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
Aston University is launching a new sanctuary scholarship scheme for students who have sought refuge in the UK. Up to four sanctuary scholarships are on offer, due to a generous donation by prominent businessperson Matthew Crummack, currently chief executive of Domestic & General. They will be known as The Ernest Edward Scholarships in memory of the donor’s grandfather, Ernest Edward Crummack, who left school aged 12 to work in a coal mine. Read more
Things are tough right now for young people. The pandemic has not only reduced the number of jobs, but also the chance for young people to forge new connections. To help, UpRising and One Million Mentors are offering a free employability and mentoring programme. Read more
Empowering. Invigorating. Stimulating.Powerful words, powerful emotions. And the fact is, it costs nothing to be empowered, to feel invigorated or stimulated. Just step outside. Read more
Helen Juffs, Health and Wellbeing Champion and Practitioner, who works as Health & Social Care Coordinator at BVSC, shares a deeply personal account of her menopause in this blog. It's a powerful piece that's well worth a read. Read more
Residents in Yardley have celebrated saving their playing fields from developers - and are now being invited to have a say in their future. Plans to build a new housing estate on land at Barrows Lane sports ground in Yardley were rejected by Birmingham Council after Persimmon Homes had failed to offer a suitable site for replacing the pitches that would have been lost. Read more
This recycling week (October 16th-22nd) we’re remembering recycling doesn’t just mean putting the bins out once a fortnight, it could be giving new life to a board game that’s been forgotten, or passing on a lawn-mower that’s no longer needed. Maybe, finding a home for those things that might be left on the street by our neighbours. Read more
A Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games leader who oversaw an award-winning global initiative at the major sporting event has joined Sport 4 Life UK’s board of trustees. Read more
Birmingham is known as a food city. We have a thriving street food scene, new independent restaurants, and the most Michelin stars outside of London, but this sits alongside high levels of food insecurity. More than two fifths of people in the city (43%) are living in areas in the top 10% most deprived nationally. This means it is harder to access food, and the issue is worsening. Read more
This summer, Birmingham Hospice opens its new concept store. Located on Harborne High Street, the 6,470 square foot store features an in-store café, community space, selfie mirror and weekend DJ sets, alongside thousands of preloved items for customers to purchase and enjoy. Read more
Re-engage, the charity dedicated to ending loneliness and isolation among those aged 75 and over, is urgently seeking volunteers to help run new social groups in Birmingham. The charity believes no-one is too old to make friends or enjoy social interaction. Re-engage engagement officer, Deb Meynell, said: “Our groups are fun, friendly, completely free and provide an opportunity to stay physically active. Read more
Kevin Ford appointed Chair of The Active Wellbeing Society. The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative, which has been working for the last five years to build happy, healthy communities living active and connected lives. We’re grounded in the areas where inequalities are highest and work with the people there to tackle them, while promoting wellbeing. Read more
The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) has been working to collect the forgotten stories of Tyseley. The storytelling project was designed to shine a light on to the area’s past, and to showcase those tales that may otherwise be lost. We have been working with the local community to capture their stories, to highlight the history of the area and the people who have lived there, and to amplify their voices. Read more
A brand new event, Secret Garden Memory Walk, is coming to Birmingham this year, where participants will walk 10k (or 2.5k) through the leafy streets to raise vital funds to support local people living with a terminal diagnosis, and their families. Read more
The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS), so we’re delighted to be taking that work further with the Big Bike Upcycle Revolution. This project will launch at Sustainability Sunday on the 18th of June, an event we’re running at the Warehouse Café in Digbeth. We want to save bikes from landfill, or take in those that aren’t being used, to give them a second life with someone who can make good use of them. The project is funded by Sport England through our local delivery pilot work. Read more
Sophie Wilson, Director of Research at BVSC has written a Blog highlighting her Phd experiences so far. Read more