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Harness the power of smart phone tech to make better videos — watch the workshop replay

January 27, 2021
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
I wrote in a recent post about a free online workshop on smart phone video production skills being offered by Ruth Duggal of Make Your Own Video Training Academy (MYO VDO) in conjunction with BVSC. That webinar took place on 20th January but you can still view the recording
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BVSC/Shuut Videos — harness the power of smartphone video tech in a free online workshop

December 21, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Free workshop: How To Get Better At Video Date: Wednesday 20th January 2021 Time: 10.00-11.00 Charities and voluntary organisations have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Demand for services has increased yet fundraising opportunities – especially in-person – have
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New BVSC report reveals detailed picture of the impact of the Covid crisis on Birmingham’s VCS — and the sector’s contribution

November 26, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
A new report just published by BVSC reveals a fascinating and detailed picture of the impact of the Covid crisis on Birmingham’s voluntary and community sector. Birmingham Voluntary Service Council: State of the Sector 2020: Digest of Headlines brings together key findings from
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Micro-fund opens to grassroots community groups in Birmingham

November 26, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
BVSC has just announced the following: The Brum Recovery Micro Fund is set up with funding from Birmingham City Council and is aimed at unconstituted and grassroots community groups in the city. Groups can apply for between £500 and £2,000 to support activity that responds to the need
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‘Levelling Up Our Communities’ — new report by Danny Kruger MP published

September 28, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Further to this post, Danny Kruger MP has completed his report on civil society and communities that Boris Johnson tasked him with producing and it has just been published… I started to read Kruger’s report, Levelling Up Our Communities: Proposals for a New Social Covenant
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New social investment support programme for social enterprises & third sector

September 03, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Through its Social Investment Catalyst Programme the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is offering six free online masterclasses between 10th September and 19th November. The sessions will include a variety of expert keynote speakers from the VCSE sector across the Midl
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BVSC state of the sector survey has never been more important

August 25, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
UPDATE 09/09/20: BVSC’s state of the sector ends on Friday 11th September Further to this post, this is a reminder to say that BVSC’s ‘state of the sector’ survey has never been more important. This year the survey has been completely redesigned to help gauge t
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New BVSC survey seeks views of voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sectors on impact of Covid-19 and recovery prospects

July 14, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
BVSC‘s chief executive Brian Carr has just announced that the organisation is launching a major new survey to help gauge the impact of Covid-19 on the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sectors in Birmingham.   His statement, issued today, reads:   The C
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BVSC — short questionnaire to identify pro-bono support priorities

July 06, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
BVSC has just posted a short questionnaire online. It is seeking to refresh and improve the pro-bono support offer that some private sector businesses make to the VCS as part of their corporate social responsibility. BVSC says: “We recognise that the pandemic has forced many org
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Locality report calls for communities to be at the heart of recovery planning

June 16, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
In a recent post we wrote about a Covid-19 Social Economy Update published jointly by BSSEC, iSE and Birmingham Social Enterprise City.  We have been using this briefing paper to inform and influence key policy-makers and decision-makers — including Ministers — a
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Voluntary Sector Studies Network to host free 2-day e-conference

June 15, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Times Like These: Researching civil society responses to and recovery from COVID-19 This forthcoming free e-conference may be of interest to some. The Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) has just announced that this year its annual conference will be free and online. The conferenc
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BVSC offers free financial advice & support for smaller charities and social enterprises in Birmingham

May 07, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
BVSC has just announced that it is making available free advice and support on financial resilience for the city’s smaller charities and social enterprises that have been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. It is targeting organisations with a turnover below £100,000 a year. 
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Birmingham City Council announces £0.8m community grants fund for groups helping children and families during pandemic

April 18, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
  Birmingham City Council statement reads: Community, voluntary and faith groups who are helping children, young people and families through the challenges of Covid-19 are invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to continue supporting families through this difficult period.
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New ICO guidance — Community groups and COVID-19: what you need to know about data protection

April 04, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Ian Hulme, Director for Regulatory Assurance at the Information Commissioner’s Office has just published a blog about data protection as it relates to the efforts of small voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises during the coronavirus crisis. Some I have
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NCVO — supporting the sector during coronavirus crisis

March 19, 2020
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
NCVO’s chief executive Karl Wilding has just issued an interesting statement on the organisation’s blog regarding his plans for a “whatever it takes” approach to supporting the VCSE sector through the current coronavirus crisis. The organisation has taken down
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Talent Match programme concludes with ICC breakfast event — keynote speakers include West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street

March 15, 2019
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Many local businesses report recruitment challenges — but our region continues to have high unemployment amongst young people. How can that be? To mark the end of the successful Talent Match employability programme for 18-24 year olds BVSC is holding a special ‘Open Minds&
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Third sector digital leaders programme

February 05, 2019
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
The School for Social Entrepreneurs and Zoe Amar Digital have just announced a partnership to deliver Third Sector Digital Leaders, a course to help charity, social enterprise and non-profit leaders be confident about leading digital change in their organisations, helping them be more
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New wellbeing portal launched to support Birmingham citizens

October 29, 2018
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Birmingham residents who are looking for local activities, support and services that encourage wellbeing and an active and healthy lifestyle can now search a new online directory called Route2Wellbeing that describes over 1,500 local, community-based services and activities. This new
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Christmas craft fair at Park Lane Garden Centre

October 31, 2017
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
Better Pathways (the new operating name for BITA Pathways) wins the prize for first announcement of a Christmas Fair event. Congratulations! This, just in…   → Download the PDF flyer.
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SCVO’s ‘Meet the Funder’ event makes a welcome return for 2017

October 27, 2017
by Alun Severn
0 Comment
This, just in from Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)… Having taken a year out in 2016, Wednesday 22nd November sees the return of SCVO’s Meet the Funder event for 2017. With a focus on Social Capital and Social Investment, this year’s conference and
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iSE is seeking a new chief executive
Feb 24, 2021
WMCA launches Community Recovery Innovation Challenge -- three top prizes of £15,000
Feb 11, 2021
University of Birmingham's fully-funded Impact Internships
Feb 08, 2021
WMCA launches new creative & cultural social enterprise support pilot
Feb 08, 2021

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BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL SOCIAL ECONOMY CONSORTIUM C.I.C., trading as BSSEC. A community interest company registered in England and Wales with company no. 07992674. Registered office: c/o Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP, 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham B3 2ES | All rights reserved | Copyright 2013-BSSEC | Created by Citizen Click