Cysters
Charity 1178651
Overview
Summary
Cysters appears to operate as a community-led health-equity intermediary: it combines direct peer-facing support and material help with public education, cultural advocacy, research participation and professional consultancy. Its distinctive role is not only to provide information about reproductive and mental health, but to help marginalised communities influence the institutions that affect them, particularly health services and research. The available evidence suggests a Birmingham-based grassroots organisation with a broader UK-facing charitable purpose and an intersectional focus across menstrual, maternal, menopausal and mental health.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bordesley and Highgate
Confidence: medium
Direct evidence shows Cysters hosting recent in-person events at BRIG Café, The Warehouse, in Digbeth. Birmingham City Council evidence places Digbeth within Bordesley and Highgate ward. The evidence supports this as an active delivery venue, but it appears to be a shared community venue rather than a Cysters-owned or exclusive site.
- Cysters Eventbrite listing, Access for All: Women’s Health in the West Mids Exhibition & Report Launch, 27 March 2026
Cysters organised the in-person report and exhibition launch at BRIG Café at The Warehouse, Birmingham; the listing describes the venue as an intentional community space for returning research to communities. - Cysters Eventbrite listing, Love Letters from your Cysters
Cysters organised a creative community workshop at BRIG Café at The Warehouse, Birmingham. - Birmingham City Council, Bordesley and Highgate Ward Action Plan
The Council identifies Digbeth as part of the Bordesley and Highgate ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- Cysters’ current website and Charity Commission contact record give an address, while its 2024 trustees’ annual report gives a previous principal address at the Women’s Enterprise Community Hub. The available evidence does not establish whether the previous location remains in operational use.
- The evidence confirms recurring delivery at the Allison Street venue, but does not show that Cysters has a permanent office, exclusive premises, storage base or routine drop-in service there.
- Cysters directly states that its resource-distribution programme operates across the West Midlands and that it works with local faith groups and neighbourhood networks. However, it does not identify the Birmingham wards where distribution or partner-led activity currently takes place.
- Cysters describes national digital, policy and research engagement, but the available evidence is stronger for region-wide direct community-resource activity than for direct in-person delivery throughout England.
Additional evidence needed
- A current delivery timetable or impact report listing event, workshop and distribution locations by Birmingham ward.
- Confirmation from Cysters or BRIG Café of the nature of Cysters’ occupation and use of the venue.
- A current partner and referral-network list identifying which West Midlands and Birmingham localities are covered by resource distribution and outreach.
Areas of work
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- People With Disabilities
- 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
Community experience is treated as a route to institutional change
Cysters appears to use community support as more than a standalone service: it may convert lived experience into influence over research, policy and service design.
Why it matters
This helps explain its role as a bridge between communities and institutions, rather than simply a health-information provider.
Show evidence
“85 paid opportunities for community members to shape research and policy.”
Source:Organisation“Collaborating with the NHS, Universities and other third sector organisations to deliver accurate information on these health issues.”
Source:Charity Commission“Working in collaboration with other similar groups for members of the community to engage with service providers, to enable those providers to adapt services to better meet the needs of the community.”
Source:Charity Commission
Its model spans immediate relief and longer-term equity work
Cysters appears to combine practical support for current need with efforts to change the conditions producing health inequalities.
Why it matters
This dual role may make it an important connector between crisis support, health education and structural advocacy.
Show evidence
“In 2025, we’ve provided over 800 hours of free community support.”
Source:Organisation“Donated 6000 menstrual products and 5500 baby milk bottles.”
Source:Organisation“Cysters is a grassroots charity committed to breaking down the systemic barriers that create menstrual, mental, maternal, and menopausal health inequalities.”
Source:Organisation
Cultural inclusion may be a core delivery capability
Its focus on marginalised and ethnic minority groups, alongside PPIE recruitment and tailored consultancy, suggests that culturally responsive engagement may be central to how Cysters works.
Why it matters
This may position the organisation as a useful partner for institutions seeking access to perspectives that conventional health engagement can miss.
Show evidence
“Educating and raising awareness of reproductive and mental health particularly focusing on marginalised and ethnic minority groups.”
Source:Charity Commission“We can recruit participants, lead and facilitate Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement groups, and ensure diverse voices shape your projects.”
Source:Organisation
- The geographic reach of its direct support, beyond its Birmingham address and UK charitable objects, is unclear.
- It is unclear how community insight has changed specific NHS, research, policy or workplace decisions.
- The balance between grant-funded charitable activity and income-generating consultancy is not evidenced.
Remaining uncertainties
- Examples of service, research or policy changes attributable to Cysters’ community engagement.
- Beneficiary data showing reach, repeat engagement and communities served.
- Information on partners, funding mix and the scale of consultancy activity.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Educating and raising awareness of reproductive and mental health particularly focusing on marginalised and ethnic minority groups. Collaborating with the NHS, Universities and other third sector organisations to deliver accurate information on these health issues. Supporting the NHS with reaching into these marginalised groups.
Charity objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF WOMEN IN THE UK WITH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE BY:- 1. PROVIDING A CONFIDENTIAL SPACE FOR WOMEN TO ACCESS SUPPORT AND ADVICE, PROVIDING FORUMS, EVENTS AND GROUP SESSIONS THAT ENCOURAGES MEMBERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE; 2. RAISING AWARENESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES, 3. PROVIDING RELIEF OR ASSISTANCE TO SUCH WOMEN THEIR FAMILIES OR DEPENDENTS OF SUCH WOMEN WHO NEED ASSISTANCE AND IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROVIDING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR SUCH PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND DEPENDENTS; AND 4. WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER SIMILAR GROUPS FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS, TO ENABLE THOSE PROVIDERS TO ADAPT SERVICES TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. NOTHING IN THIS CONSTITUTION SHALL AUTHORISE AN APPLICATION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE CIO FOR THE PURPOSES WHICH ARE NOT CHARITABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7 OF THE CHARITIES AND TRUSTEE INVESTMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 2005 AND SECTION 2 OF THE CHARITIES ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2008.