Middlemore Educational Foundation
Charity 528971
www.middlemoreeducationalfoundation.org.uk
Overview
Summary
Middlemore Educational Foundation appears to be a small, place-rooted educational access fund rather than a provider of teaching or services. Its role is to remove practical financial barriers at pivotal transitions into further study, vocational training and work. It combines a Birmingham/West Midlands focus with an unusual membership-based connection to the Birmingham and Midland Institute, suggesting that its civic identity is shaped both by geography and by a longstanding institutional relationship.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence supports grant-making to eligible individuals connected to Birmingham, and the foundation's website extends eligibility to people with a connection to the West Midlands. This indicates a grant-making reach beyond Birmingham, but does not identify where current grant recipients live or study.
- No current evidence identifies a service venue, office, regularly used delivery site, or grant-making activity in any specific Birmingham ward or in the recognised City Centre place.
- The foundation describes itself as 'based in Birmingham', but its current registered contact address is in Tenbury Wells. The available evidence does not establish that it maintains a physical operational base in Birmingham.
- The Birmingham and Midland Institute is referenced as a source of beneficiary eligibility and shares trustee links with the foundation, but the evidence does not establish a current delivery partnership, a foundation-operated site at the Institute, or grant activity taking place there.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report or grant-award record showing the locations of recipients, educational institutions, or referral sources would establish whether grants are concentrated in particular Birmingham wards or operate across the city.
- Confirmation from the foundation of any Birmingham meeting, administrative or delivery location would be needed before recording a physical site or a City Centre operational area.
- Evidence of a formal current arrangement with the Birmingham and Midland Institute, including any joint activity or use of its premises, would be needed before treating that relationship as a material operational partnership.
Areas of work
- Education/training
Who they help
- Children/young People
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
It funds the overlooked costs of progression
The foundation appears to concentrate on the material costs that can prevent a person from converting an educational opportunity into actual participation, such as clothing, books, tools and instruments. This suggests a role complementary to mainstream student finance, which may not reliably cover these transition costs.
Why it matters
This clarifies that its potential value is not only paying for education, but reducing the smaller practical barriers that can disproportionately disrupt progression for people facing financial hardship.
Show evidence
“The objects allow financial assistance, outfits, clothing, tools, instruments or books to help beneficiaries prepare for or enter a profession, trade or calling.”
Source:Charity Commission“Grants can cover uniforms, clothing, tools, instruments or books.”
Source:Organisation
Its local remit is broader in practice than in its original framing
The available evidence suggests an evolution from a Birmingham-defined charitable area toward a wider Birmingham and West Midlands eligibility model, while retaining Birmingham as the foundation's central identity.
Why it matters
This may affect who sees the foundation as relevant and which local education, apprenticeship and youth-support organisations could connect potential applicants to it.
Show evidence
“Activities describe grants for people born in Birmingham with a connection to Birmingham.”
Source:Charity Commission“Applicants can have a strong connection to Birmingham or the West Midlands and have lived in the area for at least five years.”
Source:Organisation
It has a distinctive institutional pathway beyond place-based eligibility
Preference for Birmingham and Midland Institute members, including those living outside the area, may make the foundation partly a legacy-linked educational resource as well as a geographically targeted grant-maker.
Why it matters
This creates a potentially overlooked referral route through an institution and may mean the foundation's beneficiary network extends beyond the region in ways not visible from its local-facing mission.
Show evidence
“Preference is to be given where suitable to members of the Birmingham and Midland Institute wherever they may be resident.”
Source:Charity Commission“Applications from members of the Birmingham and Midland Institute may be considered regardless of their current place of residence.”
Source:Organisation
- The number, value and frequency of grants are not available.
- It is unclear which education routes, age groups or communities receive grants in practice.
- The relationship with the Birmingham and Midland Institute is not explained.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or grant records showing awards by amount, purpose, geography and beneficiary characteristics.
- Current governing documents and eligibility guidance clarifying the Birmingham, West Midlands and Birmingham and Midland Institute criteria.
- Evidence of referral partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers or youth organisations.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Grants made to individuals for further education for those born in Birmingham, with a connection with Birmingham and under the age of 35 years
Charity objects
THE NET YEARLY INCOME SHALL BE APPIED BY THE TRUSTEES IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS FOR THE BENEFIT OF PERSON WHO HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 25 YEARS, WHO IN THE OPINION OF THE TRUSTEES, ARE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ARE RESIDENT IN THE BENEFICIAL AREA; PROVIDED THAT PREFERENCE BE GIVEN WHERE SUITABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE WHEREVER THEY MAY BE RESIDENT; (A) THE PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION BY MEANS OF EXHIBITIONS TENABLE AT ANY SECONDARY SCHOOL, TRAINING COLLEGE FOR TEACHERS, UNIVERSITY, OR OTHER INSTITUTE OF FURTHER (INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL) EDUCATION. (B) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, OUTFITS, CLOTHING, TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS OR BOOKS TO ENABLE BENEFICIARIES ON LEAVING SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OR ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT, TO PREPARE FOR, OR TO ASSIST THEIR ENTRY INTO, A PROFESSION, TRADE OR CALLING; (C) OTHERWISE PROMOTING THE EDUCATION (INCLUDING SOCIAL AND PHYSCIAL TRAINING) OF BENEFICIARIES.