State of the Sector Survey 2026
Why this survey matters
In 2023, Involving Lincs and HWLincs carried out a countywide survey to understand pressures facing Lincolnshire’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. The findings directly informed the creation of the Strength and Leadership programme, funded by the National Lottery, to address system-level challenges that organisations cannot solve alone.
This survey is the next step in that journey. It aims to reduce survey fatigue by collecting commonly requested information once, so future work can focus on smaller, more targeted questions. By taking part, you help shape what happens next and strengthen the collective voice of the sector.
This work is supported by key infrastructure organisations that support, fund, connect and represent VCFSE organisations across Lincolnshire, including Lincolnshire Voluntary Engagement Team, Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Partnership, Lincolnshire Community Foundation, Active Lincolnshire, and the Children and Youth Forum Network facilitated by Children’s Links.
You can read more about the aims of the survey here.
Data protection
You can complete the survey anonymously. Contact details are optional and only used for the purpose you choose, such as receiving a summary of findings. All data is stored securely and shared only in anonymised form. You can read more about how your data will be used here.
For questions, contact Dale Wootton, Involving Lincs
Dale@involving-lincs.co.uk
07923 614704
Instructions
The survey is open to organisations of all sizes. As it includes some questions about finances, governance, and staffing, it may be helpful for someone with an overall understanding of the organisation to complete it, but you can answer what you’re able to.
The survey takes around 20 minutes. You can save your progress and continue later. Please note the survey will timeout for security reasons, so to prevent responses being lost please use the save and continue function.
To save and continue later, click on the save and continue button at the bottom of the page. You will then be promoted to enter a name and email address and click save. You will then receive an email with a link to the survey, where you responses so far have been saved and you can continue completing the survey. If you click on the save and continue button, please do not then click to go back without submitting your details.
Once you have completed the survey you are able to print/save a copy of your responses. When you reach the thank you page, a button will appear at the bottom called 'print copy of responses'. Clicking this button will allow you to either print your responses or save a copy of them as a pdf.
Prize draw
As a thank you for taking part, three organisations will be selected at random to receive a £150 donation. To have a chance to win, please leave your details at the end of the survey.