BSSEC » Third sector

BVSC — short questionnaire to identify pro-bono support priorities

July 06, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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In memory of Jane Slowey CBE

October 11, 2017

Tributes from across the voluntary and community sector are being paid to Jane Slowey CBE, who died on Saturday 7th October 2017. Many of you will know and remember Jane. She served for thirteen years as the chief executive of The Foyer Federation (whose own tribute is here), but prio

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Health Exchange’s CEO Graham Beaumont announces retirement

October 06, 2017

Graham Beaumont, who many of you will know, has led Health Exchange since its emergence onto the scene ten years ago. Health Exchange CIC was established in 2007 to deliver a radically different, community-led model of health promotion – initially serving the multicultural and diverse

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HS2 announces Community and Environment Fund

September 13, 2017

HS2 in conjunction with the Department for Transport and Groundwork has just announced £40m in funding to help projects aimed at minimising the disruption to local communities arising from phase one HS2 construction. There is an existing Business & Local Economy Fund (aimed specif

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Crowdfund Birmingham — new funding opportunities for community benefit projects

May 10, 2017

Further to this post, we now have further news about Crowdfund Birmingham, the new joint initiative between Birmingham City Council and Crowdfunder. Launched at the start of the year, Crowdfund Birmingham is a new campaign to help people with good ideas raise the money they

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Transformation and Social Value: Social Prescribing Keynote

March 25, 2017

by Mark Ellerby

Dudley, NHS, psiams, social enterprise, Social Prescribing

PSIAMS Systems will be hosting a data focussed conference during City Drive Week in Birmingham. The event will feature a range of presentations and workshops on how data is transforming the way the Voluntary and Social Enterprise Sector are responding to change and the needs of commis

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Jericho Foundation secures £440K funding to support victims of modern slavery & trafficking

March 13, 2017

Further to this post, the Jericho Foundation has just announced that it has received £314,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and a further £128,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to support its “Labour for Change” project which supports victims of modern slavery. These disad

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The Pump, premier youth hub in East Birmingham celebrates tenth birthday

February 02, 2017

With a music studio, performance space, a dance studio, cyber-cafe, a daycare nursery, room hire, and facilities over four floors with full disabled access, The Pump is the hub for youth work and activity in Kitts Green, in the heart of East Birmingham. And it is celebrating its

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Save Our Support plans second lobby against cuts to services for most vulnerable

February 01, 2017

Birmingham Changing Futures Together is one of the organisations co-ordinating opposition to the cuts currently planned for the city’s various Supporting people services (see earlier post). It has just issued the following statement: I am writing to you asking for your support f

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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