Folio Sutton Coldfield
Charity 1175929
www.foliosuttoncoldfield.org.uk
Overview
Summary
Folio Sutton Coldfield appears to be a place-based support organisation for public libraries: not a library operator, but a civic intermediary helping library spaces remain active, educational and community-facing. Its role combines fundraising, programme facilitation and advocacy for the local library service. The evidence suggests it treats libraries as shared infrastructure for learning, culture and connection across generations, while relying substantially on external grants and fundraising to sustain this contribution.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sutton Mere Green
Confidence: high
Direct evidence shows that FOLIO's weekly IT surgeries relocated to Mere Green Library after Sutton Coldfield Library closed in June 2025. The charity's latest annual report also records its support for Warm Welcome sessions across Sutton Coldfield libraries. Mere Green Library is in Sutton Mere Green ward.
- FOLIO Sutton Coldfield Annual Report 2024-2025, Charity Commission
Records that FOLIO's IT surgeries relocated to Mere Green Library after 27 June 2025 and were well attended; it also records support for Warm Welcome sessions in Sutton Coldfield libraries. - Birmingham City Council library scorecard: Mere Green Library
Identifies Mere Green Library as being in Sutton Mere Green ward.
Sutton Vesey
Confidence: medium
FOLIO directly organised and participated in library-preservation activity involving Boldmere Library during 2024-25, including the Walk and Read event and consultation activity. Boldmere remains part of the Town Council's library service, but the available evidence does not confirm a continuing FOLIO-delivered programme there after November 2025. The supplied evidence does not directly establish Boldmere Library's ward location.
- FOLIO Sutton Coldfield Annual Report 2024-2025, Charity Commission
Records a FOLIO-arranged Walk and Read event beginning at Boldmere Library, support gathered from Boldmere Library users, and attendance at a Boldmere Library consultation session. - Birmingham City Council: Councillor Rob Pocock
Lists Boldmere Library as the venue for a Sutton Vesey ward councillor surgery. - Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council: Libraries and Community Centres Official Openings
Confirms Boldmere Library became part of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council Libraries and Community Centres Service from 1 November 2025.
Sutton Walmley and Minworth
Confidence: medium
FOLIO's latest annual report documents direct campaign and consultation activity relating to Walmley Library. The library is an active Town Council service site, but there is no explicit post-November 2025 evidence of a continuing FOLIO-delivered activity at Walmley.
- FOLIO Sutton Coldfield Annual Report 2024-2025, Charity Commission
Records a FOLIO-arranged Walk and Read event beginning at Walmley Library, support passed on for Walmley Library, and attendance at a Walmley Library consultation session. - Birmingham City Council library scorecard: Walmley Library
Identifies Walmley Library as being in Sutton Walmley and Minworth ward. - Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council: Libraries and Community Centres Official Openings
Confirms Walmley Library and Community Centre became part of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council Libraries and Community Centres Service from 1 November 2025.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence supports a district-wide Sutton Coldfield operational identity rather than Birmingham-wide delivery. Although FOLIO participated in the Birmingham Loves Libraries coalition and a Birmingham rally, this is partnership and campaigning activity rather than evidence of routine service delivery across Birmingham.
- FOLIO previously delivered regular activities at Sutton Coldfield Library in the town centre, including Elderberries, IT surgeries, ESOL and employment-related support. Those activities ended or were reconsidered when the library closed on 27 June 2025, so Sutton Trinity is not recorded as a current operational area.
- The registered address is treated as a correspondence address rather than an operational site: the Charity Commission states that the charity does not own or lease land or property.
- There is no accessible current FOLIO website evidence confirming whether its work at Boldmere and Walmley now includes regular programmes, beyond its documented campaigning and support activity.
Additional evidence needed
- A current FOLIO programme, events calendar or annual report confirming the locations and frequency of all activities after November 2025.
- Confirmation from FOLIO or Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council of any formal ongoing role for FOLIO at Boldmere, Walmley and Mere Green libraries.
- Evidence of any current outreach activity outside library buildings, including whether it reaches other Sutton Coldfield wards.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Recreation
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Defined Groups
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Other Finance
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A civic intermediary around library services
Folio appears to strengthen existing public libraries rather than replace them, using events, outreach and resource mobilisation to add capacity around the statutory service.
Why it matters
This distinguishes Folio from a conventional service provider: its value may lie in connecting community energy and funding to library spaces.
Show evidence
“We facilitate educational and community-engaging events and programmes supporting Sutton Coldfield library services.”
Source:Organisation“Supporting and promoting the current library service in Sutton Coldfield.”
Source:Charity Commission
Libraries are treated as community infrastructure
The organisation appears to see libraries as venues for wider civic participation, not solely book-lending or formal education.
Why it matters
This suggests potential relationships with cultural, youth, older-age and community-development organisations that need trusted local space and audiences.
Show evidence
“Public libraries in the town do not just survive, but thrive at the heart of our community.”
Source:Organisation“Education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science, economic/community development/employment, and recreation.”
Source:Charity Commission
An externally funded enhancement model
Folio’s contribution may be shaped by the availability and priorities of grant-makers and local fundraising, rather than secure core funding.
Why it matters
This may create both flexibility for new initiatives and vulnerability in maintaining long-term programmes or relationships.
Show evidence
“Our activities are largely financed by grant-making bodies and fundraising.”
Source:Organisation
- Which libraries, programmes and communities receive the greatest benefit.
- Whether Folio works formally with library authorities or mainly through informal support.
- How stable its funding and volunteer capacity are.
Remaining uncertainties
- A recent programme list with attendance, locations and partner organisations.
- Funding history, annual reports and evidence of outcomes for participants and library services.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
FOLIO Sutton Coldfield stands for Friends Of Libraries In Our Sutton Coldfield. We facilitate educational and community-engaging events and programmes supporting Sutton Coldfield library services to ensure that public libraries in the town do not just survive, but thrive at the heart of our community. Our activities are largely financed by grant-making bodies and fundraising
Charity objects
1. THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN THE AREA SERVED BY PUBLIC LIBRARIES WHICH ARE BASED IN THE CONSTITUENCY OF SUTTON COLDFIELD, WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE OR POLITICS, RELIGIOUS OR OTHER OPINIONS, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY: (A) SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING THE CURRENT LIBRARY SERVICE IN SUTTON COLDFIELD; (B) FACILITATING EDUCATIONAL COURSES AND EVENTS IN LIBRARIES AND THROUGH LIBRARY OUTREACH