassroots organisations, the Observatory will create a single portal to host socio-economic, health, environmental and other research and data and along services mapping and a suite of enabling tools. The portal will assist VCSE organisations to improve their strategic planning and fundraising capabilities whilst also helping local authority commissioners to improve their knowledge about service delivery across the city and county.
By enhancing transparency, supporting evidence-based planning and decision-making, and by fostering collaboration, the Leicester & Leicestershire VCSE Observatory will:
In essence, the project builds the foundation for a more informed, connected, and effective voluntary and community sector, ultimately driving positive social change throughout Leicester and Leicestershire.
The proposed city/county based Observatory concept is unique nationally. Our project will be the first of its kind to focus on a single county in the UK. The National VCSE Observatory hosted by Nottingham Trent University primarily draws insights from its national VCSE survey of circa 2,500 organisations.
However, to start the project, we need to undertake a detailed feasibility study and consultation exercise to define user needs, technical requirements and a sustainable delivery model. If successful, a second phase will see the development of the platform architecture, pilot testing and full implementation.
The project is being led by Chris Shaw, Director at Ethical Business Exchange (EBE). With a career spanning over four decades, Chris is widely recognised as a leading figure in Leicester and Leicestershire’s social enterprise and voluntary sector. Leicester born and bred, since his first foray into the world of work in 1985, Chris has been unwavering in his commitment to empowering communities, building impactful partnerships, and unlocking funding to drive social change.
Chris has a successful track record in project design and implementation. EBE has been created to design and deliver programmes that generate social value. EBE has led the development of the Positive Communities Partnership - a consortium of seven grassroots organisations - securing over £1.8M through national funding streams to support individuals furthest from the labour market. EBE is also a key delivery partner for ExSEL (Expanding Social Enterprise in Leicester), helping to establish the city’s first social innovation accelerator, as well as building infrastructure for a Leicester Investment Fund. EBE recently played a key role in the VentureVersity programme, a university-led initiative to commercialise academic research into new ventures.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made