Abijah Trust
Charity 1103783
Overview
Summary
Abijah Trust appears to be a Christian youth-focused charity using sport, especially football, as a relational route into faith activity and wider support. Its objects combine local roots in Portsmouth with permission to work nationally and internationally, suggesting a flexible mission rather than a place-bound service model. The charity’s stated provision of human resources may indicate that it contributes people, skills or coordination through churches and projects, rather than operating primarily as a direct sports provider.
Operational geography
Coverage: International
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct current evidence from the Charity Commission confirms that Birmingham City is one of the places where Abijah Trust operates, but it does not identify any Birmingham neighbourhood, ward, venue or service location.
- The 2024 trustees' annual report describes regular UK youth football and family sports programmes in deprived areas, but does not state which of the charity's reported UK locations, including Birmingham, hosted those programmes during 2024.
- No evidence reviewed identifies a Birmingham physical site owned, leased or regularly used by the charity, or a Birmingham-based delivery partner. The registered address is in Portsmouth and should not be treated as a Birmingham operational site.
- It is therefore not possible to determine whether the Birmingham activity is neighbourhood-based, district-wide or citywide. The inclusion of Birmingham City in the current Charity Commission record supports current activity somewhere in the city, but not its scale or precise geography.
Additional evidence needed
- A current programme timetable, venue list or service map from Faith and Football / Abijah Trust identifying Birmingham delivery locations.
- A current annual report or impact report that separates activity, participants and expenditure by Birmingham location.
- Confirmation from the organisation of any Birmingham schools, churches, football facilities, community groups or other partners that host or deliver programmes.
- A current list of regular Birmingham delivery venues or the neighbourhoods they serve, sufficient to establish their operational areas.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- Children/young People
How they help
- Provides Human Resources
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Sport appears to be a means of connection rather than the end goal
The available evidence suggests that football and other sport are used to bring churches, inter-church groups and individuals into Christian activity, rather than being pursued solely as recreational provision.
Why it matters
This distinguishes Abijah Trust from a conventional youth sports charity. Its likely value may lie in connecting faith communities and young people through a shared activity.
Show evidence
“To advance the Christian faith by promoting the use of and involvement in sport, in particular but not exclusively football, by churches, inter church groups and individuals.”
Source:Charity Commission“Advance the Christian Faith by the use and involvement in sport, and in particular, but not exclusively football, by churches, inter church groups and individuals.”
Source:Organisation
The organisation may operate through networks rather than a single local service
Although Portsmouth is named in its objects, the trust is authorised to work elsewhere in the UK and internationally, and refers particularly to international projects. This may indicate a networked model involving churches, partners or projects across multiple places.
Why it matters
Understanding this geographic flexibility is important when identifying potential relationships: its relevant connections may extend beyond Portsmouth despite its local charitable base.
Show evidence
“The charitable purposes may be pursued in Portsmouth and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees think fit.”
Source:Charity Commission“To relieve persons in need or hardship by financial and moral support, in particular in international projects.”
Source:Organisation
Its support offer may be capacity-based as well as beneficiary-facing
The classification 'Provides Human Resources' may indicate that Abijah Trust contributes personnel, volunteer time, skills or organisational support alongside financial and moral assistance.
Why it matters
This could make the trust a potential enabling partner for churches or community projects, not only a provider of activities for young people.
Show evidence
“How the charity helps: Provides Human Resources.”
Source:Charity Commission“To relieve persons in need or hardship by financial and moral support.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether children and young people are direct participants, indirect beneficiaries, or one beneficiary group among others.
- Which churches, inter-church groups, schools or international projects the trust currently works with.
- Whether the education and hardship-relief objects are active strands of work or mainly retained charitable powers.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or activity reports showing projects, locations, participant numbers and partnerships.
- Information on the meaning of 'Provides Human Resources', including staffing, volunteers and recipient organisations.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Advance the Christian Faith by the use and involvement in sport (and in particular, but not exclusively football) by churches, inter church groups and individuals. To relieve persons in need or hardship by financial and moral support, in particular in international projects. Advance Education in accordance with Christian Principles.
Charity objects
(A) TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF BELIEFS APPEARING IN THE SCHEDULE HERETO IN PORTSMOUTH AND IN SUCH OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR THE WORLD AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT BY PROMOTING THE USE OF AND INVOLVEMENT IN SPORT (IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY FOOTBALL) BY CHURCHES, INTER CHURCH GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS AND TO FULFIL SUCH OTHER PURPOSES WHICH ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES AND ARE CONNECTED WITH THE CHARITABLE WORK OF THE TRUST (B) TO RELIEVE PERSONS WHO ARE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED OR HARDSHIP OR WHO ARE AGED OR SICK AND TO RELIEVE THE DISTRESS CAUSED THEREBY IN THE SAID LOCATION AND IN SUCH OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR THE WORLD AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT (C) TO ADVANCE EDUCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES BY SUCH MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES MAY CONSIDER APPROPRIATE INCLUDING BY MEANS OF ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING ANY EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT OR ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE SAID LOCATION AND IN SUCH OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR THE WORLD AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT.