Friends Of Woodlands

Charity 1021773

www.woodlandsadventure.co.uk

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

Friends Of Woodlands appears to be a support charity embedded around a specific outdoor-learning site rather than a standalone provider with a broad independent programme. Its role is to mobilise funding and supporter relationships for Woodlands Camp, while the associated Woodlands Adventure operation delivers inclusive residential and non-residential activities. This creates a distinctive model in which charitable support, a legacy community of visitors and supporters, and practical outdoor education appear to reinforce one another.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: Regional

Operational areas:

    Evidence and reasoning
    Supporting evidence
    Remaining uncertainties
    • No direct evidence identifies a current service-delivery site or programme within any supplied Birmingham ward or the City Centre.
    • The Charity Commission records Birmingham City and Staffordshire as the charity's areas of operation, but does not identify neighbourhoods, venues, beneficiaries' locations or the nature and scale of activity in Birmingham.
    • The Birmingham correspondence address cannot safely be treated as an operational site.
    • Woodlands Adventure's published activity centre is outside Birmingham. The available evidence supports Friends of Woodlands' connection to and support for that camp, but does not establish that Friends of Woodlands itself delivers services there.
    • The charity reported £0 income and £0 expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2025. This creates uncertainty about the extent of current active operations despite its registered status and current website-linked contact details.
    Additional evidence needed
    • A current statement from Friends of Woodlands or its trustees explaining whether it presently undertakes fundraising, volunteer support or grant-making, and where those activities occur.
    • The charity's latest annual return or supporting activity information identifying the Birmingham locations, if any, in which it currently operates.
    • Confirmation of the operational relationship between Friends of Woodlands, Woodlands Adventure and The Birmingham Boys & Girls Union, including which body delivers activities at the Aldridge site.
    • Evidence of any current Birmingham-based membership, fundraising events, partner delivery or administrative activity that is more specific than the correspondence address.

    Areas of work

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Amateur Sport
    • Animals
    • Disability
    • Education/training
    • Environment/conservation/heritage
    • General Charitable Purposes

    Who they help

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Children/young People
    • People With Disabilities
    • The General Public/mankind

    How they help

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Makes Grants To Organisations
    • Provides Human Resources

    Discoveries involving this organisation

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

    Observations

    Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

    • A charity built around one shared place

      The charity appears to exist principally as a sustaining vehicle for Woodlands Camp, concentrating its fundraising, supporter network and resources on improving a single outdoor-learning asset.

      Why it matters

      This suggests its value may lie less in operating a wide range of services and more in preserving and strengthening a place that other groups use for education, recreation and inclusion.

      Show evidence

      • “TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC BY THE PROMOTION, SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF WOODLANDS CAMP”

        Source:Charity Commission

      • “Raise funds for Woodlands Camp through establishing a membership from past and present supporters and visitors”

        Source:Charity Commission

    • Supporter relationships may be part of the operating model

      Membership of past and present supporters and visitors may indicate that the organisation draws on long-term attachment to the site, not only conventional grant or fee income.

      Why it matters

      This could make the charity a bridge between current users and an accumulated community of people with a stake in the camp's future, potentially creating resilience and advocacy beyond direct service delivery.

      Show evidence

      • “Raise funds for Woodlands Camp through establishing a membership from past and present supporters and visitors”

        Source:Charity Commission

      • “Woodlands Adventure offers both residential and non-residential outdoor activities for school trips, youth and uniform groups, colleges and universities and sports/social clubs”

        Source:Organisation

    • Inclusion is presented as integral, not peripheral

      The available evidence suggests that access for disabled children, disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs is positioned within the core outdoor-activity offer rather than as a separate specialist programme.

      Why it matters

      This may make Woodlands Camp an important shared setting where educational, disability and youth-group needs intersect, creating potential for partnerships with schools, disability organisations and youth services.

      Show evidence

      • “We cater for all groups of children, including the disadvantaged, disabled and those with special educational needs.”

        Source:Organisation

      • “Who the charity helps: Children/young People, People With Disabilities, The General Public/mankind”

        Source:Charity Commission

      Remaining uncertainties

    • Whether Friends Of Woodlands is legally or operationally separate from the Woodlands Adventure activity centre and The Birmingham Boys & Girls Union.
    • How funds, grants and human resources are used in practice, and which groups benefit most.
    • Whether membership creates active volunteering, governance input or only financial support.

      Additional evidence needed

    • Recent annual reports and accounts showing income sources, expenditure and grants or resources provided to Woodlands Camp.
    • Governance and organisational relationship information linking Friends Of Woodlands, Woodlands Adventure and The Birmingham Boys & Girls Union.
    • Participation, accessibility and outcome data for disabled, disadvantaged and special educational needs groups.
    Charity Commission profile
    Source:Charity Commission

    Activities

    Promotion and support, assistance and improvement of Woodlands Camp. Raise funds for Woodlands Camp through establishing a membership from past and present supporters and visitors

    Charity objects

    TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC BY THE PROMOTION, SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF WOODLANDS CAMP