This research explores long-term economic importance of early years language skills, highlighting why this basic skill is so crucial to individuals as well as wider society. Read more
PBE’s research raises concerns of a false economy in children’s services, where the need for Local Authorities to cut costs has fallen predominantly on early interventions spending such as children’s centres, family support services and services for young people. Read more
Is there an opportunity for the charity sector in the £250billion in built up household savings? Our analysis examines the behavioural insights and changes to Gift Aid which could help increase donations from the pandemic savings "windfall". Read more
With each new announcement, it becomes clearer what levelling up really means. It also raises new questions as to whether the government will truly be able to improve people’s lives in a meaningful way. Read more
PBE’s research and policy team uses the toolkit of economics to better understand and support the social sector.
We build on the insights derived from our charity projects to investigate how social sector organisations can get the most out of their resources. We develop ideas to support a thriving civil society and use data to grow the evidence base for action.
Great things can happen when civil society and the private sector team up, but the scale of engagement needs to be boosted. New research about the benefits that come when these sectors team up, and what's getting in the way. Read more
We know that the social sector plays a vital role in the wellbeing of our country. It also plays a vital role in our economy. But currently, we know very little about the scale or nature of that contribution. Read more
This month, charities reported that they expect a long road of recovery ahead. There are concerns that financial challenges will not abate, as organisations struggle to get fundraising events back in the calendar and to fill those already pencilled in. Read more
This note is the first of a series of summaries we’ll be publishing from the Law Family Commission on Civil Society's call for evidence on unleashing the potential of civil society in the 2020s. Read more
As part of the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, PBE is investigating the role and potential for better data about social sector organisations, with a particular focus on charities. Read more
With the Covid crisis and its impacts on our economy evident and plans to level up the economy through the recovery becoming real, the need for a national debate on numeracy is now an urgent one. Read more
Through this analysis, supported by Bank of America, we demonstrate the potential for corporate volunteering schemes to be cost-effective ways of improving employee wellbeing once indirect cost savings from reduced absenteeism, presenteeism and staff turnover are incorporated. Read more
Our analysis, commissioned by Citizens Advice, finds that there could be at least 1.5 million households at risk of problem debt by mid-2021 as a result of the economic fallout from the Covid-19 crisis - an increase of 370,000 – 480,000 households compared to pre-crisis levels. Read more
This research finds that if all pupils who are completing KS1 at schools with high disadvantage in England received Magic Breakfast’s model of school breakfast provision, it could generate long-term benefits of £2.7 billion. Read more
With last year's winter fundraising opportunities more limited than usual, we asked charities to reflect on fundraising over 2020 and the Christmas period in particular in this flash survey. Read more
Untreated mental health issues for children and young people whilst on waiting lists cost public services an estimated £75m per year. Read more
To mark the launch of the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, we commissioned YouGov to provide a snapshot of public attitudes towards civil society in November 2020. Read more
In our first report of 2021, we take a look at our Tracker’s major findings about how Covid impacted charities, how they responded, and what their expectations are going into this new year. Read more
It is more important than ever that charities are able to measure, understand and communicate their impact. Here's how we've helped charities this year. Read more
The Commission on Civil Society aims to remove the constraints that hold the sector back and promote the approaches that help to push it forward. This report is the first step on that journey. Read more
21 thinkers, activists, professionals, writers and academics across the public, private and social sectors were asked the same question: ‘How do we unleash the potential of civil society in the 2020s?’. Read more
As the government considers how to soothe the social scars Covid has created, charitable organisations can be a core ingredient of the balm the country needs. But without additional resource to meet its multiple fronts of demand, the charity sector will not be able to fulfil its full potential to help everyone it can. Read more
PBE's latest research looks at how the Covid-19 recession and recovery could impact charity income Read more
October's latest charity sector survey shows a substantial proportion of charities expecting falls in their donation income over Christmas. Read more
Our report with Together for Short Lives found that providing short breaks for parent carers of children in palliative care could provide significant benefits to wider society. Read more