Cadbury Barn Trust
Charity 1190666
https://www.cadburybarntrust.org.uk
Overview
Summary
Cadbury Barn Trust appears to be a place-based civic infrastructure organisation in Northfield: its central role is not simply to run activities, but to convert underused park buildings into a shared community asset. Its stated approach combines stewardship of Manor Farm Park facilities with health, wellbeing, learning and recreational activity. The available evidence suggests an emerging model built around convening residents, voluntary organisations and public authorities, although the extent to which the building transfer or wider partnerships have been secured remains unclear.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Northfield
Confidence: high
The trust’s current website identifies Manor Farm Park as the focus of its work. Birmingham City Council identifies Manor Farm Park as being in Northfield. The trust’s recorded charitable activity, events and proposed community-facility work are all tied to this one park.
- Cadbury Barn Trust website, Home
The website states that the trust is 'Working to improve amenities at Manor Farm Park and promote activities that support health and wellbeing.' - Cadbury Barn Trust website, Events
The trust records activities at Manor Farm Park, including Tai Chi/Qi Gong classes, heritage events, guided walks and summer activities; it also states that some sessions were directly funded by the trust. - Birmingham City Council, Manor Farm Park
The council identifies Manor Farm Park as being in Northfield and identifies Cadbury Barn Trust in the park’s heritage-trail context. - Charity Commission register, Cadbury Barn Trust (1190666)
The charity reports that it is working to develop underused buildings at Manor Farm Park into community space and facilities for activities intended to improve local health and wellbeing.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available evidence supports ongoing activity centred on Manor Farm Park, but does not establish that the trust currently owns, leases or directly manages any building there. Its proposed lease and redevelopment arrangements with Birmingham City Council remain described as pending.
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City as the area in which the charity operates, but the more specific current evidence identifies only Manor Farm Park/Northfield. This is insufficient to treat the trust as operationally citywide.
- The trust works with the Friends of Manor Farm Park on activities and funding, but this partnership appears to reinforce activity at the same Northfield site rather than extend its geographic footprint.
- The Birmingham School of Bell Ringing is described as a prospective joint-venture partner for proposed facilities at Manor Farm Park; the evidence does not show that this proposed partnership is yet operating.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report or project update confirming which activities were delivered after the 2025 reporting year, their locations and their frequency.
- Confirmation from Birmingham City Council or the trust of whether a lease, management agreement or other formal occupation arrangement for the Manor Farm Park buildings has been completed.
- A current programme or booking information identifying any regular services or events delivered away from Manor Farm Park.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Economic/community Development/employment
- General Charitable Purposes
- Recreation
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
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
A civic asset-development role
The Trust appears to be using the development of underused buildings as a route to creating longer-term community capacity, rather than treating facilities as a backdrop to individual events.
Why it matters
This suggests its future influence may depend as much on securing, maintaining and programming a shared physical base as on delivering activities directly. It may become an enabling organisation for other local groups.
Show evidence
“The Trust is working towards taking over and developing underused buildings at Manor Farm Park to provide community space with toilets and refreshment facilities.”
Source:Organisation“The trustees have power to establish or secure a community centre at Manor Farm Park and to maintain, manage or co-operate in its management.”
Source:Charity Commission
Health and wellbeing are pursued through place and participation
The Trust appears to frame health and wellbeing broadly, using outdoor learning, environmental activity and recreation alongside practical amenities rather than presenting itself as a specialist health provider.
Why it matters
This helps identify the Trust as a potential bridge between parks, informal learning, community connection and preventative wellbeing, with possible relevance to organisations working in each of those areas.
Show evidence
“Activities and events are aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of local people.”
Source:Organisation“The website lists forest school, a foraging walk and a tree identification walk at Manor Farm Park.”
Source:Organisation“The charity's purposes include advancement of health, recreation, arts/culture/heritage/science and economic/community development.”
Source:Charity Commission
Its mandate is collaborative, but its current network is not visible
The Trust's formal purpose envisages residents, local authorities and voluntary organisations acting together; however, the supplied evidence does not identify active partner organisations or governance relationships.
Why it matters
This gap is important because collaboration may be central to the Trust's intended operating model, especially for a community-centre project. Mapping existing and missing relationships could reveal both support and vulnerability.
Show evidence
“The charity's objects include associating residents, local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort.”
Source:Charity Commission“The trustees may co-operate with a statutory authority in the maintenance and management of a community centre.”
Source:Charity Commission“The website describes the Trust as connecting communities through Cadbury Barn Trust.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether the Trust has secured control of the Manor Farm Park buildings, and what stage the development has reached.
- Which residents currently participate, including whether groups least likely to access park-based activities are being reached.
- Which organisations or public bodies are active partners, and how responsibilities are shared.
Remaining uncertainties
- A current project plan, lease or asset-transfer status, funding position and timetable for the buildings.
- Attendance, participant feedback and demographic information for activities and events.
- A list of delivery, funding and governance partners, including Birmingham City Council's role.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The Cadbury Barn Trust is working towards taking over and developing underused buildings at Manor Farm Park in South Birmingham, to provide community space with toilets and refreshment facilities, which will enable a range of activities and events aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of local people.
Charity objects
TO FURTHER OR BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF NORTHFIELD, BIRMINGHAM, AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE OR OF POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR OTHER OPINIONS BY ASSOCIATING TOGETHER THE SAID RESIDENTS AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, VOLUNTARY AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS IN A COMMON EFFORT TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND TO PROVIDE FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION AND LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS. IN FURTHERANCE OF THESE OBJECTS BUT NOT OTHERWISE, THE TRUSTEES SHALL HAVE POWER: TO ESTABLISH OR SECURE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY CENTRE AT MANOR FARM PARK AND TO MAINTAIN OR MANAGE OR CO-OPERATE WITH ANY STATUTORY AUTHORITY IN THE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF SUCH A CENTRE FOR ACTIVITIES PROMOTED BY THE CHARITY IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ABOVE OBJECTS.