BVSC are thrilled to have been awarded a £100k NHS Research Engagement Network (REN) development grant. Together with our partners we want to reshape the ways in which health inequalities across Birmingham and Solihull are addressed. Read more
In 2022 the study was supported by Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Power to Change and Millfield House Foundation. The study examines how Third Sector organisations, with a wide range of characteristics and working in different local contexts, fare over time. Read more
The NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and BVSC set out why it’s important to involve the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector in health and social care research, and how researchers can improve their engagement with the sector going forward. Read more
We know that Birmingham, a vibrant and diverse city with over 1 million residents from various cultures, faiths, and backgrounds, has faced significant challenges due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. In response, Birmingham City Council has identified key challenges for the City in its Corporate Plan (2022-2026) which includes equalities an inclusion, unemployment, opportunities for children and young people, community resilience, health and wellbeing. Read more
Five collaborative partnerships have been awarded funding as part of the ‘Research Better Together’ project. The project, which is funded by the University of Birmingham and delivered in partnership with BVSC Research, Communicate2U and Co-Production Works, seeks to facilitate stronger connections between health and social care researchers, VCSEs and the communities they support. Read more
Alongside the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Urban Wellbeing, BVSC Research ran an ‘Urban Futures Story Competition’. The competition asked entrants to create short story, in written or spoken word, which imagined a city of the future which is more sustainable, equitable and just. Read more
Birmingham’s Vision for Volunteering 2027 draws on the recently developed national Vision for Volunteering developed by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and their partners. It has been co-produced with citizens, voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations, and public sector and academic partners in Birmingham through a series of events held in Birmingham in late 2022. Read more
New Ward Profiles for Birmingham were launched on 23 May. These are being hosted as part of the Birmingham City Observatory. These profiles are an excellent way to begin to build a picture of the place-based communities around your services and organisation. Read more
Sophie Wilson, Director of Research at BVSC has written a Blog highlighting her Phd experiences so far. Read more
The Research Better Together 2023 Webinar took place on 20 April. The purpose of the event was to: discuss findings from research undertaken by Jenny Harlock (University of Warwick) and Sophie Wilson (BVSC Research) ‘Valuing the role of the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector in social care research’; and to provide further information about the Research Better Together 2023 programme and how you can be involved. Read more
This year the conference theme is Action, Difference, and Change in Local Civil Society with a special focus on how charity and community action and activism survive or thrive at the local level; how local voluntary sectors differ and change over time; and what role local civil society plays in building a better society. Alongside this theme, the conference will feature research on issues such as fundraising, policy, finances, and all manner of issues related to the voluntary sector. Read more
Migration Policy and Practice have just released their latest Sector Assessment report - "Migrant Voices on Barriers to Settlement in Birmingham and the Black Country". Read more
Third Sector Trends has been surveying the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector every three years since 2010. In 2022, 6,071 responses were received across England and Wales (an average of ~600 responses in each region). Read more
Third Sector Trends 2022 first report: structure, purpose, energy and impact of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in England and Wales Read more
BVSC's Vision for Volunteering event was set up to invite individuals from the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector to share their perspectives on volunteering in Birmingham, informing the creation of a volunteering strategy for the city. Read more
BVSC Director of Research Sophie Wilson gives an overview of the 2021 State of the Sector Report findings and what they reveal about Birmingham's Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector. Read more
In October 2021, BVSC Research worked with partners from the West Midlands Social Care Research Partnership to deliver an event called ‘Growing Social Care Research’ which aimed to address key issues in social care research. In this short case-study we describe the purpose of the partnership and share links to the event and to future opportunities to get involved in social care research. Read more
We're currently planning our next State of the Sector Survey Questionnaire. We're calling out to Birmingham's Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise sectors to tell us what we should be asking this year. All you need to do is answer three questions. Read more
We are pleased to announce that BVSC Research is leading an alliance which forms the Community Research and Co-Design Partner for the Youth Endowment Fund’s Neighbourhood Fund. Read more
BVSC Research, Revolving Doors and the Institute for Community Research and Development (ICRD) at the University of Wolverhampton are currently conducting research about vaccine uptake amongst people in Birmingham who are experiencing multiple disadvantage. Read more
BVSC Research and Birmingham City University are pleased to present our recently published report, Community based responses to Covid-19 in Birmingham: Insights and experiences. Read more
IMPACT (‘Improving Adult Care Together’) is the new UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care, funded by the ESRC and the Health Foundation. Read more
Having just passed the anniversary of the first national lockdown, BVSC Research has produced a series of organisational reflections from senior leaders of Voluntary and Community Sector leaders. Read more