Dr Rob Macmillan BA(Hons), MA, PhD
Principal Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow
Summary
Rob Macmillan is a Principal Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. He has over 20 years' experience of researching aspects of the third sector, voluntary and community action and community development, in collaboration with other academics and researchers, policy makers and funders, and with key third sector organisations. From an inter-disciplinary background in social policy, politics, political economy and sociology, his main research interests are around the long term qualitative dynamics and contested politics of voluntary action, theoretical understandings of voluntary action, in particular the development and application of field theory in the third sector, the awkward relationships between markets, the state and the third sector, and a longstanding interest in the changing field of capacity building and third sector support infrastructure.
About
Rob is currently researching the latest position and work of local voluntary sector infrastructure organisations (with NAVCA, the National Association of Voluntary and Community Action) and the role and value of charity federations (supported by a consortium of charity federations). He is also involved in 'Our Bigger Story', the longitudinal multi-media evaluation of the Big Local programme (funded by Local Trust) and a long term evaluation of Power to Change's 'market development' work.
Recent research has included:
- ‘Community Responses to COVID-19’ (2020-2022, funded by Local Trust, led by the Third Sector Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Centre at the University of Birmingham), examining how local communities responded to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- 'Change in the Making' (2016-2020, ESRC-funded, Co-Investigator, with colleagues at the University of Birmingham), a qualitative longitudinal investigation of organisational change in voluntary action, which builds upon an earlier programme of qualitative longitudinal research ('Real Times') with a diverse set of case studies of voluntary action;
- 'Discourses of Voluntary Action' (2017-2019, ESRC-funded, Co-Investigator, with colleagues in the Universities of Northumbria, Birmingham, Southampton, and University College, London), involving a comparison of debates on the role and position of voluntary action in social welfare in the 1940s and the 2010s - two transformative moments in the development of social welfare provision in England.
Rob's research has primarily been funded through the ESRC, but has also been supported by Local Trust, Power to Change, the National Lottery Community Fund, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, national and local voluntary organisations, and government departments.
He is part of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ's Voluntary Action Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Group (VARG) and CRESR’s Voluntary Sector Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Cluster.
- Third Sector
- Voluntary and Community Action
- Public Service Markets
- Community Development
- Qualitative Longitudinal Methods
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
2015-2022 Our Bigger Story: longitudinal multi-media evaluation of Big Local. Local Trust, Role: Evaluation team member.
2019-2022 Market Development - Evaluation and Learning Support, Power to Change. Role: Co-director.
2016-2020 Change in the making: a dynamic and relational landscape of voluntary action, ESRC. Role: Co-Investigator.
2017-2019 Discourses of Voluntary Action at two 'Transformational Moments' of the Welfare State, the 1940s and 2010s, ESRC. Role: Co-Investigator.
Selected research projects
‘TrackTR: Tracking the VCS in Transforming Rehabilitation’
(Clinks, 2015 – 2017, with Clinks, NCVO and Open University)
A partnership project led by Clinks which follows the experiences of voluntary and community organisations through the major ‘Transforming Rehabilitation’ reforms to probation services.
‘Understanding the role of diagnosis in the Voluntary and Community Sector’
(University of Birmingham, 2016 - 2017)
Using insights from market devices and performativity theory, this research examines the design, role, use and (latent) impact of diagnostic organisational health tools amongst medium sized voluntary and community organisations.
‘Our Bigger Story: longitudinal multi-media evaluation of Big Local’
(Local Trust, 2015 – 2017, with the University of Birmingham)
The first stage of a ten year multi-media evaluation of the 'Big Local' community-based regeneration programme, using creative visual data collection and interaction techniques - film, audio, photography and elicitation.
Building Capabilities Scoping Study
(Big Lottery Fund, 2013-2014, University of Birmingham and CRESR)
A study to inform the emerging 'Building Capabilities' agenda within the Big Lottery Fund, based on an extensive literature review, a market mapping survey and stakeholder workshops.
Third Sector Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Centre (TSRC), University of Birmingham
(ESRC, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Cabinet Office, University of Birmingham, 2009-2015)
Coordinating the qualitative longitudinal 'Real Times' research programme, alongside work on the third sector delivering public services, third sector leadership, capacity building and infrastructure, and as research lead for TSRC Third Sector Futures Dialogue (2012-2013).
