1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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:

5. 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

6. 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