Reflecting on one year of Welcome to the sector!

Dudley CVS’s Group Development Team supports not-for-profit organisations at any point in their journey. This includes helping people with great ideas for new good causes, across the whole Dudley borough.

Our aims for April 2024-March 2025 included bringing new people into the not-for-profit sector, whether as new donors, supporters, trustees, corporate sponsors, ambassadors or volunteers. We wanted to showcase the fantastic work that local good causes do and celebrate their diversity. As last year was our 50th anniversary, we used that as the perfect way to celebrate how Dudley CVS has supported a huge range of organisations across the decades.

Throughout the year, Welcome to the sector went on tour around Dudley borough, stopping off in:

• Gornal to showcase the work of ogranisations that support communities in Dudley North (places like Upper and Lower Gornal, Gornal Wood, Sedgley and Coseley)
• Dudley to celebrate organsiations serving Central Dudley (such as Wrens Nest, Kates Hill, Priory, Netherton, Russell’s Hall)
• Halesowen to bring together organisations doing great work in that are (covering Hurst Green, Hasbury, Cradley, Haley Green, Hawne)
• Brierley Hill, celebrating organisations that do so much for our communities in that area (Brockmoor, Pensnett, Woodside, Quarry Bank, Kingswinford, Wall Heath)
• Stourbridge, showcasing a range of organisations that do great work in and around Stourbridge (Lye, Wollescote, Pedmore, Oldswinford, Norton, Wollaston, Amblecote)

What’s really struck me over the course of these sessions is people’s appetite to connect. The sessions began with with a bit of an introduction to the sector – what makes a not-for-profit group, the kinds of work they do, the challenges they face – before hearing from groups about the work they do. Sessions ended with an hour devoted to making connections, where those inspired by hearing about the great work could connect, swap details and offer mutual support.

This is what new organisation The Goodwill Revolution did, connecting with Black Country Foodbank and Kids Clothes Project during our Brierley Hill session.

“Beyond compliance, Dudley CVS has also opened doors for us, connecting us with some truly amazing people who work closely with families throughout the Black Country. These connections are vital to our mission. We rely on referrals from trusted individuals within the community to identify those most in need of our support. The relationships Dudley CVS has helped us build with these frontline workers will be instrumental in ensuring we reach the people who need us most” – The Goodwill Revolution

Across the whole year, Welcome to the sector has:

• Raised the profile of at least 52 voluntary and community groups who presented about the great work they do. Many of them celebrated Dudley CVS’s 50th anniversary and thanked us for the support over the years
• Brought together 143 people from a range of sector organisations, partners, residents and businesses, leading to more than 20 longer-term connections
• Linked with our trustee recruitment initiative. Five people from statutory partner organisations have joined us (sometimes more than once) to connect with sector organisations. Three have since become charity trustees and one is going through the recruitment process.

“Dear Colleagues at CVS, Thank you very much for inviting me to such an
informative gathering. I was able to briefly speak with a few invitees about their experiences in providing services to their communities… I would love to attend such interactive events in future and hope you will include me on your invitation list.” – Someone exploring setting up a new social enterprise

What’s next?

We will be running Welcome to the sector in this new financial year because there seems to be enormous appetite for groups to come together to connect with each other and celebrate their work. Our colleagues in the statutory and business sectors feel the same; they get great insight into the great work going on across our communities:

“It was great to meet you and your colleagues and to hear from so many wonderful organisations yesterday. What an inspirational event! … I think it will be really helpful for me to continue to make connections so would be very happy to attend more of your meetings. I hope to see you again soon.” – Ann Bills, Senior Specialist for Improvement Transformation & Partnership Directorate, Black Country Integrated Care Board

Our next Welcome to the sector

Focus on: Dudley North (Upper and Lower Gornal, Gornal Wood, Sedgley and Coseley)
When: Wednesday 21st May, 10am
To book: Register here

“Thank you Dudley CVS for organising todays networking event it was great to hear other groups and organisations stories and how Dudley CVS has supported them along their journey. Happy 50th Birthday Dudley CVS thank you for your continued support. 🎉” – Moms Mindful Hub