Community Development Practice Hub

The Community Development Practice Hub is a resource for people and organisations who ‘work with’ people in Birmingham, supporting them to take collective action to make changes to things that are important to them and their communities. It aims to connect, inspire and upskill community development practitioners across Birmingham.

The hub is funded by Birmingham City Council, led by BVSC and supported by Thrive Together Birmingham.

Come join us on this exciting journey, as we collaborate with the sector to offer a tailored approach with a focus on Birmingham-specific learning, challenges, and achievements.

Deficits-based approach

A deficits-based approach focuses on the perceived needs, weaknesses, and deficiencies of a community often derived by data from an external viewpoint. This reactive response means the community and individuals within it are viewed through the lens of "problems".

Latest

Small Charity Week - 22-29 June 2026

This Small Charity Week (22–29 June), BVSC is proud to be part of a national celebration of the vital role small charities play in communities across the UK. This year’s campaign, Small charities. Big impact., shines a light on the difference small charities make every day, supporting people, strengthening communities and creating change where it matters most.
Fully funded 3 week Teaching Support Roles programme

PET-Xi Training, in partnership with Applebough Education, is running a fully funded 3 week Teaching Support Roles programme in Coventry and Birmingham. The programme is designed to get motivated, work-ready clients and participants into employment as Teaching Assistants in local schools. It is for those who are unemployed, economically inactive or on Universal Credit.
BVSC Research's podcast series CHERP Conversations is now... live!

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.
Social Value – Business and Third Sector Networking Event

BVSC and Colmore BID invite all businesses with an existing or upcoming presence in Birmingham to join us for this collaborative networking event. If you are a business or non-profit organisation that would like to attend then please contact us to book your place.

How to start an Urban Room

“Every town and city should have a physical space where people can go to understand, debate, and get involved in the past, present and future of where they live, work and play. The purpose of these Urban Rooms is to foster meaningful connections between people and place, using creative methods of engagement to encourage active participation in the future of our buildings, streets, and neighbourhoods.”
Reducing men’s social isolation: engagement and retention

Voluntary and community groups running activities for older people often find it easier to engage women than men. While men are not a uniform group, research reflects this reality, showing that men are less likely to get involved with organisations which explicitly cater for older people. In order to find out how to best engage men Connect Hackney funded four projects to test new approaches to reducing men’s social isolation
Locked down by inequality: Older people and the COVID-19 pandemic

This paper develops the argument that post-COVID-19 recovery strategies need to focus on building back fairer cities and communities
COVID-19, Inequality and Older People: Developing Community-Centred Interventions

This paper considers the basis for a ‘community-centred’ response to COVID-19. It highlights the pressures on communities weakened by austerity, growing inequalities, and cuts to social infrastructure.
Ageing Better National Learning

Ageing Better national learning can be segmented into three clearly defined areas: context, connections and ecosystem. These three interconnected segments build a picture of the macro and micro factors, services and support systems, that help us to better understand loneliness and social isolation in people aged over 50.
The International Standards for Community Development

International Association for Community Development offers full and summary versions in multiple languages of its International Standards for Community Development.
Shifting Sands and Different Look-Outs: Working With Communities Collaboratively - T.E.D in East Lindsey

Shifting Sands and Different Look-Outs. This bulletin look at different shifts in learning and practice in the move from working ‘in’ to working with communities collaboratively. From T.E.D in East Lindsey, an Ageing Better project in rural Lincolnshire.
From Storytelling to Social Change: The Power of Story in the Community Building

Stories are an important part of social change because they have the power to shape the way people think and feel about their worlds and how they interact with in them
21st Century Public Servant

Researching the future public service workforce
Community Building, Ageing Well Torbay

A summary learning document that explores a community development project in 30 local neighbourhoods across Torbay, Devon.

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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