Nick Ockenden

Nick is the Director of the Institute for Volunteering Research where he has worked since 2005. He was previously a Head of Research and Research Officer. Nick leads IVR’s work programme and is responsible for its strategic and financial management.

In his time with IVR Nick has worked on a wide range of projects including numerous programme and organisational evaluations (English Heritage, the Natural History Museum, v), the development of volunteering strategies (the National Offender Management Service, the Northern Ireland government), sector-wide reviews of volunteering (Natural England) and studies into volunteering behaviour and impact (the Volunteering Hub, Capacity Builders). Nick particular research interests are focused on volunteering within small, community-based organisations and environmental and conservation volunteering.

In the past Nick has worked at GreenSpace, an environmental charity working with parks and green spaces throughout the UK. Nick has an undergraduate degree in Geography and a Masters degree in Environmental Management, both from the University of Nottingham.

Nick is a board member of the Social Research Association. He is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London and a Visiting Fellow at Northumbria University.