City Of Birmingham Duke Of Edinburgh'S Award Association
Charity 514490
https://bhamdoeawardassoc.wixsite.com/site
Overview
Summary
City Of Birmingham Duke Of Edinburgh'S Award Association appears to function less as a direct youth-service provider than as a local enabling body around the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Its role combines targeted financial access, practical support for licensed Award units and leaders, and civic recognition of young people’s achievement. This gives it a potentially distinctive position: connecting schools, uniformed organisations, regional Award structures and local civic institutions while reducing some of the costs that can prevent participation.
Operational geography
Coverage: Citywide
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence supports a Birmingham-wide grant-making, support and celebration role, but does not identify the individual Birmingham wards or neighbourhoods in which current Award units, grant recipients or events are located.
- The Charity Commission records that the charity does not own or lease land or property. Its listed address may therefore be administrative or correspondence-only rather than a service-delivery site, so it has not been recorded as an operational area.
- The website says eligible Award units include parts of Sutton Coldfield and Solihull. It is unclear whether this reflects current grant recipients outside Birmingham's boundary, an administrative definition of the Birmingham Award area, or only potential eligibility.
- The organisation works alongside Regional DofE-licensed groups and national uniformed organisations, including Scouts, Guides and Boys' and Girls' Brigades. This materially extends its reach through local Award units, but the available evidence does not name the current partner units or their locations.
Additional evidence needed
- A current list or map of Birmingham Award units that have received support, grants or celebration services from the association.
- Recent grant records showing the locations of supported units or participants, with appropriately anonymised beneficiary information.
- Confirmation from the association whether its listed address is used for meetings, grant administration only, or any public-facing activity.
- Details of current arrangements with the Regional DofE office and uniformed organisations, including the Birmingham locations of participating units.
Areas of work
- Disability
- Education/training
Who they help
- Children/young People
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A local access mechanism within a national programme
The association appears to use small individual grants and larger unit grants to make participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award more financially achievable in Birmingham. It may therefore address a practical access gap within a nationally recognised youth-development programme rather than delivering a separate programme of its own.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the organisation from general youth charities: its potential value lies in removing specific cost barriers such as equipment, travel, fees and expedition resources.
Show evidence
“Grants can support equipment, travel or fees for a specific section of the Award.”
Source:Organisation“Operating units, voluntary uniformed organisations and schools may apply for larger grants towards equipment or courses with ongoing benefit.”
Source:Organisation
An intermediary between young people and the local Award infrastructure
The association appears to operate through existing Award units, leaders, schools and national uniformed organisations, rather than recruiting participants independently. Its influence may therefore depend on the reach and responsiveness of those partner settings.
Why it matters
Understanding this intermediary role is important because it suggests that young people without a connection to an eligible Award unit may be less visible to the association’s support.
Show evidence
“Applicants must belong to an Award Unit in the City of Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation“City of Birmingham Unit Managers of licensed Award groups and units operating from national organisations are welcome to apply.”
Source:Organisation“The charity acts as an umbrella or resource body.”
Source:Charity Commission
Recognition is part of its civic role, not an incidental add-on
The association appears to treat celebration of achievement as a substantive part of supporting young people, drawing on civic settings and experienced trustees and committee members. This may strengthen the social visibility and perceived value of Award completion.
Why it matters
The organisation may contribute not only resources but also public recognition, linking individual development to a wider sense of belonging and achievement in Birmingham.
Show evidence
“The association has for many years been involved with celebrating achievement in the city.”
Source:Organisation“Trustees and committee members have experience to help make celebrations a rewarding time to share achievements.”
Source:Organisation“Celebrations have taken place at Birmingham Council House with the Lord and Lady Mayor and Silver and Gold recipients.”
Source:Organisation
- How many young people and Award units receive grants each year, and which communities are reached.
- Whether grant demand exceeds available funds or whether particular Award levels face greater financial barriers.
- How the association identifies and reaches young people who are not already connected to an eligible Award unit.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent grant totals, recipient numbers, award levels, locations and anonymised demographic information.
- Information on referral routes, partnerships, funding sources and the outcomes of individual and unit grants.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Serving the national Duke of Edinburghs Award within the City of Birmingham, supporting young people and leaders and celebrating their achievements by providing grants to participating young people.
Charity objects
TO ADVANCE THE MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELFARE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM. (FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE SEE CONSTITUTION.)