Blog Posts

Bethel Health & Healing Network is delighted to share that we have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service , the MBE for volunteer groups. This honour recognises the incredible dedication of our volunteers who stand alongside families, parents and individuals across Birmingham and the West Midlands every day. At Bethel, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Through our Rapha Listening Service, trained volunteer listeners offer calm, confidential support to people experiencing low-level mental health challenges, loneliness or emotional distress. In our Doula Service, volunteer doulas walk with vulnerable pregnant women and new mothers through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, providing practical help and a reassuring presence when it’s needed most. Last year alone, our volunteers gave hundreds of hours to: provide one-to-one listening sessions by phone, online and face-to-face support vulnerable women through pregnancy and beyond run community activities and men’s health sessions help with events, admin and behind-the-scenes tasks that keep our services running For many of the people we support, that one listening ear, friendly phone call or companion at a hospital appointment is life-changing. One of our volunteer listeners shared, “I came to Bethel wanting to give something back. I never expected that volunteering would also change me, I’ve grown in confidence, skills and compassion.” That spirit of mutual care runs right through our organisation. Receiving The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is a huge encouragement to our whole community – staff, trustees, partners and especially our volunteers. It shines a light on the quiet, consistent acts of kindness that rarely make headlines but make a real difference on the ground. We’d like to thank BVSC and the wider voluntary sector in Birmingham for the support, partnership and shared learning that help organisations like ours to thrive. And to every Bethel volunteer, past, present and future, this award is for you. If you're interested in volunteering with Bethel, find their latest opportunities on BVSC's Volunteering platform, Volunteer Brum .

According to survey statistics, Birmngham has a higher-than-average number of people who say they feel lonely. Loneliness and isolation can affect anyone, but it’s particularly common among older adults. Across Birmingham, charities and volunteers are working hard to change that, offering befriending services both in person and over the phone. One of those charities is Re-engage, which helps older people build vital social connections as their circles shrink in older age.

Across Birmingham, community kitchens, foodbanks and meal projects are busier than ever. The latest Birmingham City-Wide Food Aid Count 2025 shows that more than 22,000 visits were made to food banks in just two weeks this spring - a 64% increase since the 2023 count. It’s a stark reminder of the growing need for food support in our city. Behind every meal served and every parcel packed, there are volunteers - people who turn up week after week to cook, bake, and hand out food with a smile. Their kindness keeps these vital services running, and right now, they need more helping hands. Volunteer Brum currently features several brilliant organisations all looking for new volunteers to join their teams. FoodCycle (pictured) Midland Mencap , The Active Wellbeing Society , Fareshare Midlands , Narthex and Bethany Foodbank are all seeking people who can lend time to help feed their communities. Whether you love cooking, serving, or simply chatting with people as they collect food, there’s a role for you. Teal Martin-Heaven, Midlands Regional Manager from Foodcycle said: "At FoodCycle we have recently started using the BVSC volunteer platform to advertise our various volunteering opportunities across the city. This has been really useful in reaching a wider range of individuals. Through using this platform we have seen an increase in new volunteers supporting our projects across the city." Harry Clark, FoodCycle volunteer commented: "I moved to Birmingham in August and came across FoodCycle when looking for volunteering opportunities. It has been a joy to serve and get to know the locals in the community, and a great way to meet other like minded people volunteering their time in helping others."

In this blog, Surrinder Bains shares his reflections on being a trustee and what he’s learned over more than two decades of service. Surrinder is currently a Research Champion , working with the BVSC Research and Evaluation Team . In his role, Surrinder helps to recruit, train and mentor individuals and organisations who are interested in becoming community researchers – supporting people to develop the skills and confidence to gather insights that make a real difference in their communities. Trustees' Week takes place from 3-7 November 2025. "I’ve been a trustee for over 20 years, serving on boards across housing associations, charities, community interest companies, and employee-led organisations. Looking back, I never planned this journey – but it has shaped me and taught me just how important trustees are in helping organisations thrive. How It All Began My story starts in the year 2000, while I was working for Sandwell Council. I visited Sandwell Asian Family Services (SAFS), a community organisation providing care services for Asian adults and children. After a meeting, the Chief Executive asked if I’d consider becoming a trustee. At first, I wondered if I had the skills, time, or experience. But curiosity – and a desire to give something back – led me to say yes. Learning the Ropes I spent more than eight years with SAFS, four of them as Chair. Like many new trustees, I had to learn that the role is strategic, not operational. I wasn’t the CEO – I was there to guide, support, and hold the organisation to account. Some moments stand out: presenting at the 30th anniversary celebration in front of 250 people (a big step for an introvert from Handsworth!), and the excitement and nerves of moving from rented offices to a new youth centre building. It was a rollercoaster – but one that taught me so much. Highs and Lows of Trusteeship Trusteeship can be deeply rewarding, but it also brings challenges. On one charity board, when the major funder withdrew, trustees had to meet weekly to help navigate redundancies, restructuring, and tough decisions. In the end, the organisation survived, secured a new contract, and continues to thrive today. On the other side, I’ve also had the privilege of serving on a grant-giving charity that distributed £1.5m to community groups. Visiting projects funded through our grants brought home the real difference trustees can help make. Different Boards, Different Lessons Every board is different – from reading bundles of complex reports for large organisations to just a couple of pages for smaller charities. Whatever the format, I always tell new trustees: “There’s no such thing as a silly question.” Curiosity and clarity are key. I also had the unique experience of being both an employee and a trustee Chair at a hospice – holding the board to account while representing staff. It was challenging, but also exciting. Highlights included helping recruit a new CEO and leading the charity’s first ever AGM. Always Learning Trusteeship is also about learning. I’ve benefitted from governance training and mentoring and I encourage anyone considering the role to take up these opportunities. They build confidence and help you grow into the role. Final Thoughts For me, being a trustee has been rewarding, challenging, and full of opportunities to learn and give back. It’s about scrutiny, accountability, and – above all – making a difference. If you’re curious about trusteeship, I encourage you to explore the opportunities in your community. You won’t regret it – and you’ll be helping to shape a brighter future for the organisations and people who need it most." Find out more about Trustees' Week

Children and young people from across the West Midlands have written and starred in a new video project to boost vaccination take-up.

In this guest blog from Forward Carers, Sarah shares what it's like to be a Carer Ambassador Volunteer and the difference it makes to her.

An article that highlights what it's like to volunteer at the Refugee and Migrant Centre.

An article that highlights what it's like to volunteer with Medaille Trust.

An article that highlights what it's like to volunteer with Better Pathways.

News on a new Volunteering for Health funded programme.

An article about how organisations can effectively support and involve volunteers during the cost of living crisis.

An article that highlights what it's like to volunteer with Radio Lollipop.

Advice on how to engage students in volunteering.

Information about how to join the Birmingham Volunteer Coordinators Network.