Birmingham City Council, through the offices of BVSC, want to commission a number of projects that will support the legacy that the 2022 Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham will offer the city. The Stronger Communities’ Commonwealth Games (CWG) Fund has been set up to support a number of activities that will form a key part of this legacy. Closes 22 January! Read more
Dr Justin Varney joined us for a Webinar briefing for the VCFSE Sector on Thursday 6 January 2022. Dr Varney set out the current situation in terms of the Omicron variant, the latest changes to the policy including new rules around testing and isolation as well as some predictions for the months ahead. Read more
Letter to Voluntary Sector colleagues from Brian Carr, BVSC CEO, emphasising the importance of vaccinations, and other measures to keep everyone safe over the Festive Season and into the new year. Read more
Following the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter protest in Centenary Square on 4 June 2020, and the murders of Dea-John Reid and others from Birmingham City BAME communities this year, organisations across Birmingham City are renewing the call for rapid change in the delivery of racial equality. Read more
A community stakeholder panel is to be formed as part of Birmingham City Council’s Everyone’s Battle Everyone’s Business action plan of work within which we are looking at a new approach to equality, diversity and inclusion in the longer term. Read more
An opportunity for patient volunteers to support Birmingham and Solihull CCG transform musculoskeletal services - get in touch by Monday 24th January. Please share with your communities. Read more
Support is available to households in Birmingham over the winter using funding from the government’s Household Support Fund. Read more
We know it can be challenging for organisations to engage in research. We're therefore running these two FREE sessions to develop an understanding of the barriers you face, and to support you to engage in any future social care research opportunities. Read more
Witton Lodge Community Association is helping to deliver a new support project to help Erdington residents who are suffering financial hardship. Read more
What are your fundraising goals this year? An exciting new project, improved facilities, more equipment and supplies, better support for your users? Whatever you need funding for, make sure free to use fundraising platform easyfundraising is a part of your strategy. easyfundraising enables your voluntary organisation, charity or CIC to benefit from cashback donations when your community of supporters shop online with leading retailers. Read more
Is your organisation a Living Wage Employer? Have you noticed positive changes from paying a real Living Wage on communities? We are looking for case studies on the impact of the real Living Wage on Birmingham’s communities to help us promote the take up of a real Living Wage across the City. If you can help, please get in touch! Read more
If, like us at BVSC, your New Year’s Resolutions include being greener, then you might want to join our new Environment & Energy Network for Birmingham’s VCFSE (Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise) sector. Read more
On December 28th, Debbie decided to Brave the Shave and had her long flowing locks chopped off for charity. In doing so she was paying tribute to a very special lady in her life. Read more
Birmingham Changing Futures Together (BCFT) is drawing to a close after eight years of working to improve the systems that support those facing multiple disadvantage and will share the learning via an online legacy event. Read more
The Creating a Healthy Food City forum and Birmingham City Council Public Health are currently in the process of developing a food system strategy and action plan for Birmingham for the next 8 years. Read more
The response to the BVSC Kickstart offer has been phenomenal with all 18 role opportunities going live in job centres by the end of Septemer 2021. Since September we have successful filled 50% of our vacant positions. With the end of the Kickstart scheme extended to end of March 2022, BVSC Kickstart looks likely to fill all vacancies before the end of the scheme next year. Read more
BVSC has recently launched a new Environment and Energy Network for Birmingham’s VCFSE (Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise) sector, and we’d like to invite you to take part! 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
Integrated Care Systems (ICs) have been developing for several years. The Health and Care Bill is due to put them on a statutory footing from April 2022. Come along to one of our place-based events to explore how the VCFSE sector will be embedded within the ICS. Read more
A city wide collaborative group has been established to implement Compassionate City Charter status. To ensure all aspects of the city are involved people are being invited to take part in a development programme hosted by Compassionate Community UK’s Director Julian Abel. Anyone who is involved in formal or informal networks which could further the aims of Birmingham as a Compassionate City will be considered. Read more
Birmingham marks Living Wage Week (15 - 21 Nov) by becoming a Living Wage City. BVSC joins partners who want to see people across the City benefiting from the Living Wage, and everyone is invited to get involved. Read more
A mother of three, who moved to the Midlands and found a family home with community landlord Witton Lodge, is now pursuing career options after successfully passing an employment training course with the Perry Common based organisation. Read more
Mary, who lives in Perry Common, has been volunteering for Witton Lodge Community Association for more than 25 years and is also a member of the organisation's board. Read more
To inspire people to take up and continue the challenge, the National Literacy Trust hold national Take 10 moments where thousands of people across the UK drop everything and read together for 10 minutes. Read more