The 6th AGM and Strategy Discussion was held on the 22nd November @ Investec, Birmingham……

The latest ONS data (2021) provides public policymakers with further evidence of demographic and household changes in the UK. Many local authorities and public health have been analysing the data with other service data to understand the socio-economic changes at both place and community interest levels and how it might impact on funding policy, resource allocation and service priorities ………….

Updates on new Commonwealth Games Legacy funding programmes; HLCF 10-year strategy, Social Enterprise support and winter support for vulnerable households and responses to cost of living

The unprecedented period of the pandemic years led to a swift response by both funders, the VCSE and wider stakeholders to the crisis that unfolded, but what did we learn and embed as improved practice?

Important lessons were learnt but there is still more to do …………..

Over a year ago WM Funders Network held its 2-day online Annual Conference on Funder responding to Sustainability and Tackling Climate Change. The feedback from the sessions were positive and constructive. Many funders that attended were on a journey to strengthening their sustainability approach and looking at their current strategy and practices in how to embed a sustainability lens to their work. We invited funders that attended to share their progress and provide an update on where they are in that journey, hosted by Investec at their office.

The workshop was an opportunity for funders in the West Midlands to find out more about a racial justice audit tool delivered by Debbie Pippard, Programme Director, Barrow Cadbury Trust

April 2023, WMFN members exchange on funding programme updates, learning and insights from grantmaking, research and evaluations and wider WM issues impacting on funders’ work

In conjunction with Near Neighbours, the workshop held on the 28th February, explored the role of faith and faith based organisations in civil society and the importance of its role in different communities of interest and place in addressing social needs and equality….

Siobhan Harper-Nunes joined West Midlands Funders Network at the end of 2022, and in this piece she tells us about her journey as a funder in the region, shining a light on her lived experience and what she hopes to bring to the network.

Shivaji Shiva, Charity lawyer, Partner, Veale Wasbrough Vizards, led this seminar on what funders should consider when assessing and reviewing good governance and key organisational policies of applicants and grantees. The session considered the current charity framework for good governance and key organisational policies’ regulatory compliance for those organisations that have a charitable purpose and are not for profit or different legal structures.

WMFN members exchange on funding programme updates, learning and insights from grantmaking, research and evaluations and wider WM issues impacting on funders’ work

WMFN Members contributed to the November Cost of Living Summit hosted by Birmingham Voluntary Service Council in November 2022. Presentations and reports from the Summit and follow up information for funders to consider in their response…

BVSC Cost of Living Emergency Summit and other member updates on new funding programmes and links to other key VCS infrastructure organisations in the WM……

How do funders ensure that they are being equitable, fair and inclusive in their grant making approach? The workshop was an opportunity for funders to reflect on current practice, hear about the experience and concerns of smaller organisations accessing funding programmes and consider improvements in reaching out to applicants, the application process, assessing and communicating decisions using an EDI lens.

WM Funders share commissioned sub-regional and local research on social needs and impact of funding programmes. A funders fair in Herefordshire and Worcestershire in October and the launch of the National Heritage Lottery Fund’s Heritage Innovation Fund. A discussion on the role of regional funders in supporting improvements to racial equality in the WM following the Birmingham Race Impact Group’s May Summit.

WM members and guests came together on the 4th July to consider the data, evidence and insight from the work of Turn2Us, a national charity that provides a grant search tool for individuals and organisations, benefits calculator and gendered poverty project collaboration.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John Taylor, after a brave battle with cancer. John was a titan of the voluntary, community and public sectors in the West Midlands for over twenty years, and will be fondly remembered by his family, his friends and former colleagues.

We held our Annual Conference on the 18th and 19th May 2022, exploring the climate emergency, sustainability and funding. Read more about the discussions, presentations and results of the conference here.

WMFN held its latest online briefing update on migration and integration in the WM on 23rd March. Contributors were Dally Panesar, Head of WM Strategic Migration Partnership; a local authority led partnership providing local support and strategic leadership to ensure that the WM can respond to and engage with migration.

Tina joined Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust in July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having been in post as the Chief Executive for 1.5 years, during what has been a difficult and unprecedented period, she share her views and thinking on funding, the strategic direction of the Trust and why she values being a member of WM Funders Network.