The King's Bunting and Mayor's Community Weekend

The King's Bunting

Following the success of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and as part of the legacy of the highly successful commonwealth games, The Lord-Lieutenant of West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE, invites you to join our region in celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III.

His Majesty's Coronation will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023 which, for most people, will be a once in a lifetime event. The Lord-Lieutenant is inviting schools, colleges, community groups and businesses to design sustainable bunting and showcase 'The King's Bunting' in the week beginning 1st May. To participate organisations need to simply register their organisation with the Lieutenancy either on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook with the hashtag #TheKingsBunting or email [email protected].

Mayor's Community Weekend

On the weekend of  Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September 2023, the Mayor’s Community Weekend returns to the West Midlands for the first time since the pandemic.

This is a chance for groups to come together to celebrate the strength and diversity of communities across the West Midlands.

Working with the Mayor of the West Midlands, we are offering grants of up to £2,000 to groups who want to run events or activities on this weekend.

Community groups from all areas of the West Midlands can apply. Events should be community-focused, such as community gatherings and sports or cultural events.

Applications open on Tuesday 9 May and will close on Wednesday 7 June. We’ll be back in touch then, but also keep an eye on our website and social media channels from this date for more details.

Latest

Research on older LGBTQ+ adults - Participants wanted

The University of Birmingham, along with the University of Bristol, University of Manchester, and Opening Doors, are doing a study on older LGBTQ+ adult social care assessments. We are currently looking for people to participate in our project and take part in an interview. If you are an LGBTQ+ individual over the age or 60, or if you are a carer providing care for an older LGBTQ+ person, we would like to talk to you.
Choco Au Pains and Planting in the Peace Garden

Join Roots to Fruit on the 10th June between 10am and 12:30 pm to help plant the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Memorial in the St Thomas Church Peace Garden. Learn gardening tips from the professionals free of charge! Find out how you can help preserve the Parks memorial community legacy. Pastries and hot drinks will be provided! Call Jon on 07590620890 or email [email protected]
Sanctuary Seekers & Us

A networking event supporting asylum seekers and refugees for better mental health in Birmingham and Solihull.
YCA & FSPG Mental Health Youth Summit

Join us for our first Young Combined Authority and Faith Strategic Partnership Group's Mental Health Summit at Millennium Point.

Introducing a Vision for Volunteering in Birmingham

Birmingham’s Vision for Volunteering 2027 draws on the recently developed national Vision for Volunteering developed by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and their partners. It has been co-produced with citizens, voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations, and public sector and academic partners in Birmingham through a series of events held in Birmingham in late 2022.
Launch of the new ward profiles for Birmingham – useful data for VCFSE organisations

New Ward Profiles for Birmingham were launched on 23 May. These are being hosted as part of the Birmingham City Observatory. These profiles are an excellent way to begin to build a picture of the place-based communities around your services and organisation.
BVSC's Weekly Business Development and Funding Webinars return on 5 June

After a month of bank holiday Mondays, the Business Development and Funding webinars return from Monday 5 June. We have some fantastic guest speakers and funders lined up throughout June, alongside the usual new, events and live funding opportunities.
#PickingUpTheBaton – My Phd Journey!

Sophie Wilson, Director of Research at BVSC has written a Blog highlighting her Phd experiences so far.
Easyfundraising - Free Funding for your good cause

Over £1.2million in free, unrestricted funding has just been paid to third-sector organisations via funding platform easyfundraising. Because easyfundraising is committed to helping communities access essential funding, they partner with over 7,500 online retailers that want to give back. In times like these, when individual giving has reduced or even halted, easyfundraising provides an alternative funding option by turning online shopping into monetary donations for third sector organisations.
Our Future City ‘Draft Central Birmingham Framework 2040’ – How VCFSE organisations can get involved and give your community a voice?

We are asking for VCFSE organisations to support us in reaching communities to feedback on the draft framework for Central Birmingham. ‘Our Future Draft Central Birmingham Framework 2040’ is now subject to public consultation until the 20th July 2023.
Community Peer Researchers wanted for West Midlands-wide project

BVSC, the University of Wolverhampton and the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations in Coventry are looking for local citizens to become fully trained community researchers. We are beginning a project for the West Midlands Combined Authority and want to hear the voices and opinions of the people living in the Birmingham area, Coventry and surrounds, and the Black Country, to better understand how we might all achieve inclusive growth.
Birmingham Cost-of-Living Information Advice Guidance Fund

As part of the response to the Cost of Living crisis, Birmingham City Council are working with Heart of England Community Foundation to provide Cost-of-Living Information Advice Guidance Funding.
Diversifying Income through the Cost of Living Crisis

A survey by easyfundraising HAS found that over 60% of good causes have experienced a drop in money raised in the past year - with 59.7% expecting the downward trend to progress as the cost of living crisis continues to bite. One-third said they are changing how they fundraise, with many suggesting that ‘online fundraising’ is the path forward. Helping bridge the gap, online funding platform easyfundraising enables third sector organisations receive free donations.
New Community Leadership E-learning Platform launched by BVSC

BVSC has launched a new E-learning platform as part of the Community Leadership Training Programme. This new online mode of delivery will allow more individuals to take part in the programme at a time, space and pace that suits them best.