Links

See below a variety of links relevant to our sector, grouped under different headings.  Many websites listed offer a wide variety of information and free resources.  If you have any other links you'd like us to promote or think we should have here, please let us know!

G:up Members

Link to a wide network of infrastructure support and general VCS (voluntary and community sector) organisations across the West Midlands

Children and Young People's and VCS Organisations and Resources

4Children - national charity all about children and families, working with government, local authorities, children’s service providers

Brook - free and confidential sexual health information and services for under 25s

Charity Commission - charities regulator, wealth of information and resources

Children England - membership organisation and collective voice for the children, young people and families voluntary sector

The Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council - enabling young people to become active citizens through shared lives, develop friendships and go on exchanges

Compact - overseeing the relationship between government and the voluntary and community sector.

Councelling Directory - enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs

Department for Education (DfE) - responsible for education and children's services (formerly the DCSF)

Disability Toolkit - idea and lots of free resources for helping young people to participate in decision making; share your experiences of working with young people

Practical Participation - working with projects and organisations to promote social justice through participation

Envision - educational youth (aged 16-19) charity working with young people to realise their capacity to make a positive difference

The Social Research Unit - helping communities and children’s services agencies to use research evidence in their decision making

Independent Safeguarding Authority - created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults

Kids - working with disabled children, young people and their families so all disabled children and young people realise their aspirations and their right to inclusive communities

Living made easy for children - impartial advice about daily living equipment for parents and carers of disabled children

National Youth Agency (NYA) - aims to advance youth work to promote young people's personal and social development, and their voice, influence and place in society

NAVCA (The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) - the national voice of local third sector organisations in England, championing voluntary and community action

NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) - gives a shared voice to voluntary organisations and to helps them achieve the highest standards of practice

NCVYS (National Council for Voluntary Youth Services) - a diverse network of over 170 national organisations and regional and local networks that work with and for young people

Oneplace - independent website showing how local public services are performing in England

Participation Works - a partnership of six national children and young people's agencies offering advice to organisations on participation

The Places Database - access to a broad range of statistical data and information across England at levels including town centres, city regions, local authorities and regions

The Prince's Trust - leading youth charity, offering a range of opportunities including training, personal development, business start up support, mentoring and advice.

The Safe Network - safeguarding information related to activities outside the home

Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities - promoting equality for disabled people (aged 16+) in education, training and employment

Stutter-Stuttering - advice on coping with and overcoming a stutter

The Third Sector Assembly - long-term association of third sector networks in Birmingham coordinated by BVSC, improving communications, influence and relationships with public sector

Together for Children - supporting government and local authorities in their working in their delivery of Sure Start Children's Centres

Together for Disabled Children - supporting the Aiming High for Disabled Children and Short Breaks programme and developing parent participation

VCS Engage - national programme, designed to strengthen the engagement of the voluntary and community sector (VCS)

Young People in Focus - charity that helps individuals and organisations working with young people (aged 10-25) and families through research, training and publications

Play

CABE - the government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space

Fair Play For Children - membership campaiging organisation promoting the child's right to play

Fields in Trust - helping communities protect and preserve playing fields through practical support and advice

Freeplay Network - a network of individuals and organisations, which aims to promote the need for better play opportunities for children

Play England - working to give all children and young people in England regular access to free, inclusive, local play provision and play space

Playwork Partnerships - promoting quality play experiences and networking play organisations

RoSPA, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents - various play information and resources

SkillsActive - the sector skills council for play, active leisure, learning and wellbeing

Funding

Access Funds - latest funding information for charitable and non-profit sector, from government, Lottery, charitable trusts, and the EU

Awards For All - a Lottery grants scheme funding small, local community-based projects

Big Lottery Fund - every year BIG gives out millions of pounds to community groups and to projects that improve health, education and the environment

FundFinder - producing online and offline applications for grant-seekers, free and at a cost

Funding Central - a free website for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, providing access to thousands of funding opportunities

Organisational/Governance

Charity Commission - charities regulator, wealth of information and resources

Criminal Records Bureau - all about CRB

CTN Bringing Trustees Together - increasing trustees’ access to information, guidance and support through networks and helping organisations to find trustees

Governance Hub - supports and enables good governance and effective leadership in the voluntary and community sector

Improving Support - from Capacitybuilders, supporting the third sector to find and share resources, connect and learn

Skills-Third Sector - making it easier for charities and social enterprises to have the right skills to make a difference to their communities

Workforce Development Hub - this website is closing but retains links to work from NCVO's Workforce Development team and Skills-Third Sector

Finance Hub - making sense of funding and finance in the third sector

Volunteering

Do-it - search through over a million opportunities to volunteer and apply online

Mentoring + Befriending Foundation - putting mentoring and befriending at the centre of current and future national volunteering strategies

v inspired -  connecting 16-25 year olds to volunteering opportunities, inspiring young volunteers and improving the quality, quantity and diversity of youth volunteering

Volunteering England - independent charity and membership organisation, committed to supporting, enabling and celebrating volunteering in all its diversity

For Young People

Askability - designed to enable children with learning disabilities to become informed about current affairs and a central forum for children to express their views

Aspire Active Camps - get active! Providing Ofsted registered, enjoyable, action-packed school holiday courses for children aged 5 to 16

YouthNet - providing advice, information and support to young people aged 16-25