This edited collection explores areas such as social enterprise, capacity building, volunteering and social value, and charts the historical development of the state-third sector relationship, reviewing the major debates and controversies accompanying recent shifts in that relationship.

James Rees is a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham. His research concentrates on the role of the third sector in public service delivery, cross-sectoral partnership, organisational change and the involvement of citizens.

David Mullins is Professor of Housing Policy in the Housing and Communities Research Group at the University of Birmingham. His research interests include the role of the third sector and social enterprise in public service delivery.