Engage for Funding webinars return on 29 April, At this session we’ll be joined by charity marketing expert, Antonia Brindle, who will run through the basics that any charity, CIC and social business can use to attract participants, donors and fundraisers. Read more
Hotly anticipated tickets for the new Birmingham Community Lottery are now on sale, with the first weekly draw taking place on Saturday 30 March. At a cost £1 each, winners could scoop up to £25,000. Read more
Stop Loan Sharks has been around for 20 years, fighting illegal money lending and supporting borrowers. Every year we organise a campaign week to highlight the work we have been doing with our many partners. This year’s theme is to highlight that there is ‘No Blame, No Shame’ for anyone who has borrowed from a loan shark. From our research we have found that many borrowers don’t try to find help until 2 years after they first take out a loan from an illegal lender. Read more
Tesco and easyfundraising have come together again to support voluntary organisations, charities, and CICs. They will donate £1000 funding pots to 5 community organisations this May. Follow these simple steps for a chance to win. Read more
Footsteps - Faiths for a Low Carbon Future is one of the seven community organisations that make up BrumEnergy. Footsteps’ role in this project is to connect BrumEnergy with Birmingham’s faith communities. Read more
Open Conversations are open to everyone who works or volunteers in health and care in the NHS, Local Authorities and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector across Birmingham and Solihull. Read more
BrumEnergy partners Footsteps and Birmingham Green Doors organised this workshop to help faith community members share the benefits of using heat pumps in place of gas boilers. Read more
Did you know your organisation can receive funding every time your volunteers, employees, or staff shop online? Their everyday shopping can transform into a continual income stream for your organisation. You can raise up to £100 over a year, just from one person doing their weekly food shop, raise up to £45 each time someone switches their household bills, and raise up to £60 when they book a holiday. Find out how this free service works. Read more
Businesses and individuals across the West Midlands are being urged to ‘rise up’ in a special month-long event aimed at tackling youth unemployment across the region. Read more
Applications are now closed. Grants available to support organisations working with citizens who are poorly housed or at risk of homelessness, through capacity building funding for organisations already engaging with these cohorts in the community. Read more
Is your home warm? Do you need some advice or support? Ecobirmingham were at Stirchley Baths at a Cost-of-Living event on March 14th, providing free home energy advice. If you have concerns such as the house is always cold, there is mould and damp in the property, the cost of bills are high, or you are in fuel debt, then get in touch with us. Read more
Applications have opened for community organisations to bid for Citywide Small Grants, being made available via Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System’s Fairer Futures Fund. Read more
As part of our activity to help Birmingham enact the Vision for Volunteering, we have put together a variety of free resources, guides, top tips and templates. These resources will support you to attract, recruit and involve volunteers in ways that celebrate difference, enable collaboration and show appreciation to your volunteers for their incredible efforts. Read more
Voluntary organisations in our area have just received a share of £1.6m in easyfundraising donations, meaning they can update their facilities, buy new equipment, and improve their services. Through easyfundraising, 8,000 online retailers including Sainsbury’s, eBay, Amazon, M&S, Just Eat and Argos will donate money to your organisation. To find out more and receive funds in easyfundraising’s next #donationday in May. Read more
As of 15th February 2024, there are over 375 cases of confirmed and probable cases of measles across Birmingham. The majority of cases are unvaccinated, and most are children aged 10 or under. The most affected cases live in the areas of highest deprivation in Birmingham. All ethnicities are affected. Please note that the porcine free vaccine, Priorix, is available for those who do not accept pork products. Read more
This week Birmingham City Council revealed that £300 million of cuts will be made to Council services in order to balance its 2024/2025 budget. BVSC CEO Brian Carr has assured the sector that BVSC is continuing to facilitate conversations with the Council to explore ways to navigate the challenges and minimise the impacts on our city's residents and community groups. Read more
More than 80 good causes have already signed up to the new Birmingham Community Lottery. Organisations ranging from youth initiatives, mental health charities and arts projects to community parks and friends groups have taken up the offer to give their fundraising a boost. It’s not too late for other causes to get involved as there’s no limit to how many can join. Read more
Join us at our Engage for Funding Forum webinars in the run up to Easter when we'll have a fantastic line-up of topics and speakers. Join our mailing list and you'll receive regularly updates about forthcoming activities. Hope to see you soon! Read more
BVSC is delighted to welcome three new trustees to its board following an open recruitment process in December. Joining the Trustee Board are Junaid Akhtar, Ajit Singh Ubhi of Nishkam Civic Association and Andy Cave of Healthwatch Birmingham & Solihull. Read more
Birmingham City Council have issued a joint letter from the Leader and the Chief Executive to the city's Voluntary, Community, Faith & Social Enterprise Sector. Read more
• Race Equality Week takes place from 5 – 11 February 2024 • 2024 Theme is #ListenActChange – because we all need to focus on action, change and impact, and not just words • Birmingham Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector Mini Race Impact Summit highlighted race inequality within the sector and the need for action – the Summit’s Draft Position Paper includes a Draft Action Plan to support this. Read more
Nominations for the 12th Community Inspiration Awards 2024 are now open. The annual Community Inspiration Awards is organised by the Community Foundation, to recognise outstanding contributions made by staff from public sector organisations, charities, businesses and members of the community, whose efforts have made a positive difference in the community. With 15 award categories to choose from, you can nominate somebody who you think deserves an award. Read more
Brum Bites Back! is the new campaign from the Food Justice Network (FJN). We want everyone in Birmingham to have access to food, and we’re asking citizens and businesses to help us in that aim, and bite back at food insecurity. Read more
On 25th May 2022 (second anniversary of the racist murder of George Floyd) BRIG hosted the first Birmingham Race Impact Summit and launched the development of a City wide “Birmingham 10 Year Race Equality Delivery Plan”. Read more