PTAS Skills Brokerage
VOLUNTARY INFRASTRUCTURE
Birmingham Association of Neighbourhood Forums [BANF]
Neighbourhood forums are community groups run by and for local people. They provide an opportunity to discuss and influence the issues that affect local communities, such as:
community safety and crime education
environmental issues
health and social issues housing
local economy
transport
Neighbourhood forums can campaign on these issues and make representations to ward advisory boards and district partnerships, etc. Neighbourhood forums themselves decide the area they will cover. Usually this is an area that forms a 'natural' neighbourhood, which can be as few as 500 or up to as many as 5,000 households. The area can cross ward boundaries if necessary. With more than 70 neighbourhood forums based throughout the city, they are ideally placed to offer unrivalled local knowledge and understanding. Birmingham City Council is moving to devolve decision-making, budgets and some services to eleven 'districts'. Neighbourhood forums and the local knowledge they represent can make a big difference by ensuring that the districts' spending and priorities reflect the needs of local people.Birmingham & Solihull Social Economy Consortia (BSSEC):
Birmingham & Solihull Social Economy Consortium (BSSEC) is a practitioner-led network of agencies and enterprises involved in the social economy in Birmingham and Solihull.
Contact Alun Severn, Third Sector Services 0121 233 0278Birmingham Co-enterprise
Birmingham Co-enterprise provide FREE business advice and support to community groups and individuals who want to develop their business ideas into sustainable social enterprises
0121 687 8790Birmingham Change Up Consortium
The Birmingham Change Up Consortium launched its ‘Investment Plan’ on 14th July 2006, setting out the framework and priorities for action for the development of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Birmingham by second tier organisations.Birmingham Irish Community Forum
Birmingham Race Action Partnership [b:RAP]
Birmingham Voluntary Services Council (BVSC)
BVSC supports voluntary action in the city of Birmingham, providing information, advice and guidance to voluntary and community organisations; promoting volunteering by helping individuals to find suitable voluntary work and helping organisations to find volunteers. At a strategic level, BVSC ensures that the voluntary sector has an influence in the running of the city and champions the sector's ability to find innovative ways to meet the needs of local people. The BVSC offers support to VCOs by providing help in setting up a new organistion, providing a paroll service, handling fincances, giving specialist HR advice, providing professional conference rooms, practical tools to help manage finances, prove the value of your work and to access further support.Refugee Council
The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. We not only give help and support, but also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.National Council for Voluntary organisations [NCVO]
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England. It works to support the voluntary sector and to create an environment in which voluntary organisations can flourish. Membership is free to VCOs with turnover under £10,000 and they have access to services at discounted rates.
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