Dr Sophie Wilson

Director of BVSC Research

I am the Director of BVSC Research, and I oversee all the research, evaluation, and community engagement/involvement in research activity delivered through the directorate. I line manage Susannah Wilson (no relation!) who in turn line manages the rest of the team. The Research Team deliver a wide variety of research and evaluation with, for and about the sector.

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 07848 406206

Office tel: 0121 678 8835

Latest

West Midlands Multibank Reaches One Million Milestone to Help Families in Need

One million essential items have been distributed to families in need across the region through the West Midlands Multibank since the project was launched just over a year ago. The milestone was celebrated by BVSC, who oversee the West Midlands Multibank alongside funders Comic Relief and Sport Relief. The West Midlands Multibank receives donations from businesses such as Amazon to distribute to a network of over 200 community partners who then distribute them to families most in need.
CYP Preventative and Early Mental & Emotional Help - External Stakeholders Engagement

Early Help Mental Health Services provide voluntary, preventative support for children, young people, and families facing challenges to prevent future escalations into secondary care mental health services. The way our young people want to access support, and their needs have changed a lot over the last 10 years. We are reviewing our services to ensure we deliver them effectively and to check if our current delivery model meeting patient needs.
Letters, Promises and Belonging: The Children Of Windrush
Birmingham Windrush Service of Commemoration, Thanksgiving and Celebration

The service will include contributions from clergy, community leaders, and the Birmingham Windrush Celebration Legacy Choir.

From Challenge to Change: Understanding the Impact of Section 114 and Building Towards the City Vision, Together

A report on the impact of Birmingham City Council’s financial crisis, focusing on the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector and Birmingham’s most affected communities. This offers high-level insights into research undertaken by BVSC Research and the University of Wolverhampton, funded by the Fusion21 Foundation and supported by Birmingham City Council. It offers a path forward linked to Birmingham's City Vision 2035.
BVSC Research Long Covid Report 2024

Organisations reported that 106 Long COVID Community Awareness events took place prior to the reporting deadline, with some further events yet to take place. Six events were held online and 100 in-person. In raising awareness of Long COVID and its symptoms, of what to do if people have Long COVID, and awareness of the Post Covid Syndrome Service (and, to a lesser extent, confidence in accessing the service). People involved in this project were also very positive about the effectiveness.
NHS Research Engagement Network (REN) Birmingham & Solihull Report 2024

This NHS Research Engagement Network (REN) report provides an overview of activity funded by NHS England.
Birmingham Poverty Truth Commission#2 Evaluation

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.
2023 State of the Sector Insight Report #5 – Funding

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.
2023 State of the Sector Insight Report #4 Staff Health and Wellbeing

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.
BVSC Research - Birmingham's Vision for Volunteering 2027

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.
2023 State of the Sector Insight Report #3 VCFSE Sector Mini Race Impact Summit

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.
2023 State of the Sector Insight Report #2 Vision for Volunteering

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.
2023 BVSC ICS 10 Year Strategy Engagement Report

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.

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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