Instruments of government? Voluntary sector boards in a changing public policy environment

This article explores how recent changes in public policies have been experienced by the governing boards of voluntary agencies. It looks at impacts on the way boards perform their main functions and examines how board members perceive changes in social welfare policy such as moves towards contracting, competition and community care. Public policy implementation processes are perceived as problematic when they threaten the essentially voluntary and independent nature of the board role. Thus over-zealous direction, control or monitoring of voluntary agencies' boards may have the perverse effect of discouraging the impulse to be an 'active citizen'.