This short methodological appendix serves to provide the reader with a more detailed overview of the methods used in gathering the empirical data found in this book, the samples of participants and the limitations of the data utilised. I also make a short statement on reflexivity, given my own positioning towards the data and the argument I have made.

Interviews

Twenty-three in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews lasting between 60 and 90 minutes were conducted with individuals working in senior positions in policy, research and communications at UK charities. All participants were provided with information about the study and were asked to provide their consent. Interviews were recorded on a digital recorder, before being transcribed by a professional transcription company. Interviews were first coded by a research assistant, and then by myself.

These practitioners were recruited through a snowball sample and were from a range of organisations and worked in various fields, such as voluntary sector infrastructure, housing, fundraising, volunteering and youth engagement. A breakdown of their organisation's focus, their role and their gender can be found in Table A1 below.

Interviewees were asked about issues such as their ability to influence policy, the impact they feel being a charity employee has on their ability to gain access and do their job, and issues of charity branding, marketing and persuasion. They were also asked specifically about the Lobbying Act, the politicisation of the charity sector, and discussed the remembrance poppy, all in all taking a ‘state of the sector’ approach. The names of interviewees and any organisations have been anonymised (apart from in the case of Andy Benson from the National Coalition for Independent Action, who wished not to be anonymised). At various points throughout the book, small and inconsequential details have been omitted in order to protect interviewees’ identity. Interviewees were generally located in Sheffield and London, with the majority of London-based participants working for charities focused on delivery at a national level, and the majority of those situated in Sheffield working locally. Throughout the book the location of the interviewee is presented, apart from when this could impact on anonymisation.