Following the BVSC 2021 State of the Sector Survey, BVSC Research facilitated five deep dive events to work with the sector to progress the key themes that were highlighted within the survey. This fifth and final deep dive discusses organisational concerns regarding the current funding landscape within the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector. Read more
This NHS Research Engagement Network (REN) report provides an overview of activity funded by NHS England. Read more
BVSC Research, working closely with partners at the Institute for Community Research & Development (ICRD) at University of Wolverhampton and a PTC Alumni Researcher has published the evaluation report of the Second Birmingham Poverty Truth Commission. Read more
Following the BVSC 2021 State of the Sector Survey, BVSC Research facilitated five deep dive events to work with the sector to progress the key themes that were highlighted within the survey. Read more
BVSC Research were asked to look at creating a Vision for Volunteering for Birmingham. Birmingham’s Vision for Volunteering draws on the recently developed national Vision for Volunteering developed by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and their partners. Read more
Following the BVSC 2021 State of the Sector Survey, BVSC Research facilitated five deep dive events to work with the sector to progress the key themes that were highlighted within the survey. This third report in our ‘Insight’ series presents an analysis of findings from a ‘VCFSE Sector Mini Race Impact Summit’ that was developed in partnership with Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG) and took place in December 2022. Read more
Following the BVSC 2021 State of the Sector Survey, BVSC Research facilitated five deep dive events to work with the sector to progress the key themes that were highlighted within the survey. This second report in our ‘Insight’ series presents an analysis of findings from two recent BVSC consultation events designed to explore and understand the local volunteering landscape. Read more
The Birmingham & Solihull Integrated Care Partnership have developed the 10 Year Integrated Care Strategy. As part of this, engagement took place with citizens, stakeholders and the workforce to obtain views on whether the strategy met the needs of the population and staff. This engagement report discusses the key themes that emanated from that consultation and gives recommendations to help the strategy be as effective as possible. Read more
In our 2021 State of the Sector survey partners from across the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector told us that when looking to the future, one of their biggest concerns was the rising cost of living (COL). We know that since this report was published the COL crisis has significantly deepened, with rising inflation, energy and food costs impacting communities across the UK. Read more
BVSC Research was commissioned by Autism West Midlands to evaluate the Teens Autism Confident programme. The Teens Autism Confident programme is aimed at supporting autistic teenagers to understand their condition and respond positively to it. This was built upon a previously successful course targeting adults, with the belief that encouraging autistic teenagers to feel more confident about being autistic can improve how they feel about themselves in teenage years and later in life. Read more
The State of the Sector 2021 report examines trends, changes, opportunities and challenges within the landscape of Birmingham’s Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector. Read more
It is undoubtable that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. From lockdowns, health and safety concerns, rising levels of demand and ongoing change and uncertainty, the pandemic transformed much of organisational life. Read more
Conducted during March - June 2021 on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Mental Health Listening Exercise. It was intended to inform the WMCA’s upcoming Mental Health Commission: ensuring that people and people’s voices were at the heart of, and the foundation for, the Commission and its recommendations. Read more
Repository is the largest observatory for what works for communities across the UK. A curated collection of over 300 research reports, case studies and other publications from Institute for Community Studies. Read more
At the core of the PDU’s activity, is a belief that the needs of people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage are best met by services which operate within a connected, informed system. In recent years, the Human Learning Systems (HLS) approach (Lowe and Plimmer, 2019) has emerged as a challenge to established means of organising public services. Read more
During 2020 – 2021, BVSC Research, the Institute for Community Research & Development at the University of Wolverhampton, the University of Birmingham and Community Researchers from the USE-IT project formed the WMVRU evaluation partnership, offering evaluation and insight into the work of the VRU and the interventions funded and supported by the unit. Read more
BVSC Research, in conjunction with the Institute for Community Research and Development at Wolverhampton University, and Revolving Doors Agency, have written a report about vaccine uptake amongst people experiencing multiple disadvantage in Birmingham. Read more
Community group Arts in the Yard, set up by Yardley Arts Forum, Birmingham, commissioned BVSC Research to evaluate their Women of Yardley Unite programme. Read more
A community based research on the thoughts, feelings and impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on Black african diaspora communities in Sandwell, West Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. Read more
The charity sector has a problem with racial and ethnic diversity. Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic (BAME) people are under-represented in the sector and those who are in charities can be subject to racism and antagonism not faced by white colleagues. Read more
As a result of COVID-19, civil society infrastructure - the structures and systems for supporting civil society – appears to have become fashionable again after years of neglect. Read more
This is the second report by the New Policy Institute about the state of ‘economic justice’ in Birmingham and the four local authority areas of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton that make up the Black Country. It sets out how different groups are experiencing economic wealth and opportunity, and the ongoing systemic and structural barriers faced by many in achieving financial resilience. Read more
BVSC Research was commissioned by Birmingham City Council to conduct an impact assessment of the Birmingham Neighbourhood Network Scheme (BNNS) to underpin a business case for continued investment in the BNNS. Read more
BVSC Research and Birmingham City University are pleased to present our recently published report, Community based responses to Covid-19 in Birmingham: Insights and experiences. Read more