Nigel Harris Sports Foundation
Charity 1173034
www.nigelharrisfoundation.org.uk
Overview
Summary
The Nigel Harris Sports Foundation appears to be a small, trustee-led local funder and enabler of sport for children facing disadvantage, centred mainly on Walsall. Rather than operating a broad programme of its own, it seems to create opportunities through sponsorship, joint funding and partnerships with delivery organisations. Its stated purpose combines sport with wider aims around confidence, aspiration and life chances. Available material also suggests a mix of inclusive group activity and selective support for individual young athletes, though the current scale and continuity of delivery are unclear.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence: the Charity Commission records Birmingham City among the places where the charity operates, but neither the register entry nor the 2024/25 trustees' annual report identifies a Birmingham venue, ward, neighbourhood, delivery partner or beneficiary location.
- Direct evidence: the latest trustees' report, covering 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, records sponsorship of a Coventry-based youth darts team and an individual boxer in Walsall. It does not record Birmingham activity during that period.
- Reasonable interpretation: the foundation has a regional, partnership-led grant-making and sponsorship model across parts of the West Midlands rather than a Birmingham neighbourhood, district or citywide delivery infrastructure.
- The foundation's website retains project material concerning a Walsall Housing Group girls' football project, a Walsall-campus judo course and Aldridge golf activity, but the pages do not establish that these projects remain active in 2026.
- There is no evidence of a physical operational site in Birmingham. The Charity Commission records a correspondence/principal address, and states that the charity does not own or lease land or property.
- Because Birmingham City is reported at local-authority level only, no supplied Birmingham ward or recognised place can be included confidently as a current operational area.
Additional evidence needed
- A current (2025/26) delivery, grant or sponsorship log naming Birmingham projects and delivery dates.
- Confirmation from the foundation of any active Birmingham partners and whether funding is for Birmingham-based activity, Birmingham residents, or wider regional participation.
- A current annual report or impact report that disaggregates activity within Birmingham by ward, neighbourhood or venue.
- Evidence of any regular Birmingham venue, outreach base or commissioned programme, if one exists.
Areas of work
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Other Charitable Activities
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A partnership-led route into sport
The Foundation appears to function principally as a small enabling funder: using partnerships and sponsorship to make activities accessible, rather than presenting itself as a direct sports provider.
Why it matters
This helps identify its likely civic role as a connector between resources, specialist providers and young people, making the quality and reach of its relationships central to its impact.
Show evidence
“We work in partnership with individuals or organisations who provide quality sporting activities for children and young people.”
Source:Organisation“The Foundation are proud to be joint funding this girls football project in partnership with Walsall Housing Group.”
Source:Organisation“Makes Grants To Individuals, Makes Grants To Organisations.”
Source:Charity Commission
Sport is framed as a route to wider inclusion
Sport appears to be treated not only as recreation or fitness, but as a practical means of improving confidence, aspiration and life chances for children described as marginalised.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the Foundation from a conventional sports club or performance-focused funder and suggests that social outcomes should be considered alongside participation numbers.
Show evidence
“The Foundation will promote charitable purposes for underprivileged children, including advancing education, developing capacities and capabilities, and advancing amateur sport.”
Source:Charity Commission“The Foundation is hoping to give the children the opportunity to participate in sporting activities with a view to potentially raising their self-esteem and aspirations, as well as, their fitness levels.”
Source:Organisation
A potentially broad inclusion remit, with a locally narrow footprint
The Foundation's remit appears wider than any single activity type or beneficiary pathway, but the documented work is concentrated mainly in Walsall and includes looked-after children, girls' football and individual athlete support.
Why it matters
This suggests an organisation able to respond flexibly to varied needs, while raising a useful question about whether its local network determines which children and sports are reached.
Show evidence
“Sporting activities for children and young people from age 5 - 16 mainly within Walsall.”
Source:Organisation“Past activities have included a two day golfing event for Looked after Children, 10 week Judo course and football course for girls.”
Source:Organisation“Ben Higgins was supported by the Nigel Harris Sports Foundation during his athletics season.”
Source:Organisation
- The evidence does not show current programme volume, beneficiary numbers, grant values or frequency of activity after 2019.
- It is unclear how children are identified, referred or selected, and whether the Foundation reaches communities beyond established partner networks.
- There is no outcome evidence showing whether participation changes confidence, health, aspiration or longer-term opportunities.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports, accounts and activity updates showing grants, partners, locations, sports and numbers of children supported.
- Information on referral routes, eligibility criteria and the Foundation's approach to safeguarding, disability inclusion and looked-after children.
- Feedback or outcome data from children, families and delivery partners, including evidence of sustained participation and wider benefits.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
We work in partnership with individuals or organisations who provide quality sporting activities for children and young people from age 5 - 16 mainly within Walsall. Past activities have included a two day golfing event for Looked after Children, 10 week Judo course and football course for girls.
Charity objects
THE FOUNDATION WILL PROMOTE ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE FOR THE BENEFIT OF UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN WHO ARE OFTEN DESCRIBED AS LIVING ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY: - ADVANCING EDUCATION (INCLUDING PHYSICAL EDUCATION); - ADVANCING IN LIFE, HELPING AND DEVELOPING THEIR CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES; AND BY - ADVANCING AMATEUR SPORT (SPORTS AND GAMES THAT PROMOTE HEALTH BY INVOLVING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL SKILL OR EXERTION) IN PARTICULAR BY PROVIDING SPORTING ACTIVITIES FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN AGED FROM 5 - 16 YEARS OLD WITHIN THE WEST MIDLANDS AREA.