80,000 students study in Birmingham across 8 universities. Many of them look to volunteer during their time here to get to know the city, meet people and gain skills and experience. This Student Volunteers Week, Sam from Birmingham City University (BCU) gives some advice on how you can engage students in volunteering. Read more
The number of people who are worried about being out of pocket if they volunteer has risen from 5% in 2019 to 14% in 2023. Birmingham’s amazing volunteers give up their time to support some of the city's most vulnerable people. The Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Sector needs volunteers to help deliver vital services now more than ever. In this blog, we consider some steps that you can take to effectively involve volunteers during the cost-of-living crisis. Read more
Better Pathways is a Birmingham-based mental health charity, dedicated to supporting people with poor mental health, learning disabilities and other neurodiverse conditions into paid employment, education, training and volunteering. Read more
From June 7th – 9th Birmingham came together for the national Big Help Out, a weekend of volunteering action to support local people, communities and good causes. People from across the city gave their time and skills to support local charities, voluntary and community groups. This blog shines a light on some of the amazing activities that happened, and the difference made by those who volunteered. Read more
Medaille Trust is a national charity that supports survivors of modern slavery and trafficking across England. We do this via our safehouse accommodation and through our outreach projects - the Moving on Project (of which we have five hubs across England). We also partner with law enforcement authorities and deliver awareness raising of modern slavery and trafficking in communities and to organisations. Read more
This week is National Volunteers’ Week (June 3rd – 9th 2024). It’s a chance for us to recognise, celebrate and thank volunteers across the country for all they contribute to their local communities and wider society, and an opportunity to inspire others to give volunteering a go. Many charities, community groups and local services across Birmingham involve or are led by volunteers who give their time, skills and energy to support local people and good causes. Read more
Birmingham is coming together for the Big Help Out, a weekend of volunteering action from 7-9 June that supports local people, communities and good causes across the city. There are lots of ways for people to get involved through giving a small amount of their time, including helping Food Cycle to serve meals and reduce food pover Read more
Re-Engage, a charity dedicated to reducing social isolation and loneliness in those aged 75 and over across the UK are expanding in Birmingham and are seeking new volunteers and those who may be interested in Re-Engage services to come forward. Read more
From June 7th – 9th 2024, Birmingham is coming together for the Big Help Out, a weekend of volunteering action to support local people, communities and good causes across the city. We’re inviting local charities, voluntary and community groups to get involved. Read more
Thousands of people give their time to volunteer in Birmingham and make a difference to people and communities across the city. One of the organisations that volunteers support is RMC, who support refugees and migrants across Birmingham and the Black Country. Claire, Volunteer and Training Manager, shares how volunteers are at the heart of their work. 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
Birmingham’s Vision for Volunteering sets out an aspirational view of what the volunteering landscape in Birmingham could look like by 2027. It draws on the recently developed national Vision for Volunteering, produced by the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and its partners. It was co-produced by citizens, voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations, the public sector, and academic partners in Birmingham, through a series of events held in late 2022. Read more
Birmingham’s Vision for Volunteering sets out an aspirational view of what the volunteering landscape in Birmingham could look like by 2027. It was co-produced by citizens, voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations, the public sector, and academic partners in Birmingham, through a series of events held in late 2022. Come along to a virtual session to find out more about the vision, what it hopes to achieve in Birmingham and how you can get involved. Read more
BVSC has recently welcomed Becky Isaac, our Vision for Volunteering Implementation Manager. Becky has joined BVSC having previously worked in Volunteer Manager roles with several charities. She understands first hand the challenges and opportunities currently presented to the VCFSE sector in recruiting, onboarding, recognising and retaining volunteers. Read more