The Voluntary and Community Sector in the West Midlands Ian Darch Todays event is primarily an opportunity for VCS and other colleagues to hear about the work of the WM combined authority Before that In order to place todays event in context I’ve been asked to take a few minutes to give a overview of the work and scale of the VCS across the region For many of you this will be no more than a reminder so I’m going to keep it brief and to the point

The West Midland VCS support organisations Birmingham Voluntary Service Council, Solihull SUSTAIN, Dudley Council for Voluntary Service Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council Bromsgrove and Redditch Network Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations Voluntary Action Stratford-on-Avon Walsall Voluntary Action Support Staffordshire Voluntary Action Coventry Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action. Todays event has been organised by 12 infrastructure organisation s Spot your favourite Together we cover Birmingham, Solihull, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Redditch, Sandwell, Walsall, Coventry, Cannock Chase, Tamworth, Stratford-on-Avon and Warwickshire

Working Together To network and support: Locally based voluntary and community groups, social enterprises and faith based organisations Which work alongside citizens, including the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our communities Helping them to overcome barriers to well being and employment These organisations work in their areas to network and support Locally based voluntary organisatipns and community groups, social enterprises and faith based organisations Those organisations in turn Work alongside the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our communities so that they are able to overcome barriers to well being and employment

This includes…. Supporting physical and mental health and well being Helping people into work Supporting children and families Working alongside and empowering communities Delivering public services Bringing money into the region Encouraging enterprise To give a bit more details the role of these non profit making organisations includes:

On a large scale Across the West Midlands: At least 20,000 organisations Turnover 1,400,000,000 (£1.4bn) 34,000 paid staff (FTE) 480,000 volunteers – Worth £1.3bn pa to the regions economy Deliver 31,000,000 (31m) interventions a year with local people Most people know what our sector does but not necessarily its scale, including its contribution to the wider economy. So a conservative estimate across the West Midlands is that: There are at least 20K VCS organisations They have a combined turnover of some 1.4B pounds Employ the equivalent of 34,000 full time staff - Work with 480,000 volunteers And in any one year deliver 31M interventions with local people across the region

20,000 organisations Are a huge force for good Support people and communities Support and contribute to the local economy Reduce strain on local services – including MH Work to maximise the “trickle down” as things improve Work to minimise damage in the meantime Have important things to say So in summary Our 12 I/S organisation offer a link to and from some 20,000 organisations across the region. Huge force for good, support people and communities, support and contribute to the local economy and reduce strain on local services – including MH services and we’ll hear later about the combined authorities focus on M ental health When the economy improves, as it will, these organisations work to maximise the extent to which trickle down or the benefits of growth reach our communities and as importantly work to minimise damage in the meantime These organisations also have important things to say . Were going to hear now about the combined authority, mental health commission and public services board – the final point I want to make is that our sector has the reach into communities, the scale and the skill to be part of the solution to the challenges facing our region and I hope that that todays session helps to cement our role in an important partnership. Martin Reeves CEO of WMCA and Coventry City Council