Birmingham Law Centre

Charity 1087514

www.birminghamlawcentre.org.uk

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

Birmingham Law Centre appears to have been established as a West Midlands-focused anti-poverty legal-advice charity, combining direct casework with advocacy, debt advice and training. However, the current evidence contains a significant operational-status tension: the Charity Commission record says it is in liquidation, while the website presents an apparently active Birmingham advice service alongside content that seems poorly aligned with a local law-centre role. The organisation’s present capacity, governance and service availability therefore remain unclear.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: Citywide

Operational areas:

    Evidence and reasoning
    Supporting evidence
    Remaining uncertainties
    • There is no sufficiently reliable evidence that Birmingham Law Centre is currently delivering services at any Birmingham ward or recognised place. Its website claims free advice and casework 'across Birmingham' and refers to a Welsh Home Farm advice project, but gives no current dates, service address or contact arrangements.
    • The website evidence conflicts with authoritative records: Companies House records show the company entered creditors' voluntary liquidation on 7 August 2013, with liquidators' receipts-and-payments statements continuing through the period ending 6 August 2025; the Charity Commission also labels the charity insolvent and records its activity as 'IN LIQUIDATION'.
    • The Welsh Home Farm reference suggests a possible historic, neighbourhood-level project in Harborne, supported by Harborne Parish Lands Charity, but the undated statement does not establish that the project remains active. It is therefore not recorded as a current operational area.
    • The Walsall address is the liquidator's address and should not be treated as an operational site. Historic Companies House records identify a former Birmingham registered office, but this is not evidence of a current site.
    • The citywide coverage type records the scale claimed by the organisation's live website for Birmingham residents, rather than a verified current footprint. Current operational coverage may in fact be nil because the organisation remains in liquidation.
    Additional evidence needed
    • A current statement from the liquidator, trustees or an authorised successor confirming whether Birmingham Law Centre itself still delivers any services.
    • Current funded-service agreements, referral information or appointment details identifying active delivery locations and eligibility areas.
    • Confirmation from Harborne Parish Lands Charity on whether it currently funds, or has recently funded, Birmingham Law Centre advice provision in Welsh Home Farm.
    • A current annual report, accounts or impact report evidencing service activity after the commencement of liquidation on 7 August 2013.

    Areas of work

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Education/training
    • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

    Who they help

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
    • The General Public/mankind

    How they help

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Makes Grants To Individuals
    • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
    • Provides Services
    • Sponsors Or Undertakes Research

    Discoveries involving this organisation

    The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.

    Observations

    Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted
    • A potentially disrupted civic advice anchor

      The organisation appears designed to act as more than a legal-information provider: its charitable role combines poverty relief, legal advocacy, direct services and advice-training. Its liquidation status may therefore represent a loss of both frontline support and local advice capability.

      Why it matters

      This frames the organisation as part of Birmingham’s civic support infrastructure, not simply a standalone advice service. If inactive, other organisations may need to absorb unmet debt, welfare and legal-advocacy needs.

      Show evidence
      • The charity's objects include relief of poverty through welfare and legal advice services and advocacy, and training others in debt, welfare and related advice.

        Source:Charity Commission
      • Activities: IN LIQUIDATION.

        Source:Charity Commission
    • A contradiction between formal status and public-facing presence

      The available evidence suggests either that the website is not a reliable representation of the charity's current operations, or that the relationship between the legal entity and the website requires clarification.

      Why it matters

      People seeking urgent legal help could be misled if a public-facing service appears available despite liquidation. It also raises questions about stewardship of the organisation's name, digital assets and referral pathways.

      Show evidence
      • Activities: IN LIQUIDATION.

        Source:Charity Commission
      • We provide free legal advice and casework services to individuals and communities in need across Birmingham.

        Source:Organisation
      • Latest posts include articles about Australian migration, Dubai extradition and immigration options in San Antonio.

        Source:Organisation
    • Historically targeted, locally connected provision

      The organisation appears to have combined citywide eligibility with place-specific outreach funded through local charitable relationships, suggesting an operating model responsive to neighbourhood-level need.

      Why it matters

      This may identify useful local knowledge and partnership experience that could be retained or transferred, even if the organisation itself is no longer operating.

      Show evidence
      • Debt advice was available to people living in or close to the Birmingham area.

        Source:Organisation
      • The Harborne Parish Lands Charity provided a grant to deliver advice in the Welsh Home Farm area of Birmingham.

        Source:Organisation

      Remaining uncertainties

    • Whether Birmingham Law Centre currently delivers any services, and whether liquidation is complete or ongoing.
    • Whether the website is controlled by the charity or accurately represents its current work.
    • Which organisations, if any, now provide equivalent local debt, welfare and legal-advocacy support.

      Additional evidence needed

    • The charity's latest accounts, liquidation filings and trustee or liquidator statements.
    • Confirmation of website ownership, current contact routes and active referral arrangements.
    • Recent service data and local stakeholder evidence on unmet advice needs.
    Charity Commission profile
    Source:Charity Commission

    Activities

    IN LIQUIDATION

    Charity objects

    A) THE RELIEF OF POVERTY BY THE PROVISION OF WELFARE AND LEGAL ADVICE SERVICES AND ADVOCACY; B) THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION BY THE TRAINING OF OTHERS IN THE GIVING OF DEBT, WELFARE AND OTHER RELATED ADVICE; C) SUCH OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES AS MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE DETERMINED. THE MAIN AREA OF BENEFIT IS THE WEST MIDLANDS