‘Space to think’ webinar: Relationships Across Sectors – VCFSE and Public Sector

Join us for our free ‘Space to think’ webinars: A forum for third sector leaders (and aspiring leaders) in Birmingham.

Ever wish there was more time to pause and reflect on the changes that are taking place within and around the voluntary sector, or your organisations more specifically? Day to day fire-fighting leaves little space for reflection. Is it time for some time to think?

BVSC have been working in partnership with the Third Sector Research Centre at the University of Birmingham and Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University to build a network of existing and aspiring leaders from Birmingham’s voluntary and community sector.

We use findings from research to stimulate discussion, reflection, sharing of experience and learning. Each meeting begins with a brief presentation or provocation based on recent research evidence relating to the topic, followed by group-based participation, discussion, and a sharing of experiences and learning. Over the past two years, over 95 people from organisations across Birmingham have joined in with the sessions, creating a vibrant community of knowledgeable and passionate individuals from the VCFSE sector.

We hold these virtual online sessions on a quarterly basis and they are completely free to join. Last year we focussed on the broad theme of ‘Communities’ exploring topics such ‘Community Power, Changing needs in communities, the ‘Levelling Up’ agenda and ‘Community Wealth Building’.

This year, following feedback from past participants, our broad theme is ‘Relationships in the VCFSE sector’ .

All sessions in this series:

December 14 2022, 12:00-13:30 Why do Relationships Matter in your organisation?

Exploring recent work around the importance of relationships in the VCFSE by the Local Trust, this session will first pose the question of Why Relationships Matter, and will use this to explore the role of relationships in managing and supporting employee and volunteer wellbeing, and issues of equality and diversity across your workforce.

March 15 2023, 12:00-13:30 Relationships Within the VCFSE Sector

Using recent research, including an exploration of the role of infrastructure organisations, and the shifting relationships between VCFSE organisations in terms of collaborations, mergers, partnerships and competition.

June 14 2023, 12:00-13:30 Relationships Across Sectors – VCFSE and Public Sector

We will draw on research that explores the changing relationships between the VCFSE and Public Sector (particularly during and post the Covid-19 pandemic) and a recent research project about Health and Social Care Commissioning.