Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector is comprised of a vibrant and well-established mix of charitable and not-for-profit businesses, social enterprises, advocacy organisations, community and neighbourhood groups.
This diverse array of locally-rooted organisations expresses passion and commitment for Sandwell and its people across its many communities. The Sector adopts many different forms and functions and delivers a huge spectrum of activities and services to the people of Sandwell. Its cultural, ethnic, creed, age and need diversity reflects the mix of the borough as a whole.
Focusing on need rather than profit, the Sector meets the complex and pressing needs of communities that others don’t reach in ways which are invariably highly effective, flexible, compelling and innovative. Furthermore, much of its impact is thanks to thousands of volunteers who give their time and energy freely for others. The Sector also employs a significant workforce and brings much-needed funds into the borough.
SCVO provide an on-line database – www.sandwellvcs.info – free of charge to local people and stakeholders. This is a user-friendly website and SCVO commits its own resources on a daily basis to maintain the quantity and quality of the information contained within it. The depth of information and search facilities enable us to provide up to date and information concerning the state of our Sector and its service provision.
SCVO’s database points to over 1,000 different organisations active in Sandwell. Of which:
- Over 600 are local ‘stand-alone’ organisations operating in Sandwell and its vicinity only
- Over 200 are registered charities
- Over 350 are employers, between them employing more than 7,500 staff
- Nearly 500 are reliant entirely on volunteers, with nearly 20,000 volunteers active in the borough.
As a key part of SCVO’s strategic role on behalf of the whole sector, SCVO regularly draws intelligence from its database and from other surveys it makes of local organisations. Some of these intelligence products and briefings can be found listed below:-
- ‘Cost of Living’ Impact Report (2023)
- Reset ’21: Sandwell Volunteering (May 2021)
- Covid 19 Impact on Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector (June 2020)
- Creating Better Community Workspaces (February 2019)
- Sandwell Victim Voices Report 2018
- Voluntary and Community Sector Support for Children, Young People and Families in Sandwell – September 2017
- 11 Facts about the Voluntary Sector in Sandwell
- VCS Leaders Survey 2015
- Survey into accommodation needs of Sandwell VCS organisations – January 2015
- Report into the needs of victims in Sandwell – November 2014
- Graduate Intern Research Report on Social Value on the Sector – 2014
- Mapping of Sandwell VCS youth services – April 2014
- VCS Leaders Survey 2013
- VCS Leaders Survey 2012
- VCS Leaders Survey 2011
- VCS Leaders Survey 2009