Make It Sustainable Ltd
Charity 1153298
Overview
Summary
Make It Sustainable Ltd appears to use The Old Print Works as a place-based platform for building a creative, lower-carbon local economy in Balsall Heath. Its distinctive role is not only to provide space, but to turn a historic building into shared infrastructure for making, learning, cultural activity and informal collaboration. The organisation’s unusually broad charitable objects suggest it is designed to connect environmental sustainability with inclusion, heritage, employment and community wellbeing.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Balsall Heath West
Confidence: high
Make It Sustainable directly operates The Old Print Works in Balsall Heath, as an active site for studios, co-working, meetings, exhibitions, events and skills-based activity. Birmingham City Council planning records for part of this operational site record the ward as Balsall Heath West.
- The Old Print Works website — Welcome page
The organisation describes The Old Print Works as a community in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, providing studio, meeting, exhibition, event and co-working space, and promoting creative and cultural activity. - The Old Print Works website — Getting to The Old Print Works
The site states that it is based in Balsall Heath and identifies spaces used for co-working, meetings, studio partners, the GAP Arts Project, MIX Cafe, exhibitions and other activities. - The Old Print Works website — Collaborate
Make It Sustainable says many charitable aims are delivered through partnerships at The Old Print Works and describes its intended legacy as being for the Balsall Heath community. It is a founder member of the monthly Balsall Heath Second Saturday festival. - The Old Print Works website — Believe in Balsall Heath
The organisation is part of the Birmingham City Council-funded Believe in Balsall Heath collaborative arts and heritage initiative with the MIAH Foundation, GAP Arts Project, Fruit & Nut Village and Balsall Heath Local History Society. - Birmingham City Council Planning Explorer — application 2022/00429/PA
The Council record identifies Make It Sustainable Ltd as applicant for works at part of The Old Print Works site and records the ward as Balsall Heath West.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available current evidence identifies one principal operational site and neighbourhood-facing partnerships in Balsall Heath, but does not establish regular direct delivery from additional Birmingham sites.
- The Old Print Works describes itself as the Birmingham hub for Sustainable Fashion Week. This indicates a Birmingham-facing convening role, but the available evidence locates the listed activities at The Old Print Works rather than demonstrating delivery across multiple wards.
- Studio partners and collaborating organisations may undertake their own work elsewhere, but this should not be attributed to Make It Sustainable's direct operational footprint without evidence that it commissions, manages or delivers that work.
Additional evidence needed
- The latest trustees' annual report or impact report specifying the locations of all projects and events delivered during the most recent reporting year.
- A current programme or project plan identifying any off-site delivery venues, commissioned activities or formal delivery partnerships outside Balsall Heath West.
- Confirmation from the organisation of whether its Birmingham hub role for Sustainable Fashion Week includes delivery at venues beyond The Old Print Works.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- Environment/conservation/heritage
- Recreation
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A building-based model for local resilience
The organisation appears to treat workspace, event space and shared facilities as active tools for community development, rather than as a passive property offer. The historic building may provide a practical meeting point through which skills, relationships and local economic activity can accumulate.
Why it matters
This helps explain how the charity may pursue several objectives at once: a physical hub can support creative practice, education, recreation and cooperation in ways that separate programmes may not.
Show evidence
“The Old Print Works is a reinvented historic building providing spaces for work and leisure in Balsall Heath.”
Source:Organisation“It provides studio, meeting, exhibition, event and co-working space.”
Source:Organisation“The charity helps by providing buildings, facilities or open space and services.”
Source:Charity Commission
Sustainability is framed as social and economic, not only environmental
The available evidence suggests that sustainability is understood as a combined environmental, social and economic project, with making skills and local cooperation positioned as mechanisms for resilience.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the organisation from a narrowly environmental charity and indicates potential relevance to employment, poverty, cultural participation and neighbourhood development partners.
Show evidence
“Make It Sustainable aims to fuel a creative, low-carbon, local economy through teaching, sharing and using making skills and promoting local resilience and cooperation.”
Source:Organisation“Its objects include environmental protection, poverty relief, improved conditions of life in disadvantaged communities, and sustainable economic growth and regeneration.”
Source:Charity Commission
The organisation may function as a cultural connector
Its emphasis on mutual skill sharing, exhibitions and a monthly mini-festival suggests a role in linking individual makers, artists and local audiences, potentially strengthening a wider neighbourhood cultural ecosystem.
Why it matters
The most significant value may lie partly in relationships created between users of the space, rather than only in the facilities or events themselves.
Show evidence
“The Old Print Works describes itself as a diverse and welcoming community that believes in the transformative power of making and creativity.”
Source:Organisation“It is a founder member of Balsall Heath Second Saturday, a monthly mini-festival.”
Source:Organisation“Its objects include advancing education through arts and artistic expressions reflecting the local community.”
Source:Charity Commission
- It is unclear who uses the spaces and whether disadvantaged groups benefit directly.
- There is no evidence of the organisation’s financial model, partnerships, reach or measurable outcomes.
- The relationship between Make It Sustainable Ltd and The Old Print Works is not fully specified.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or impact evidence showing participants, tenants, beneficiaries and outcomes.
- Information on partners, governance, income sources and how space access is made affordable or inclusive.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Make It Sustainable is a charity that aims to fuel a creative, low-carbon, local economy through teaching, sharing and using making skills and promoting local resilience and cooperation. The Old Print Works is a reinvented historic building providing bespoke, versatile and fun spaces for work and leisure in the heart of Balsall Heath, giving endless reasons to meet, learn, collaborate and grow.
Charity objects
1. TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BY:(A) THE PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PRUDENT USE OF RESOURCES; (B) THE RELIEF OF POVERTY AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES; (C) THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE MEANS OF ACHIEVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REGENERATION. 2. TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN SUBJECTS RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROTECTION, ENHANCEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO PROMOTE STUDY AND RESEARCH IN SUCH SUBJECTS PROVIDED THAT THE USEFUL RESULTS OF SUCH STUDY ARE DISSEMINATED TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MEANS “DEVELOPMENT WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS.” 3. TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE SUBJECT OF HISTORY, ART, ARCHITECTURE THROUGH THE STUDY OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS. 4. TO PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF BIRMINGHAM AND THE MIDLANDS 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. 5. THE RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC IN SUCH WAYS AS MAY BE THOUGHT FIT, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. 6. TO PROMOTE MAINTAIN IMPROVE AND ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF, BY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ARTS IN ALL FORMS AMONGST THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING ARTISTS, OF BIRMINGHAM THROUGH THE VARIOUS ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS, SUCH AS DRAMA, MUSIC AND EXHIBITIONS OF WORK, OF THE DIFFERENT CULTURES WHICH REFLECT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY