Shaping the Future Together with Birmingham’s Voluntary, Community, Faith & Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector

Brian Carr is Chief Executive of BVSC (Birmingham Voluntary Service Council). He is a member of the Birmingham City Partnership Board, which recently launched ‘Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together’ – Birmingham’s new City Vision.

BVSC recently marked its first anniversary in the Colmore BID area!  Back in January 2024, we made the move to Latham House on Paradise Street, and we’re hard at work transforming our new space into a vibrant hub for Birmingham’s VCFSE sector.

More than 4,000 organisations make up Birmingham’s VCFSE sector, of which 2,500 are registered charities. Together, they are driving transformative change, improving lives and revitalising communities across the city of Birmingham.

As a membership organisation for VCFSE organisations, a registered charity and Birmingham’s CVS (Council for Voluntary Service), we provide organisations with the support they need to grow and thrive so they can, in turn, support our city.

We’re proud to trace our origins back to 1916 (during WW1) when we emerged from the amalgamated Birmingham Charitable Organisation Society and Birmingham City Aid Society. At a pivotal meeting at the Council House, chaired by Mayor Neville Chamberlain, the Birmingham Citizens Society (our former name) was formed.

Inter-war, the organisation pioneered activities laying foundations for today’s CVS model, such as funding war veterans, supporting charities, creating resource libraries, conducting research and addressing community needs. This has shaped the organisation we are today, supporting the sector to be a force for positive change.

The VCFSE sector is well placed to support the City to benefit from opportunities and to tackle its challenges. As significant contributors to the economy, organisations range from small local community groups to large multinational enterprises, working with thousands of volunteers and staff, with an estimated combined turnover of over £640 m.

They manage community assets across every area of the city from community centres, to places of worship, schools to housing, parks to sports and cultural venues. They provide services spanning every economic sector, delivered to wide ranging beneficiaries, including those disadvantaged due to poverty or inequality, or tackling environmental issues.

The sector has a spirit of community, civic pride, innovation and entrepreneurship throughout. This comes to the fore in times of crisis, as with Covid-19 and the rising cost of living where many citizens volunteered to deliver help and hope to those most in need.

BVSC led Birmingham’s Vision for Volunteering, working with City partners to support a thriving volunteer environment both now and into the future.

BVSC works with partners in Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together, through:

• Growth and Prosperity

OurEngage for Fundinginitiativeempowersorganisations to work with funders to secure funding for local causes, whether through Birmingham Community Lottery, donations, resources, grants, sponsorship or contracts.

• Knowledge and Opportunity

Our Research team works with institutions such as the University of Birmingham to provide insight, intelligence and data on the VCFSE sector, community issues and impact.

• Equity & Inclusion

The West Midlands Multi-Bank, a BVSC/Amazon partnership, delivers support to those in need with donations of products and goods.

• Safety & Sustainability

BrumEnergy, a consortium led by BVSC, has provided home energy advice to more than 4,000 households, including those in fuel poverty.

• Connected Brum

Digital NNS helps Birmingham’s ten Neighbourhood Network Schemes and the wider VCFSE sector to build digital skills and capacity to support citizens and communities.

• Tackling inequality

Anti-Racist Cityambitions are supported by BVSC and we’ve signed an Anti-Racist pledge and published a position paper.

In 2025 we look forward to forging even stronger partnerships with the local business communityto maximise our opportunities, tackle challenges and help shape a brighter future for Colmore, and the City – together.

Find out more: www.bvsc.org