Charles Baker Trust
Charity 512927
Overview
Summary
Charles Baker Trust appears to be a narrowly focused, asset-based housing charity serving older and disabled Birmingham residents. Its role is distinctive not because of a broad service offer, but because it converts charitable resources into a small amount of purpose-built accommodation and, potentially, additional comforts for people in council-administered older persons’ homes. The available evidence suggests a local, place-bound model whose impact may depend on the quality and stewardship of a limited number of physical assets and relationships with Birmingham’s care and housing system.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Billesley
Confidence: medium
A Birmingham City Council report dated 12 May 2025 identifies the Trust's only two properties as being in Billesley and states that both were occupied and managed by the Council's City Housing Directorate. This is strong location-specific evidence, although no later public operational update was found.
- Birmingham City Council, Charles Baker Trust Progress Report, 12 May 2025
The report identifies the Trust's two properties as being in Billesley; it states that the Trust owns two properties, both occupied, which are managed by the City Housing Directorate. - Charles Baker Trust Report and Financial Statements, year ended 31 March 2024
The trustees' report states that the Trust has two bungalows built in 1985 in Billesley. The accounts state that both are occupied in accordance with the charity's objects.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available location-specific evidence confirms operation at the two Billesley bungalows in May 2025, but does not independently confirm their occupancy or management status after that date.
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City as the area in which the charity operates, but this reflects the charity's Birmingham-wide beneficiary eligibility and objects rather than evidence of services or sites across the city.
- The Trust was considering whether to acquire or build an additional property; no evidence was found that a further site had been acquired or that its location had been decided.
- Birmingham City Council is the sole corporate trustee and manages the properties through its City Housing Directorate. This is a material management arrangement, but it does not evidence an operational footprint outside Billesley.
Additional evidence needed
- A post-May 2025 annual management report, current tenancy record, or City Housing Directorate confirmation of the status of the two Billesley properties.
- Any Trusts and Charities Committee decision or asset-management report confirming whether the Trust has acquired, built, disposed of, or proposed another property.
- A current annual report or operational return that distinguishes the Trust's actual housing sites from its Birmingham-wide charitable eligibility.
Areas of work
- Accommodation/housing
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Elderly/old People
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A highly focused housing-based model
The Trust appears to address need through provision of specific physical homes rather than through ongoing advice, care or wider support services.
Why it matters
This indicates that its contribution may be small in scale but durable: a single accessible home can provide long-term security, while also making the Trust dependent on property management and allocation arrangements.
Show evidence
“To erect and furnish one or more bungalows or flats for elderly or disabled persons living in Birmingham.”
Source:Charity Commission“Provides buildings/facilities/open space.”
Source:Charity Commission
Its mission is unusually tightly tied to Birmingham
The Trust appears designed as a place-specific civic resource, with eligibility linked directly to residence within Birmingham rather than to a wider regional population.
Why it matters
This makes local relationships, local housing pressures and awareness among Birmingham-based referral networks especially important to whether the charity reaches those it intends to help.
Show evidence
“For the use of elderly or handicapped persons living within the boundary of the City of Birmingham.”
Source:Charity Commission“For the use of elderly or disabled persons living in Birmingham.”
Source:Charity Commission
A potential bridge to council-run older persons’ homes
The objects suggest that any surplus may be used to fund amenities or comforts for residents of homes administered by the council, creating a possible supplementary role alongside public provision.
Why it matters
This is significant because the Trust may add value not only through housing assets but also by funding improvements that public rate funding does not cover. It would be worth exploring whether this surplus-funded function is active in practice.
Show evidence
“The surplus, if any, is to be applied for additional facilities or comforts not chargeable on the rate fund for residents in homes for elderly persons administered by the council.”
Source:Charity Commission
- How many homes the Trust owns, operates or has completed, and whether they are currently occupied.
- Whether the Trust directly manages accommodation or works through a housing provider, the council or another partner.
- Whether surplus funds have supported residents of council-administered homes.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent accounts, annual reports and property information showing assets, beneficiaries, expenditure and current activity.
- Information on tenancy allocation, accessibility, management arrangements and relationships with Birmingham City Council or housing partners.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
To Erect and furnish one or more bungalows or flats for the use of elderly or disabled persons living in Birmingham.
Charity objects
FOR THE RELIEF OF THE ELDERLY BY THE ERECTION OF ONE OF TWO PURPOSE BUILT BUNGALOWS OR FLATS FOR THE USE OF ELDERLY OR HANDICAPPED PERSONS LIVING WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM AND THE SURPLUS, IF ANY, TO BO APPLIED FOR THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL FACILITIES OR COMFORTS NOT CHARGEABLE ON THE RATE FUND FOR RESIDENTS IN HOMES FOR ELDERLY PERSONS ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNCIL.