Friends Of Coronation Road Playground
Charity 518004
Overview
Summary
Friends Of Coronation Road Playground appears to be a parent- and carer-led support organisation embedded around a specific local playcentre rather than a direct provider operating independently of it. Its role is to strengthen the conditions that make inclusive open-access play possible for children in Selly Oak, through fundraising, volunteer effort and practical support. The organisation combines a narrow geographic focus with an inclusion-oriented remit, potentially making it a bridge between families, the playcentre and children whose access to leisure opportunities may otherwise be constrained.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bournbrook and Selly Park
Confidence: low
The charity's stated activity is centred on Coronation Road Playcentre in Selly Oak, and recent partner material continues to identify the playcentre in Selly Oak. However, the supplied evidence does not explicitly identify the ward, and the charity's overdue reporting means current direct delivery by this specific legal entity cannot be confirmed with high confidence.
- Charity Commission register, Friends of Coronation Road Playground (charity 518004)
The charity says it is run by parents and carers of children using Coronation Road Playcentre and supports inclusive play opportunities for children aged 5–12 in and around Selly Oak. - Children's Quarter, 'The Forge – for young adults' (published July 2025)
The page identifies Coronation Road Playcentre as Parks for Play's venue and locates it in Selly Oak, showing the site was in use for partner sessions in 2025.
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission record shows the charity as registered but with accounts and annual returns overdue for reporting years through 31 March 2025; this substantially limits confidence about its current level of direct activity.
- Recent external material refers to 'Parks for Play' as the operator or owner of Coronation Road Playcentre, while the charity's register entry does not list Parks for Play as a working name. The precise current relationship between Parks for Play and Friends of Coronation Road Playground is not evidenced.
- The available evidence supports one principal Selly Oak-area site, but does not establish that the charity itself currently delivers services across other Birmingham wards. References to Birmingham-wide beneficiaries in partner material should not be treated as evidence of the charity's own citywide operation.
- The registered address has not been treated as an operational site, because the available evidence identifies Coronation Road Playcentre rather than the correspondence address as the relevant venue.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report, trustees' update, or official programme information confirming whether Friends of Coronation Road Playground is actively operating and what it directly delivers.
- Official confirmation of whether Parks for Play is a trading name, successor, subsidiary, tenant, or separate partner organisation.
- A current venue timetable or booking information identifying which activities at Coronation Road Playcentre are delivered or funded directly by the charity.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Disability
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Other Finance
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A community support layer around a playcentre
The organisation appears to function as a friends group that mobilises parents and carers to resource and reinforce Coronation Road Playcentre, rather than primarily delivering play services itself.
Why it matters
This distinguishes it from a conventional youth provider: its influence may lie in sustaining a shared local asset and giving users' families a practical role in its development.
Show evidence
“Friends is set up and run by parents and carers of children using Coronation Road Playcentre.”
Source:Organisation“We support the centre by fundraising for play equipment, disco's, parties and coach hire for day trips.”
Source:Organisation
Inclusion is central, but the delivery model is indirect
The organisation’s purpose appears to be widening and improving access to inclusive play, including for disabled children, chiefly by enabling the environment and activities rather than by claiming specialist delivery itself.
Why it matters
This suggests its value may depend on partnership with the playcentre and on whether fundraising priorities translate into genuinely accessible participation.
Show evidence
“We aim to support and encourage open access fully inclusive play opportunities in a safe and secure environment for children aged 5-12 yrs old.”
Source:Organisation“The charity helps Children/young People, People With Disabilities.”
Source:Charity Commission
A place-based response to unequal leisure access
Its charitable purpose suggests the playground is understood not simply as recreation, but as a local intervention for children whose age or social and economic circumstances limit access to suitable leisure opportunities.
Why it matters
This frames trips, equipment and social events as part of a broader wellbeing infrastructure for Selly Oak children, rather than optional extras.
Show evidence
“The association shall be the provision of supervised facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation for children resident in Selly Oak, Birmingham.”
Source:Charity Commission“Such children have by reason of their youth or social and economic circumstances.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the group directly provides any supervision, services or human resources, or solely supports the playcentre.
- How many children benefit, including disabled children and children facing economic barriers.
- How the group relates formally to Coronation Road Playcentre and other Selly Oak organisations.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent accounts, fundraising priorities and records of equipment or activities funded.
- Information from the playcentre on governance, referrals, attendance, accessibility and partner organisations.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Friends is set up and run by parents and carers of children using Coronation Road Playcentre. We aim to support and encourage open access fully inclusive play opportunties in a safe and secure environment for children aged 5-12 yrs old in and around the Selly Oak area of Birmingham. We support the centre by fundraising for play equipment, disco's, parties and coach hire for day trips.
Charity objects
THE OBJECT OF THE ASSOCIATION SHALL BE THE PROVISION OF SUPERVISED FACILITIES FOR RECREATION AND OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION FOR CHILDREN RESIDENT IN SELLY OAK, BIRMINGHAM BEING FACILITIES: (A) OF WHICH SUCH CHILDREN HAVE BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES. (B) WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR SUCH CHILDREN BY PROMOTING THEIR PHYSICAL MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL BEING.