Social Value

Connecting Business Ambition with Community Impact

Birmingham’s vibrant voluntary sector is the backbone of our city. A network of thousands of organisations dedicated to building a fairer, healthier, and more inclusive society. At BVSC, we support, represent, and champion these groups, ensuring their local expertise leads the way in creating meaningful Social Value. By placing community impact at the heart of city-wide change, we ensure that every investment made in Birmingham delivers a lasting legacy for its people.

Read the latest Community Investment Bulletin!

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 of the bulletin focuses on digital inclusion and highlights partnerships and projects that are looking to ensure everyone has the access, skills, confidence, and devices needed to use digital technologies effectively.

We are also delighted to share examples of successful Business and Community Partnerships such as between The Pioneer Group and Nationwide Windows and Doors which showcases an investment upgrading over 2,000 homes to support the Castle Vale community.

Find out more by following the links below:

View the Community Investment Bulletin online

Download a PDF

Subscribe Here

Latest

Harmful Practices in Birmingham Webinar: Day of Memory for Victims of Honour-Based Abuse

Join us for a special webinar marking the Day of Memory for Victims of Honour-Based Abuse (14 July). This important day provides an opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives to so-called "honour"-based abuse, raise awareness of harmful practices, and strengthen our collective response to protecting women, girls, and those at risk. The webinar will bring together partners from across Birmingham to explore harmful practices within the context of Violence Against Women and Girls.
Art Quarter - Launch of New Community Space

Art Quarter in Digbeth is launching the UK's first Inclusive Football and Sports Fan Zone. At the heart of the space is a permanent large LED screen, creating a flexible venue that can be used all year round for community activities, cultural events and public screenings. While major sporting events will be shown, the vision goes much further. We want this to become a welcoming community space where organisations from across Birmingham can bring people together for a wide range of activities.
Birmingham Indian Film Festival 2026

Join us for a summer of cutting-edge, independent South Asian cinema. Featuring premieres, documentaries, shorts, restored classics from the Indian sub-continent and diaspora, and films showcasing the best of Britain South Asian talent. The 2026 programme is the boldest yet, spanning themes of disability, motherhood, LGBTQIA+ stories, political dramas and Indian cinema classics. Plus get involved with guest Q&As, panel conversations and discussions.
Through Our Eyes: Free Group Exhibition & Workshops

Birmingham-based artist and curator Amish Gudur is inviting the community to Through Our Eyes, a free three-day mixed media group exhibition taking place in collaboration with BRIG, part of the South Asian Heritage Month events and celebrations. The exhibition brings together over 20 artists from across Birmingham and beyond, working across painting, collage, film, poetry, essays, ceramics, textiles, and more.

Buggies 4 Brum – A new easy way to donate your pre-loved buggies or prams to families in need

Buggies 4 Brum has launched a new easier process for donations of pre-loved or new buggies or prams to give to families in need across Birmingham City. Find out how you can help.
Birmingham launches partnership with the Institute of Health Equity to tackle inequalities

Birmingham has marked a significant milestone in its ambition to create a fairer, healthier city, bringing together partners to shape the city’s approach to Health Equity and Inclusion.
Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month – July 2026

BVSC supports the Birmingham Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector to celebrate and raise awareness of South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) which runs from 1 – 31 July this year. The 2026 theme is ‘Unity in Diversity’. This is about celebrating the extraordinary breadth and richness of South Asian communities in the UK and worldwide.
Coming Soon: New Integration & Employment Grant Opportunities for Birmingham’s Third Sector

Birmingham City Council will shortly be launching a new Grant Call for organisations that can deliver ambitious, high-impact support in: ESOL for Integration (Community-Led ESOL), English for Employment, and Employment Support. We are looking for organisations with the vision, expertise, and passion to develop innovative approaches that significantly improve both the language outcomes, integration and economic opportunities of refugees and asylum seekers across Birmingham.
Communities Urge Bold Leadership and Investment to Tackle Racism and Exclusion

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.
Call for proposals: independent evaluation of the Inclusion Health Living Library

The Inclusion Health Living Library initiative is a new programme designed to bring together system leaders, practitioners and voluntary sector partners with people who have direct lived experience of exclusion and inequality. The Living Library is being delivered on behalf of Birmingham City Council’s Public Health division by BVSC, and together we’re seeking proposals from suitably qualified academic or evaluation organisations to independently evaluate it.
Together St Paul’s Wins Prestigious Weston Charity Award

Together St Paul’s named a winner of the Weston Charity Awards 2026 – a national programme that recognises ambitious charities making a difference in their communities. Selected from more than 180 applicants, Together St Paul's is one of just 22 charities across the Midlands, Wales and the North of England to receive this award. For over 50 years, Together St Paul’s has worked alongside the people of Balsall Heath and Birmingham, supporting young people, families and communities to thrive.
Big Issue Invest working with the WMCA to support more social enterprises in the region

Social investment is becoming an increasingly important tool for charities and social enterprises in an increasingly challenging economic climate. This programme is highlighting how investment can be utilised to scale and support your organisation both financially and to improve your social impact.
250 free online fundraising packs available

Whatever your fundraising goals, easyfundraising can help you get there. This month, they are offering 250 online fundraising packs to community organisations. easyfundraising is a free, easy, and accessible way for your network of volunteers, staff and trustees to raise funds for you by simply shopping online with retailers such as ebay, Tesco, Trainline, Argos, M&S, and 8,000 more via the easyfundraising website or app and the retailer then sends your organisation monetary donations.
Businesses and Charities Compete for the Community at the Birmingham Community Investment Games

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.

Crisis and Resilience Fund

Help for Birmingham households experiencing financial hardship is being developed as part of Birmingham’s Crisis and Resilience Fund (previously known as Household Support Fund/ Hardship Grant Community Fund) programme.
Become a volunteer

Volunteering involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that is of benefit to others or the environment. Find out how you can get involved in volunteering in Birmingham.
The Weather Model

This model uses the weather as a metaphor for different elements of reflective practice.
What we do

BVSC aims to support a vibrant and resilient sector which in turn ensures that people from across the city feel included and engaged and have access to appropriate support from people who understand the issues and challenges they face.
Join BVSC

There are several ways that you can engage with BVSC to stay informed, grow your organisation and connect with others.
Neighbourhood Network Schemes in Birmingham

The aim of Neighbourhood Network Schemes (known as NNS) in Birmingham is to help older adults in Birmingham to lead healthy, happy and independent lives in their own homes and communities.
Funding

Find out how BVSC can help you with fundraising
Compliments, Comments and Complaints Process

At BVSC we strive to provide our customers with the best service possible. We know that some of the best ideas come from people outside of our organisation and we therefore welcome feedback at every level to help us continuously improve what we do. This means that we want to hear from you when things go well, and when things could have gone better.
Quality Standards
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