Holford Drive Community Sports Hub
Charity 1153926
Overview
Summary
Holford Drive Community Sports Hub appears to use a community-controlled sports site as more than a venue: it is a platform for youth development, health, local connection and practical opportunity in Perry Barr and Aston. Its stated model combines accessible facilities, organised activity, volunteer stewardship and pathways into coaching, work experience and volunteering. The organisation’s distinctive role may lie in reaching people who are less readily engaged by conventional services while strengthening a shared local asset.
Operational geography
No operational geography is currently available for this organisation.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- Recreation
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Sport is positioned as a route into wider social development
The available evidence suggests that sport is the Hub’s primary engagement mechanism rather than its sole intended outcome. It appears to connect recreation with young people’s confidence, skills, responsibility, employment exposure and diversionary support.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the Hub from a conventional sports provider. Its potential civic value depends not only on participation levels, but on whether sporting relationships create credible routes into development and support.
Show evidence
“The charity aims to help young people develop skills, capacities and capabilities to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.”
Source:Charity Commission“The Hub provides work experience for young people, coaching development pathways, volunteering opportunities and interventions such as knife crime awareness.”
Source:Organisation
The Hub appears to be a locally stewarded civic asset
The evidence indicates an operating model built around a community-maintained site, with volunteers contributing to its upkeep and facilities generating opportunities for both activity and hire. This may make the physical asset central to the organisation’s identity and resilience.
Why it matters
Understanding the Hub as an asset steward highlights dependencies and opportunities that are easily missed: volunteer capacity, maintenance demands, accessible space and venue hire may all shape its ability to sustain social outcomes.
Show evidence
“The site was taken from a semi-derelict playing field to a community maintained multi-sports facility via Community Asset Transfer.”
Source:Organisation“The site is largely maintained by community volunteers.”
Source:Organisation
Its intended reach is broad, but youth may be the strategic focal point
Although the charity formally serves children, older people, disabled people and the public, the website gives particular emphasis to young people, schools, Looked After Children and families. This may indicate a broad-access facility with a youth-centred strategic purpose.
Why it matters
This potential tension is useful when assessing who benefits in practice. A broad charitable remit can support inclusive provision, while a youth focus may concentrate resources where the Hub believes it can make its strongest contribution.
Show evidence
“The charity helps children and young people, elderly people, people with disabilities, other charities or voluntary bodies and the general public.”
Source:Charity Commission“The Hub works closely with local schools, Looked After Children, other youth facilities and local families.”
Source:Organisation
- Which groups use the facilities most, and whether older people and disabled people experience comparable access and benefit.
- How sustained the claimed youth, health, employment and safety outcomes are.
- Which partnerships are active beyond the referenced schools, youth facilities and families.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent participant, membership and booking data broken down by age, disability, locality and activity.
- Outcome evidence, annual reports and details of partner organisations, funding and volunteer capacity.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
For the benefit of the inhabitants of Perry Barr and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for recreation and community participation in healthy recreation by providing facilities and organising activities for sport. Help young people through recreation to develop skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.
Charity objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY (THE "OBJECTS") ARE: 3.1 TO PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF PERRY BARR, ASTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABLEMENT, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OR FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF LIFE OF THE SAID INHABITANTS. 3.2 TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HEALTHY RECREATION BY PROVIDING AND PROMOTING FACILITIES AND ORGANISING ACTIVITIES FOR THE PLAYING OF SPORT. 3.3 TO ADVANCE IN LIFE AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH: (A) THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES PROVIDED IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIAL WELFARE, DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE; (B) PROVIDING SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES WHICH DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS.