As with all book projects this one was influenced by the individuals and
groups, too many to name, who are shaping the broader intellectual
project by writing about, experiencing, working in and participating
in the voluntary sector. Particular thanks go to our contributors who
have produced innovative chapters despite the considerable pressures of
their ‘day jobs’. We also wish to acknowledge the contribution of those
who participated in the ESRC-funded seminar series, The Third Sector
in Criminal Justice (RES-451-26-0823), in 2010–2012, during a pivotal
time of turbulence for the voluntary sector and what has transpired to
be the radical restructuring of criminal justice. Dr Alice Mills, now at
the University of Auckland, contributed equally to the initial proposal
to the ESRC.
We are also grateful to our colleagues past and present who have supported
our work in this field since the time when it was below the radar of
both criminological and voluntary sector studies. These include, Susanne
Karstedt, Clare Griffiths, Michelle Bellham, Anne Worrall, the Research
Institute for Social Policy at Keele University and Emma Wincup. The
final production of this book was greatly assisted by Rachel Evans. We
would also like to thank Julia Willan and her team at Palgrave who displayed
endless patience whilst waiting for the manuscript to arrive.