Big House Trust
Charity 1089019
Overview
Summary
Big House Trust appears to be a faith-grounded supported-housing provider whose role extends beyond supplying accommodation. Its objects suggest an operating model in which housing is paired with practical assistance and an aspiration to support residents’ mental, moral, spiritual and physical development. The organisation seems positioned to work with people experiencing multiple forms of need, while retaining broad discretion to provide charitable housing support to others. Its distinctive contribution may therefore lie in combining property stewardship, support and Christian mission within a residential setting.
Operational geography
Coverage: Neighbourhood
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- No current operational area can be evidenced to the required standard. The only specifically identified delivery site, Court Oak House in Harborne, was reported in the 2023 trustees' report as due to close, with residents to be moved elsewhere.
- The Charity Commission's current register entry still records Birmingham City as the area in which the charity operates and retains the Court Oak House address, but this is not sufficient evidence of current service delivery at that site or elsewhere in Birmingham.
- The 2025 return records only £33 income and £3,274 expenditure. This is consistent with very limited residual activity, but does not establish whether accommodation or another service remained operational.
- Green Square Accord Housing Association materially supported the Court Oak House lease historically, but the 2023 report says it had decided to terminate its support. There is no evidence of a replacement housing partner or site.
Additional evidence needed
- A current statement from the trustees confirming whether Court Oak House closed, the date of closure, and whether the trust now delivers any accommodation or support service.
- The organisation's latest available operational report or management accounts identifying any active premises, residents, or services.
- Confirmation from any current housing or lease partner of whether Big House Trust manages, leases, or supports accommodation at any Birmingham premises.
Areas of work
- Accommodation/housing
Who they help
- Other Defined Groups
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Housing appears to be the platform for wider support
The available evidence suggests that accommodation is not an end in itself: Big House Trust may use a supported residential environment to respond to wider personal difficulties.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the organisation from a landlord providing housing alone. Understanding it as a housing-and-support provider is important when considering potential relationships with advice, health, recovery or community organisations.
Show evidence
“Provision of accommodation in a supported housing environment for people with 'life' problems.”
Source:Organisation“Providing associated amenities, services or assistance for people in necessitous circumstances or in conditions of need, hardship or distress.”
Source:Charity Commission
Faith is embedded in the organisational purpose
Christian mission appears to be integral to the Trust’s identity and intended approach, rather than an incidental affiliation.
Why it matters
This may shape the organisation’s values, resident experience, partnerships and the kinds of support it considers meaningful. It could create natural connections with faith-based community networks while also raising useful questions about accessibility and inclusion.
Show evidence
“To carry on for the benefit of the community and as a demonstration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the statement of faith.”
Source:Charity Commission“Promoting the mental, moral, spiritual and physical development of the inhabitants of the houses owned or managed by the company.”
Source:Charity Commission
The Trust may combine targeted need with a broad charitable remit
Although its activity is focused on people with 'life' problems, its objects allow support for people in hardship as well as other people where charitable housing provision is appropriate.
Why it matters
This suggests flexibility in who the organisation can assist. It may be able to respond to unmet local housing need beyond one narrowly defined beneficiary group, but the practical limits of that flexibility are unknown.
Show evidence
“Provision of accommodation in a supported housing environment for people with 'life' problems.”
Source:Organisation“Providing, improving, repairing, managing or maintaining housing and providing associated amenities, services or assistance in each case for any others for whom it is charitable to do so.”
Source:Charity Commission
- What 'life' problems means in practice, and whether residents share particular support needs.
- Whether support is delivered directly, through referrals, or through partner organisations.
- The scale, location, occupancy and tenure of the housing provided.
- How the Trust’s faith basis affects eligibility, daily support and resident participation.
Remaining uncertainties
- Information on residents’ needs, referral routes, eligibility criteria and support outcomes.
- Details of properties, local area served, staffing and partnerships with health, advice, homelessness or faith organisations.
- The statement of faith and policies on inclusion, safeguarding and resident support.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Provision of accommodation in a supported housing environment for people with 'life' problems.
Charity objects
1 TO CARRY ON FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AND AS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF FAITH, THE BUSINESS OF: I. PROVIDING, IMPROVING, REPAIRING, MANAGING OR MAINTAINING HOUSING AND PROVIDING ANY ASSOCIATED AMENITIES, SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE IN EACH CASE FOR PEOPLE IN NECESSITOUS CIRCUMSTANCES OR IN CONDITIONS OF NEED, HARDSHIP OR DISTRESS ON TERMS APPROPRIATE TO THEIR MEANS; II PROVIDING, IMPROVING, REPAIRING, MANAGING OR MAINTAINING HOUSING AND PROVIDING ASSOCIATED AMENITIES, SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE IN EACH CASE FOR ANY OTHERS FOR WHOM IT IS CHARITABLE TO DO SO III PROMOTING THE MENTAL, MORAL, SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE HOUSES OWNED OR MANAGED BY THE COMPANY 2 TO PROMOTE ANY OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE