James Rees

James Rees is a Professor of Civil Society and Public Policy at the University of Wolverhampton, serving as Deputy Director of the Institute for Community Research and Development (ICRD). Previously, he held roles at the Open University, University of Birmingham, and University of Manchester across disciplines like Geography, Politics, and Social Policy. His interdisciplinary research focuses on the voluntary sector's role in public service delivery, governance transformations, and community engagement.

• PhD, University of Manchester
• MA, UEA
• BA, University of Oxford

Research interests include third sector dynamics in public services, cross-sectoral partnerships, organisational change, urban regeneration, and addressing health inequalities through community-led initiatives. Recent work explores digital competence frameworks for nonprofits and mental wellbeing in disadvantaged communities.

His publications span journals like Social Policy & Administration and Voluntary Sector Review, with key themes of pandemic governance, peer research methodologies, and probation reform. Active grants include collaborations with ESRC, NIHR, and Erasmus+ on topics like vaccine uptake, workforce integration, and community data labs.

James supervises PhD students researching health equity, online misinformation, and substance-use disorder recovery. He contributes to professional networks through editorships of Voluntary Sector Review and Social Policy Review, and memberships in the International Society for Third Sector Research and Voluntary Sector Studies Network.