Farm Park

Charity 501757

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

Farm Park appears to be a broadly mandated Birmingham charity whose currently recorded activity is amateur sport. Its unusually wide charitable object suggests a potential role as a local civic asset rather than a narrowly defined sports organisation, but the available evidence does not show how it translates that mandate into practice. At present, its relationship to particular communities, places, facilities or partner organisations remains unclear.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: Neighbourhood

Operational areas:

Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East

Confidence: medium

Birmingham City Council identifies an active Farm Park, and the charity’s current accounts state that its public spaces are managed and maintained by the Council. The accounts do not explicitly name the space, so the connection between charity 501757 and this specific park is a well-supported interpretation rather than an express statement.

  • Birmingham City Council, Farm Park park listing
    Lists Farm Park as a 10-acre recreation ground with a playground, basketball court, cricket practice area and football facilities.
  • Farm Park charity 501757, Report and Financial Statements for year ended 31 March 2025
    States that the charity provides public spaces for Birmingham residents; the spaces are managed by Birmingham City Council on the charity’s behalf and are accessible to the general public. It also states that the Council undertakes their day-to-day management and maintenance.
Remaining uncertainties
  • The current annual report refers only to 'public spaces' and does not explicitly identify Farm Park as the charity's land or confirm whether there are any additional sites.
  • The charity's objects and annual report describe benefit for Birmingham residents, but this indicates the intended beneficiary population rather than evidence of a citywide physical operating footprint.
  • Birmingham City Council is both sole trustee and day-to-day manager of the spaces. This is a material management arrangement, but the available evidence does not identify any separate delivery partners.
Additional evidence needed
  • A current Birmingham City Council asset, parks, trust-property or land-registry record explicitly linking charity number 501757 to Farm Park.
  • The 1920 conveyance or a current schedule of land held by the charity, to establish whether it owns or supports further public spaces.
  • A current operational statement from Birmingham City Council confirming the precise park site or sites maintained on the charity's behalf.

Areas of work

Source:Charity Commission
  • Amateur Sport

Who they help

Source:Charity Commission

    How they help

    Source:Charity Commission

      Discoveries involving this organisation

      The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.

      Observations

      Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

      • A broad civic mandate paired with a narrow recorded activity

        The charity appears to hold a city-wide public-benefit purpose while being classified primarily through amateur sport. This may indicate that sport is its main practical route to contributing to wider community benefit, rather than its entire potential remit.

        Why it matters

        This distinction matters because Farm Park may be more relevant to community wellbeing, access to shared space and local connection than a simple sports listing would suggest.

        Show evidence

        • “TO BE HELD AND USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM”

          Source:Charity Commission

        • “Amateur Sport”

          Source:Charity Commission

      • Its stated beneficiaries are defined by place, not a particular group

        Farm Park's formal purpose is directed at Birmingham inhabitants collectively, with no named age group, neighbourhood or community. It may therefore have flexibility to respond to varied local needs, although this cannot be confirmed from the available evidence.

        Why it matters

        A place-based mandate can make an organisation a potentially useful connector across communities, but it also raises questions about whether its benefits are genuinely accessible across the city.

        Show evidence

        • “TO BE HELD AND USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM”

          Source:Charity Commission

        Remaining uncertainties

      • Whether Farm Park owns, manages or uses a physical site or sports facilities.
      • Which Birmingham communities benefit and whether participation is open, targeted or membership-based.
      • Whether it works with schools, clubs, residents or other charities.

        Additional evidence needed

      • Recent annual reports, accounts and trustee reports describing activities, expenditure and beneficiaries.
      • Information on facilities, programmes, geographic catchment and partnerships.
      • Evidence of participant numbers, access arrangements and community outcomes.
      Charity Commission profile
      Source:Charity Commission

      Activities

      Charity objects

      "TO BE HELD AND USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM"