title: Connecting local support: A qualitative study exploring the role of voluntary organisations in long-term condition management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the role of community groups to support people living with long-term conditions and the organisational factors that influence this role.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with voluntary group organisers purposefully sampled in Greater Manchester from a local database of community groups. Interviews explored the organisations role in supporting people living with a long-term condition, their social networks and the origins of the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents' construed their role in supporting individual capacity for management either explicitly (e.g. providing exercise) or implicitly (e.g. emotional support). This role was influenced by a combination of group ideology, funding and social networks. Analysis highlights the role of the non-clinical setting, the social support provided within the group, as well as organisational processes that influenced their capacity to support people living with long-term conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By examining the organisation of voluntary groups, this study highlights the way in which they may support or constrain access to an extended range of support for people with long-term conditions. This paper has implications for commissioning of services by the health service from the third sector because of the differing ideological perspectives and limited operational capacity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK rebecca.morris@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Ivaylo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vassilev
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathieson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeffries
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blickem
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Long-term conditions; qualitative; self-management; social networks; voluntary groups