Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network
Charity 1105723
Overview
Summary
Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network appears to combine education, employability support and recreational or cultural activity for Birmingham residents, with particular attention to Afro-Caribbean and other ethnic-minority communities. Its stated approach suggests that it sees advocacy and personal development as foundations for wider economic and social participation, rather than treating training as a standalone service. The available evidence indicates an organisation positioned between community development, youth support and skills provision, although its actual programmes, reach and partnerships remain unclear.
Operational geography
Coverage: Multi Neighbourhood
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Lozells
Confidence: low
The charity's current contact details and its active 2025–26 Birmingham City Council mentoring contract identify The Lighthouse Young People's Centre in Birmingham. A Birmingham City Council electoral notice places that venue in Lozells Ward. However, these records do not establish operational activity in Lozells, and the evidence does not describe the full range of services delivered there.
- Charity Commission, Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network contact information
Lists the charity address as The Lighthouse, Birmingham. - Find a Tender, SAFE Birmingham Taskforce Track 2 Interventions (Mentoring), published 15 October 2025
Identifies Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network (BURN Consortium) at The Lighthouse Young People's Centre in Birmingham for a mentoring contract running from 3 November 2025 to 2 October 2026. - Birmingham City Council, Notice of Poll and Persons Nominated
Lists The Lighthouse Young People's Centre as a polling station within Lozells Ward.
Weoley and Selly Oak
Confidence: low
A Birmingham City Council community-safety report directly assigns BURN to delivery in Weoley under the 2024 ASB Place-Based Pilot. The evidence identifies Weoley, rather than explicitly naming the Weoley and Selly Oak ward. The report establishes delivery during 2024 but does not explicitly confirm that this specific deployment remains active in 2026.
- Birmingham Community Safety Partnership Board and Team Annual Report, 2024/25
States that the Community Safety Team partnered with third-sector youth organisations to deliver services in hotspot areas and assigns 'Weoley – Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network (B.U.R.N)' in phase one of the ASB Place-Based Pilot.
Acocks Green
Confidence: medium
Birmingham City Council's community-safety report directly identifies Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network as the delivery organisation for Acocks Green in phase two of the 2024 ASB Place-Based Pilot. This is clear evidence of place-based service delivery, but the available material does not confirm continuation beyond the reported 2024 activity.
- Birmingham Community Safety Partnership Board and Team Annual Report, 2024/25
Records that, following a June 2024 data review, phase two of the ASB Place-Based Pilot assigned 'Acocks Green - Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network.'
Bordesley Green
Confidence: medium
Birmingham City Council's community-safety report directly identifies Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network as the delivery organisation for Bordesley Green in phase two of the 2024 ASB Place-Based Pilot. The evidence supports delivery there during the reported period, but does not establish whether the deployment is still operating.
- Birmingham Community Safety Partnership Board and Team Annual Report, 2024/25
Records that, following a June 2024 data review, phase two of the ASB Place-Based Pilot assigned 'Bordesley Green - Birmingham Urban Rhythm Network.'
Remaining uncertainties
- The clearest area-level delivery evidence is from Birmingham City Council's 2024 ASB Place-Based Pilot. It does not specify an end date or confirm that BURN's Weoley, Acocks Green and Bordesley Green deployments continued after 2024.
- The current SAFE Birmingham Taskforce mentoring contract confirms BURN Consortium activity from November 2025 to October 2026, but does not name the schools or wards served by BURN. It therefore supports a continuing Birmingham operational role but cannot justify adding further ward-level areas.
- BURN's own website describes a mission to support young people in Birmingham, particularly urban communities. This indicates a Birmingham-wide orientation, but is insufficient on its own to conclude that current delivery is citywide.
- The Lighthouse is strongly associated with the organisation's current contact details and procurement record, but the available evidence does not explicitly state whether BURN exclusively operates, owns or manages the site.
Additional evidence needed
- A current BURN annual or impact report identifying active programmes, venues, school partners and delivery wards.
- Current Birmingham City Council or BURN Consortium contract documentation showing the schools or localities allocated to BURN under the SAFE mentoring programme.
- Official confirmation from BURN or Birmingham City Council of the organisation's operational role at The Lighthouse Young People's Centre.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A blended route from personal development to participation
The organisation appears to link life skills and advocacy with vocational, digital, language and basic-skills education. This may indicate an operating model that addresses barriers to employment and participation alongside formal training.
Why it matters
This suggests the organisation's distinctive role may be in helping people build confidence, capability and access at the same time, rather than simply delivering courses.
Show evidence
“Developing the foundations for change and life skills with a new and innovative approach, which will shape the use of the mind.”
Source:Organisation“The charity objects include vocational training, IT classes, language classes and basic skills courses to improve employment opportunities.”
Source:Charity Commission
A targeted mission within a broader public-facing remit
The organisation appears to hold a dual identity: it explicitly prioritises Afro-Caribbean and other ethnic-minority residents while also describing its beneficiaries as children, young people and the general public. This may enable targeted support without limiting its wider civic role.
Why it matters
Understanding this balance is important for identifying whether the organisation is a specialist cultural connector, a general community provider, or both.
Show evidence
“The charity objects identify inhabitants of Birmingham, in particular those of Afro-Caribbean descent and other ethnic minorities.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity helps children or young people, people of a particular ethnic or racial origin, and the general public.”
Source:Charity Commission
Recreation may be part of a wider inclusion strategy
The inclusion of recreation and leisure facilities alongside education and employment objectives suggests that cultural or social activity may be understood as part of improving life conditions, not merely as an additional service.
Why it matters
This points to possible opportunities for collaboration with youth, arts, wellbeing and community-space organisations, even where their immediate purposes differ.
Show evidence
“The charity objects include providing or assisting facilities for recreation or leisure-time occupation to improve conditions of life.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity's activities include arts, culture, heritage or science and economic or community development or employment.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which services are currently active, and who uses them most.
- Whether advocacy is delivered directly or through referral and partnership.
- How arts, culture or recreation feature in practice.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent programme descriptions, annual reports and participant outcomes.
- Information on delivery locations, partners, staffing and referral relationships.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Provides advocacy/advice/information Developing the foundations for change and life skills with a new and innovative approach, which will shape the use of the mind.
Charity objects
1. TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF INHABITANTS OF BIRMINGHAM, IN PARTICULAR THOSE OF AFRO-CARIBBEAN DESCENT AND OTHER ETHNIC MINORITIES, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN ORDER TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, IT CLASSES, LANGUAGE CLASSES AND BASIC SKILLS COURSE AND; 2) TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION OR THE LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF THE LIFE OF THE SAID INHABITANTS.