Collaborators
- Third Sector Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Centre (TSRC), University of Birmingham ('Change in the Making', 2016-2020; 'Discourses of Voluntary Action', 2017-2019; and 'Our Bigger Story', 2015-2017)
- University of Northumbria, University of Southampton and University College, London ('Discourses of Voluntary Action', 2017-2019)
- Clinks, NCVO and Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership (CVSL), Open University ('TrackTR', 2015-2017)
Sponsors
Currently
- Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Council
Previously
- Big Lottery Fund
- Local Trust
- Ministry of Justice/NOMS
- Home Office
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- NAVCA
- NCVO
Publications
Journal articles
Brewis, G., Ellis Paine, A., Hardill, I., Lindsey, R., & Macmillan, R. (2021). . Area.
Milofsky, C., Rees, J., Kamerade, D., Halfpenny, P., Alcock, P., Pharoah, C., ... Macmillan, R. (2020). Ten years of Voluntary Sector Review. Voluntary Sector Review, 11 (3), 265-269.
Macmillan, R., & Ellis Paine, A. (2020). . Journal of Social Policy.
Macmillan, R. (2020). . Voluntary Sector Review, 11 (2), 129-136.
Bennett, E., Coule, T., Damm, C., Dayson, C., Dean, J., & Macmillan, R. (2019). . Voluntary sector review, 10 (2), 213-223.
Dayson, C., Macmillan, R., Paine, A.E., & Sanderson, E. (2017). . Voluntary Sector Review, 8 (2), 149-168.
Cornforth, C., & Macmillan, R. (2016). . Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 45 (5), 949-970.
Acheson, N., Harris, B., & Macmillan, R. (2016). Editorial. Voluntary Sector Review, 7 (1), 3-4.
Macmillan, R., & Walton, C. (2015). . Voluntary Sector Review, 6 (3), 325-332.
Macmillan, R., & Livingstone, I. (2015). . Voluntary Sector Review, 6 (2), 221-230.
Macmillan, R., & Scott, A. (2003). On the case? Dilemmas of collaborative research. Area, 35 (1), 101-105.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., & Macmillan, R. (2000). A Theory of Employment, Unemployment and Sickness. Regional Studies, 34 (7), 617-630.
Book chapters
Dayson, C., Bimpson, E., Ellis Paine, A., Gilbertson, J., & Kara, H. (2022). . In Rees, J., Macmillan, R., Dayson, C., Damm, C., & Bynner, C. (Eds.) COVID-19 and the Voluntary and Community Sector in the UK: Responses, Impacts and Adaptation. Policy Press:
Woodward, A., Patmore, B., Cliff, G., & Dayson, C. (2022). . In Rees, J., Macmillan, R., Dayson, C., Damm, C., & Bynner, C. (Eds.) COVID-19 and the Voluntary and Community Sector in the UK: Responses, Impacts and Adaptation. Policy Press:
Rees, J., Macmillan, R., Dayson, C., Damm, C., & Bynner, C. (2022). Introduction. In COVID-19 and the Voluntary and Community Sector in the UK: Responses, Impacts and Adaptation. Policy Press
(2022). Introduction. In Rees, J., Macmillan, R., Dayson, C., Damm, C., & Bynner, C. (Eds.) COVID-19 and the Voluntary and Community Sector in the UK. (pp. 1-14). Policy Press:
Macmillan, R., & Kendall, J. (2019). The moving frontier and beyond: The third sector and social policy. In Social Policy Review 31: Analysis and Debate in Social Policy, 2019. (pp. 177-195).
Macmillan, R. (2017). . In Rees, J., & Mullins, D. (Eds.) The third sector delivering public services: Developments, innovations and challenges. (pp. 107-125). Bristol: Policy Press:
Macmillan, R. (2017). . In Rees, J., & Mullins, D. (Eds.) The third sector delivering public services: Developments, innovations and challenges. (pp. 237-256). Bristol: Policy Press:
Macmillan, R. (2016). Talking up the voluntary sector in criminal justice: Market making in rehabilitation. In The Third Sector Delivering Public Services: Developments, Innovations and Challenges. (pp. 233-256).
Taylor, R., Arvidson, M., Macmillan, R., Soteri-Proctor, A., & Teasdale, S. (2014). . In Camfield, L. (Ed.) Methodological challenges and new approaches to research in international development. (pp. 38-58). Palgrave Macmillan:
Macmillan, R., & Townsend, A. (2006). . In MILLIGAN, C., & CONRADSON, D. (Eds.) Landscapes of voluntarism: new spaces of health, welfare and governance. (pp. 15-32). Bristol: Policy Press:
Fothergill, S., & Macmillan, R. (2003). Back to work? In Work to Welfare. (pp. 228-248). Cambridge University Press:
Yeandle, S. (2003). Family, life course and labour market detachment. In Work to Welfare. (pp. 162-186). Cambridge University Press:
Macmillan, R. (2003). Getting by. In Work to Welfare. (pp. 206-227). Cambridge University Press:
Yeandle, S., & Macmillan, R. (2003). The role of health in labour market detachment. In Work to Welfare. (pp. 187-205). Cambridge University Press:
Books
Rees, J., Macmillan, R., Dayson, C., Damm, C., & Bynner, C. (Eds.). (2022). . Policy Press.
