Dr Cliff Allum

cliff allumAssociate Fellow 

Dr Cliff Allum’s research interests are located in the field of volunteering and development.  Specific areas of interest include measurement and the way in which volunteering contributes to development with a focus on international programmes; the issue of innovation and the repositioning of international volunteering organisations; and the relationship between national and international volunteering. 

Cliff joined TSRC in July 2017 and has worked with Dr Angela Ellis Paine on the development of links with the University of Illinois which has focused on the contribution of volunteering to Sustainable Development Goals leading to a conference event in London in December 2018. He has also worked with Dr Angela Ellis Paine and Dr Danielle Beswick on submissions to the UK Government on volunteering and development.  

Cliff is a member of the International Forum for Volunteering in Development Research Group and contributes to and advises on research activities leading to their annual conference.  He is also a member of their Measurement Working group, which is developing approaches to the systematic generation of data related to volunteering in development.  Cliff is now working on a more in-depth study of how volunteering organisations respond to their changing environment, including a focus on innovative practice.  He is also researching and writing the history of inter-agency co-operation amongst volunteer programmes which led to the formation of the International Forum for Volunteering in Development.

Broader academic interests include the future of International Non-governmental organisations and the relationship between the state and NGOs.  Cliff is also interested in the changing identities of volunteers; how volunteers become advocates through the volunteering experience; and the role of volunteers in relation to the changes in local state provision.

Experience

After a short period working in local government, Cliff initially pursued an academic career, including extramural and adult education teaching. He then moved into community development before working for the West Midlands Enterprise Board and Birmingham City Council in economic and social development.  At that point, Cliff moved into international development and especially international volunteering, as CEO of Skillshare International, Chair of BOND and President of the International Forum for Volunteering in Development.

From 2000, Cliff became actively involved in developing effective research-based evidence to support improved practice in Volunteering for Development and has written in this area since that time. He sought to develop effective links between researchers and practitioners and in his role with Forum worked with United Nations Volunteers and the Center for Social Development, USA in developing the Global Research Strategy to support the development of a body of knowledge through effective relationships between researchers and practitioners.  In 2014 he served on the UNV SWVR Expert Group leading to the SWVR 2015 on Transforming Governance.

In 2016, after 30 years in CEO roles, Cliff decided to pursue other interests and the following year joined TSRC to pursue his interest in research and writing.  He is also a qualified tennis coach and tennis referee and the National Treasurer of the WEA.

Qualifications

  • Ph D (Industrial and Business Studies) University of Warwick, 1980
  • MA (Industrial Relations) University of Warwick, 1974
  • BA (Economics and Politics) University of Kent at Canterbury, 1971
  • Publications (since 2010)

Publications (since 2010)

Allum, Cliff (2019) What do we know about exchange for development? NOREC, Norway

Allum, Cliff (2018) Volunteering and Communication: a Review. Voluntaris 2 2018: pp 318-321

Allum, Cliff with Savard, M. (2018) Inclusive Development Policy for Women and Youth. IVCO 2018 theme paper 1. Fitzroy, Australia: International Forum for Volunteering in Development.

Allum, Cliff with Davis Smith, J. and Salway, M. (2018) The potential for innovation in International Volunteering Co-operation Organisations practice in approaching Agenda 2030: Amsterdam, ISTR Conference Paper. 

Allum, Cliff (2018) Report of the 4th European Conference of the International Forum on Volunteering for Development 28-30 May 2018. Unité, Bern, Switzerland.

Allum, Cliff with Davis Smith J. and Salway M. (2017). IVCO 2017 sub-theme paper: innovation. Fitzroy, Australia: International Forum for Volunteering in Development. 

Allum, Cliff (2017). Why measure and for whose benefit? Addressing the challenges of measuring the contribution of volunteering for development in a multiple stakeholder environment. Voluntaris 1 (2017): pp 51-68 

Allum, Cliff and Devereux, P. (2016).The interface between international and national volunteering and the implications for IVCOs (in a universal Global Goals world). Fitzroy, Australia: International Forum for Volunteering in Development 

Allum, Cliff (2016).Why measure and for whose benefit? Addressing the challenges of measuring the contribution of volunteering for development in a multiple stakeholder environment.Fitzroy, Australia: International Forum for Volunteering in Development 

Allum, Cliff with Euler, H and Stein, T (2016).Understanding the patterns of volunteering for development.  An initial baseline survey of international volunteer co-operation organisations.Fitzroy, Australia: International Forum for Volunteering in Development 

Allum, Cliff (2016).Why measure and for whose benefit? A practitioner’s perspective on addressing the challenges of measuring the contribution of volunteering for development in a multiple stakeholder environment.Stockholm, ISTR Conference paper 

Allum, Cliff and Lough, B.J. (2013).Neoliberal influences on government-funded international volunteer cooperation organizations. Development in Practice 23(7): 908-919 

Allum, Cliff (2012).International youth volunteering:  An opportunity for development, international understanding or social inclusion? Fitzroy, Australia: International Forum for Volunteering in Development 

Allum, Cliff and Lough, B.J. (2011).Changing patterns of state funding for international volunteering. Fitzroy, Australia, International Forum on Development Service