Covid-19 Information and Resources

Getting vaccinated

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Information and Resources (BVSC): View here

Getting tested

When and how to get a PCR test (Gov.UK): View here
Where and how to get Rapid (Lateral Flow) test kits: View here

Self-isolating

Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection (UK Health Security Agency): View here

General information and resources

Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread (Cabinet Office): Read more
NHS advice about COVID-19, including symptoms, testing, vaccination and self-isolation (NHS): Read more
Access to Free Taxi service to vaccination (Birmingham City Council): Read more
Coronavirus Cases in the UK - Daily updates (Dept of Health & Social Care and Public Health England): Read more
Self-isolation and treating Coronavirus Symptons (NHS): Read more
Guidance for health and social care settings, other non-clinical settings, and for the general public. (UK Health Security Agency): Read more

Physical health

Flu vaccination programme for adults (NHS): Read more
Activities and advice to keep you stay stay physically active and maintain good mental health (Sport Birmingham) Read more

Mental health

Support for children & young people, adults and key workers (Birmingham & Solihull CCG) Read more
Telephone counselling: Birmingham Mind's Helpline is open 7 days a week from 9 am - 11 pm. Tel: 0121 262 3555. Or email [email protected].
Kooth: Online mental health support for young people (aged 11 to 25) - A new free, safe and anonymous service to support young people’s emotional and mental health in Birmingham. www.kooth.com
Coronavirus and mental health tips (Mental Health Foundation): Read more
Covid-19 and the VCSE Mental Health Sector (Association of Mental Health Providers): Read more

Health Conditions

Alzheimer's: Caring for people with demential during Covid-19. (Alzheimer's Society). Read more
Guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk (UK Health Security Agency): Read more

Domestic Violence

Reporting domestic violence and where to go to seek help (West Midlands Combined Authority): Read more
Safety Advice for Survivors (Women's Aid): Read more
#NoExcluseforAbuse: Multi-agency WM campaign aimed at providing victims of domestic abuse with the right information on how to get help and end the abuse they are suffering. (WMPCC): Read more
'Rail to Refuge' - free train travel for women fleeing domestic abuse (Women's Aid): Read more

Disability

Support and guidance for people with disabilities is being provided online and by telephone by DRC (Disability Resource Centre): Read more

Substance Misuse

Information and advice about drugs and alcohol, and the different ways support is being offered from CGL (Change Grow Live): Read More

Carers

Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family (Dept of Health & Social Care): Read more
Information and advice for Carers - this dedicated Covid-19 Web page contains relevant information for carers including local support and advice about writing a 'What IF' plan (Forward Carers): Read more
Direct Payments: Advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment (DHSC): Read more

End of life and bereavement

Bereavement Support Helpline available five days a week in Birmingham and Solihull (Birmingham & Solihull CCG) Read more
"Hoping for the Best and Planning for the Worst" - Advice for people, families and communities planning for the end of life care and bereavement support (St Mary's Hospice/BVSC): Read more
Six short films about end of life and dying issues from the Muslim perspective (John Taylor Hospice/BIMA) Read more
Coronavirus: Easy Read Factsheets (Cruse Bereavement Care). Read more
Free booklets for children, young peolple and their carers (Cruse Bereavement Care) Read more

Leading your charity or organisation

Business and charity support

Guidance and resources to support charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers: (NCVO): Read more
Guidance for the charity sector (Charity Commission): Read more
Unoccupied premises: Advice for looking after premises (Charity Times blog: 7/4/20). Read more
Social Enterprise support: iSE has set up a free telephone Helpline for social enterprises who want to chat about any issues or concerns. Call: 0121 771 1411
By calling out to businesses Volunteering Matters can connect your organisation to the right people, skills and resources to support your response to COVID-19 Read more

Employment & HR

Universal Credit and other benefits (DWP): Read more
Guiding and mentoring individuals into employment, education or training (The PURE project): Read more
Support for employers and jobseekers (Birmingham City Council): Read more
Employment, training and education support for under 30s (Birmingham and Solihull Youth Promise Plus): Read more

Reopening your building

Advice and guidance from Acivico about the process of re-opening community buildings. Read more

Support and Guidance for underrepresented groups

Multilingual resources

Health Information translated into 44 languages (Doctors of the World): Read more
Covid-19 information information videos in a range of languages (Leeds City Council) Read more

Asylum and immigration

Free online wellbeing and cultural resources (Migrant Help) Read more
Language interpretation: migrant health guide (Public Health England): Read more

Latest

'Sharing the Cake' sessions return in June

The Community Development Hub will be hosting quarterly Sharing the Cake face to face events – food followed by learning and networking - supported by monthly 90 min zoom sessions in between.
Sharing the Cake

Quarterly Community Development Hub networking event.
New sanctuary scholarship scheme for students who have sought refuge in the UK

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.
Register your interest in volunteering with YMCA Heart of England

There are a variety of roles available from learning about rent arrears in our housing department to getting stuck in with our youth programmes. We have sites in Erdington, Aston, Northfield and Coventry, there's never been a better time to volunteer with us.

Household Support Fund open for applications

Support is available to households in Birmingham over the winter using funding from the government’s Household Support Fund.
Become a volunteer

Volunteering involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that is of benefit to others or the environment.
What we do

BVSC works to make a positive difference to the lives of people in Birmingham and we believe that the key to this is found in our communities.
The Weather Model

This model uses the weather as a metaphor for different elements of reflective practice.
Neighbourhood Network Schemes in Birmingham

The aim of Neighbourhood Network Schemes (known as NNS) in Birmingham is to help older adults in Birmingham to lead healthy, happy and independent lives in their own homes and communities.
Become a member

Become part of a growing network of voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector organisations in Birmingham.
Quality Standards
Birmingham Holiday Activities and Food Grant Programme 2021

Birmingham City Council has received grant funding from the Department for Education to coordinate a large-scale holiday activity programme with the inclusion of food for children and young people across the city this summer and over the Christmas period.
Promote your organisation
Covid-19 Vaccination Information and Resources for Communities

As part of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, we have compiled below different information and resources currently available with a specific focus on communities that may have experienced marginalisation.