Rees, J., Macmillan, R., Dayson, C., Damm, C., & Bynner, C. (Eds.). (2022). . Policy Press.
Brewis, G., Paine, A.E., Hardill, I., Lindsey, R., & Macmillan, R. (2021). Bristol: Policy Press.
Alcock, P., Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Macmillan, R., & Yeandle, S. (2003). . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Reports
Harris, C., Damm, C., & Macmillan, R. (2025). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Macmillan, R., Leather, D., & Stuart, J. (2022). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/connecting-locally
Dobson, J., Harris, C., & Macmillan, R. (2021). . Power to Change. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/network-support-community-business-peer-networking-before-and-during-coronavirus
Ellis Paine, A., Damm, C., Dean, J., Harris, C., & Macmillan, R. (2021). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/volunteering-in-community-business-meaning-practice-and-management
McCabe, A., Wilson, M., & Macmillan, R. (2021). . TSRC. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/building-on-local-learning-about-big-local-in-2020
Wells, P., Macmillan, R., & Dobson, J. (2020). . Community Fund. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/food-for-thought-understanding-market-development-in-the-community-business-sector
Paine, A.E., & Macmillan, R. (2019). . University of Birmingham.
Walton, C., & Macmillan, R. (2014). . Birmingham: University of Birmingham.
Macmillan, R., Ellis-Paine, A., Kara, H., Dayson, C., Sanderson, E., & Wells, P. (2014). . Third Sector Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Centre. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/building-capabilities-in-the-voluntary-sector-what-the-evidence-tells-us
Wells, P., Batty, E., Pearson, S., Dayson, C., Platts-Fowler, D., Trinnaman, J., ... Macmillan, R. (2010). . Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/evaluation-of-the-south-yorkshire-social-infrastructure-programme---report-a-summary-report
Wells, P., Dayson, C., & Macmillan, R. (2010). . Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/evaluation-of-the-south-yorkshire-social-infrastructure-programme---report-b
Wells, P., Dayson, C., & Macmillan, R. (2009). . Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/evaluation-of-the-south-yorkshire-social-infrastructure-programme---report-j-evaluation-framework
Fletcher, D., Gore, T., Macmillan, R., Batty, E., & Pearson, S. (2008). . Department for Work and Pensions; Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/qualitative-evaluation-of-the-jobseeker-mandatory-activity-jma
Coule, T., Pearson, S., & Macmillan, R. (2008). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/valuing-the-voluntary-and-community-sector-in-rotherham-in-2008
Coule, T., Pearson, S., & Macmillan, R. (2008). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/valuing-the-voluntary-and-community-sector-in-rotherham-in-2008-summary
Pearson, S., Batty, E., & Macmillan, R. (2006). The future of neighbourhood-level infrastructure in Rotherham. Voluntary Action Rotherham.
Macmillan, R. (2006). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/part-of-the-picture-the-voluntary-and-community-sector-across-south-yorkshire
Macmillan, R. (2006). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/part-of-the-picture-the-voluntary-and-community-sector-across-south-yorkshire---executive-summary
Macmillan, R. (2006). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/a-rapid-evidence-assessment-of-the-benefits-of-voluntary-and-community-sector-infrastructure
Macmillan, R. (2005). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/mapping-the-voluntary-and-community-sector-across-south-yorkshire-a-scoping-study
Macmillan, R. (2004). . Centre for Regional Economic and Social Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/shaping-the-future-the-development-of-voluntary-and-community-sector-infrastructure-in-county-durham
Pearson, S., Macmillan, R., Alcock, P., Vincent, J., & Harrow, J. (1999). Making funding work: Funding regimes and local voluntary organisations. Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Other activities
Rob is currently a member of
- the IPPR North Future of Civil Society in the North Advisory Group
- Home-Start UK's Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Advisory Group
- the Advice Services Alliance Standing Committee on Advice Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and Evaluation
Previously he has been a Commissioner on the NAVCA-supported 'Change for Good' Independent Inquiry on the Future of Voluntary Sector Infrastructure (2013-2014), and a member of the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales 'Value of Small Charities' Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Advisory Group.
Postgraduate supervision
Bruce Moore (2016)
Vita Terry (2017)