This Black History Month, we reflect on Black-led organisations in Birmingham and share details of ways your organisation can get involved. If your VCFSE organisation is Black-led and in Birmingham we'd love to hear your stories to celebrate the people whose everyday contributions shape, support and sustain Black life across the UK. We also look at BVSC's internal celebrations to mark the month as we come together to reflect the diversity of our communities.

As we mark the International Day of Older People on 1 October, Bridge Point West Midlands CIC is celebrating the contribution older people make to our communities while highlighting a challenge we see regularly: too many older residents are becoming disconnected from the services, technology and social networks around them.

A new report outlines growing concerns about the rise in racism, hate incidents and a declining sense of safety across Birmingham’s communities - and sets out a series of recommendations to city leaders for tackling these issues. The report gathers the findings of a Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Community Cohesion Summit held in February 2026 convened by BVSC and BRIG with support from Birmingham City Council.

Businesses, Charities and other Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations came together on 4 June to ‘Compete 4 Community’ in the Birmingham Community Investment Games. The Games, hosted by Pitch2Progress CIC and supported by the Birmingham Business & Community Partnership, brought organisations together not only to compete in a variety of fun sports and games, but also to encourage connection and collaboration to help "make the magic happen" for communities.

A Red Met Office Heat-health Alert has been issued for the West Midlands and will be in effect between 1am on Wednesday 24 June until 11pm on Thursday 25 June. STAY SAFE DURING THE HOT WEATHER

BVSC Research are excited to share that our podcast series: CHERP Conversations is now... live! Hosted by our research team, we put the spotlight on our community researchers and explore their journeys into research. We hope it gives an insight into who can deliver research, who *should* deliver research, and how you and your community can get involved. Episode 1 is out now! We talk about what community research is, and what the benefits can be.

Partners across health, local government, criminal justice and the voluntary sector, including BVSC Research, came together on 20th May to launch Birmingham’s first comprehensive Justice Health Needs Assessment (JHNA). The JHNA highlights the significant health inequalities experienced by people in contact with the criminal justice system and calls for a more coordinated, preventative and trauma-informed response across the city.

We are delighted to invite you to Compete 4 Community - The Community Investment Games- an event hosted by Pitch2Progress with Birmingham Business & Community Partnership. The event is a fun afternoon of games and sports for businesses and community organisations.

Charity

Across policy, practice, and academia, expectations are growing that research should do more than generate robust evidence. The 2026 Voluntary Sector & Volunteering Research (VSVR) Conference invites engagement with how research on, and with, the voluntary sector and volunteering can more meaningfully shape policy and practice – and how evidence can be translated into action.

On behalf of the Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG) Police Accountability (APA), and, the Alliance for Action for Race Equality (ARE) you are invited to to attend the Birmingham Black Policing Charter Community Event. This event is being held on Stephen Lawrence Day, a moment of national reflection, but also, we believe, a moment that calls for renewed honesty and action.

BVSC is developing a new five-year strategy (2026-2031), and we want it to be shaped by the real experiences of Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations across Birmingham. This survey is an opportunity for you to share what’s happening on the ground for your organisation and the communities you work with. Your responses will help ensure that BVSC's future strategy reflects the needs and priorities of the VCFSE sector and the people it exists to serve.

Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. In 2026 Easter Sunday or Easter Day is on 5 April. The week leading up to Easter is called Holy Week. There are many Christians and Churches in Birmingham City who will be celebrating Easter. Find out more here.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, BVSC and MECC Trust would love to invite you to join us for a relaxed evening celebrating the communities, faith groups and partners involved in Solihull’s Future-Ready Homes: Energy & Climate Advice Project.

Local Elections are taking place on 7th May across Birmingham and this year sees all seats being up for election – a total of 101 local councillors to be elected/re-elected as appropriate. June Marshall, Head of Public Participation at Birmingham City Council is hosting an information session with Victoria Beaven, from the electoral office to provide you with the latest information about voting for either yourself, or for those who you support in the local community.

The West Midlands Multibank, operated by Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), launched in March 2025.

Following the huge success of the ten community marketplaces delivered across Birmingham in 2025 as part of Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together, we are partnering with Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre to host a brand new Community Marketplace - Jobs and Advice Fair.

This quarterly community round-up highlights and celebrates how organisations, businesses and communities are working together to build a fairer, greener and more connected Birmingham. This edition highlights partnerships and projects supporting residents to keep warm and have access to nutritious food. It also shares examples of successful Business and Community Partnerships e.g. Pitch 2 Progress CIC and Kier Group who welcomed the Home Secretary to support their social value project!

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The 17 February marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year / Chinese New Year/ Spring Festival – the Year of the Red Fire Horse - with celebrations taking place across Birmingham and surrounding areas up until and including the 23 February. Birmingham has a large Chinese community who will be celebrating the New Year. VCFSE organisations working with the Chinese community include the Chinese Community Centre- Birmingham. There are lots of fun activities taking place that you can get involved in.

Several major faith festivals start over the next few weeks or so, including Lent and Ramadan. Each of these include a time of giving - to focus on our faith as well as giving care for ourselves, our families, communities and planet.

Birmingham City Council’s Early Intervention and Prevention (EI&P) Team is working with BVSC to explore a new approach to helping residents access the local support they need to live happy, healthy lives in their communities. The aim of the approach is to make it easier and quicker for people to be connected to the right voluntary and community sector activities or services. To support this work, BVSC are holding an online discussion for the sector to help shape an approach.

Do you employ staff across Birmingham and Solihull? Discover free, accessible, and confidential support to help your employees manage common musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and stay well at work? A supported workforce is a stronger workforce. When employees can access help early, they recover faster, avoid unnecessary absences, and feel more confident managing their health. getUbetter can help you provide exactly that at no cost to your organisation.

Energy Savers Week (19–25th January) highlights simple ways to save energy, cut bills and stay warm. Small changes can make a real difference. BrumEnergy offers free, independent energy and benefits advice for Birmingham residents, via referral from health and social care professionals, supporting people who are most affected by high energy costs to stay warm, safe and well at home.

Across Birmingham, everyday life is moving online - from keeping in touch with family to managing appointments, bills and services. For many older people and those living with long-term health conditions or disabilities, this shift can feel daunting and, at times, isolating. That’s where Digital Café Volunteers come in.

Join us at our ‘Special volunteering network meeting: Keep volunteering voluntary’. Have your say on the government's consultation on making volunteering a tool in its immigration proposals. This special event is exclusively for members to share and learn, and feed directly into NCVO’s response.

We're proud to share that Matt Daniels, BVSC’s Head of Children, Young People and Families has been appointed an MBE for services to the LGBTQ+ community. Matt says "It's a huge honour and I recognise I'm one of many, many people who have been doing this kind of work for many years."

If your plans for the year ahead include doing something for your community, Volunteer Brum is a good place to start. From group volunteering and one-off events to roles you can do from home, there are opportunities to fit around real life. Take a look and see what’s out there!

Join us at the BVSC Engage for Funding Forum on 15th December. In this webinar we are hosting an open surgery for any and all questions you may have. Perhaps you want to know how to do more with your trustees, or have a governance issue, or you have a specific income generation query you want to ask. Sheila and Tony from 4front partners are ready to field your questions and make suggestions based on their experience. We'll also have the latest news, events and funding opportunities.