Flexible Learning Centre Foundation
Charity 1169758
Overview
Summary
Flexible Learning Centre Foundation appears to occupy a specialist educational inclusion role at the boundary between mainstream education, youth support and adult economic participation. Its objects suggest a deliberately broad pathway model: supporting young people excluded from, or at risk of exclusion from, school while also offering accredited learning and adult educational support. The available evidence indicates a focus on people facing structural barriers to education, though it does not show how these strands are delivered or connected in practice.
Operational geography
Coverage: Citywide
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence from the Charity Commission's current public profile is that the charity reports operating in "Birmingham City" and provides education/training services. This supports a Birmingham-wide operational claim, but the record does not identify current delivery neighbourhoods, venues or programmes.
- The current Charity Commission contact address is not stated by the register to be a current service-delivery site; it may be a correspondence or administrative address. It is therefore not sufficient to confirm a local operational area.
- A 2015 Ofsted report for the earlier Flexible Learning Centre school described four sites in Erdington, Hockley and Weoley Castle, plus referrals through school partnerships or networks. This is historical evidence only and cannot establish the Foundation's current sites, partnerships or reach.
- The Foundation's 2022 trustees' report gave a different principal address. The available evidence does not explain whether this represents a former administrative base, a former delivery venue, or a continuing site.
- No current official evidence was found identifying material delivery partnerships, commissioned programmes, or service venues beyond the charity's Birmingham City self-report.
Additional evidence needed
- The 2024 trustees' annual report or an up-to-date activity/impact report identifying current courses, delivery venues and participant locations.
- Confirmation from the charity of whether its current contact address is used for education or training delivery, rather than solely as a contact address.
- A current list of delivery partners, referral partners and any venues used through those partnerships.
- Current information distinguishing the Foundation's activity from the historical Flexible Learning Centre independent school and confirming whether any former sites remain in use.
Areas of work
- Education/training
Who they help
- Children/young People
How they help
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A bridge between education and social inclusion
The organisation appears to treat education as a route to wider social participation and stability, rather than as an end in itself. Its remit links accredited training with support for excluded young people and adults facing financial barriers.
Why it matters
This suggests the foundation may be relevant not only to education providers, but also to organisations working on youth justice, unemployment, poverty and family resilience.
Show evidence
“The objects include accredited training courses for young people, including young offenders and youths not in education, employment or training.”
Source:Charity Commission“The objects include educational support for adults to advance opportunities for economic and financial stability.”
Source:Charity Commission
Exclusion prevention may be a defining specialism
The strongest distinctive feature is an apparent focus on children aged 13–16 who have already been excluded, or are at risk of exclusion, from mainstream education. This may position the organisation as an early-intervention as well as alternative-provision partner.
Why it matters
Understanding this focus could reveal important relationships with schools, local authorities, youth services and families before exclusion becomes entrenched.
Show evidence
“The objects support children aged 13-16 within 5 miles of Birmingham who are excluded or at risk of being excluded from mainstream education.”
Source:Charity Commission“The children described come from economically and financially deprived backgrounds.”
Source:Charity Commission
A broad beneficiary model creates a strategic question
The foundation's stated beneficiaries span adolescents facing school exclusion, young people including NEETs and young offenders, and adults outside education or employment. It is unclear whether these are connected pathways within one model or separate programmes.
Why it matters
This distinction affects how the organisation should be understood: as a place-based learning hub with life-course support, or as a provider of several targeted interventions.
Show evidence
“The objects include training courses for young people and training and educational support for adults.”
Source:Charity Commission“Who the charity helps: Children/young People.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether adult support is currently delivered, despite appearing in the charitable objects.
- Whether the organisation works directly with schools, justice services, local authorities or other referral partners.
- What accredited courses, support methods and outcomes it provides.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or activity reports showing current programmes, participant numbers and outcomes.
- Information on referral routes, delivery partners, geographic reach and the relationship between youth and adult provision.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The main charitable objectives being: 1. The advancement of education for the public benefit by : a. The provision of accredited training courses for particularly young people b. Training and educational support for adults
Charity objects
1. THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY: A. THE PROVISION OF ACCREDITED TRAINING COURSES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICULARLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, YOUNG OFFENDERS AND YOUTHS NOT IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT OR TRAINING (NEETS); B. TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR ADULTS WHO ARE NOT IN EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND WHO ARE RECEIVING SPECIFIC BENEFITS FROM THE STATE OR WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD EDUCATION TO ADVANCE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. 2. THE ADVANCEMENT IN LIFE OF CHILDREN AGED 13-16 WHO RESIDE WITHIN 5 MILES OF BIRMINGHAM AND ARE EXCLUDED (OR AT RISK OF BEING EXCLUDED) FROM MAINSTREAM EDUCATION AND COME FROM ECONOMICALLY AND FINANCIALLY DEPRIVED BACKGROUNDS BY PROVIDING ADVICE, ASSISTANCE AND PROGRAMMES OF ACTIVITIES AS A MEANS TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES AND ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS INDEPENDENT, MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS.