Noah'S Ark Children'S Venture
Charity 1061676
Overview
Summary
Noah's Ark Children's Venture appears to operate as a specialist residential access charity: it provides an affordable rural setting and facilities to organisations working with disadvantaged or disabled children, young people and adults, rather than delivering a narrowly defined programme itself. Its role seems to be enabling other groups to create developmental experiences outside participants' usual environments. The organisation combines accommodation, outdoor grounds and onsite activities with a long-standing, relationship-based offer oriented particularly toward groups connected to Lewisham.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission currently lists Birmingham City among the places where the charity operates, but the available public evidence does not identify any Birmingham service venue, project location, ward, or City Centre activity.
- The organisation's official website presents its delivery model as residential accommodation and onsite activities at Macaroni Wood, Eastleach, Gloucestershire. It does not describe a Birmingham-based site or service.
- It is unclear whether the Birmingham City listing reflects Birmingham-based groups using the Gloucestershire residential facility, a partnership arrangement, occasional activity, or direct delivery within Birmingham.
- No current material partnership with a Birmingham organisation was evidenced. Testimonials on the website identify guest groups but do not establish ongoing operational partnerships or Birmingham delivery.
- The evidence supports a regional overall footprint: the Charity Commission lists Birmingham City, Gloucestershire and throughout London, while the identified physical site is in Gloucestershire. It does not support assigning activity to any supplied Birmingham ward or recognised place.
Additional evidence needed
- The latest trustees' annual report or operational/booking data showing the locations of groups served and whether any services are delivered within Birmingham.
- Official confirmation from the charity of any current Birmingham-based projects, venues, referral partners, contracts, or regular user organisations.
- Evidence identifying the specific Birmingham wards or places in which any direct activity occurs, if Birmingham groups are served beyond visits to Macaroni Wood.
Areas of work
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
An enabling charity rather than a direct-service provider
The available evidence suggests that NACV's main operating model is to strengthen the work of other charities, schools and social-care groups by supplying a low-cost residential environment they can use with their own participants.
Why it matters
This positions NACV as shared civic infrastructure. Its impact may extend beyond its own staffing and programmes because it helps multiple frontline organisations deliver experiences they might otherwise be unable to afford.
Show evidence
“It offers well-equipped, low cost residential accommodation for groups working with client groups.”
Source:Organisation“NACV provides high quality, low cost residential facilities for groups who work with children, young people and adults from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Source:Charity Commission
Distance from everyday pressures may be part of the intervention
Its peaceful rural location, grounds and onsite activities appear to be more than accommodation features: they may create a deliberately contrasting setting for groups whose participants experience disadvantage, disability or difficult urban circumstances.
Why it matters
This suggests NACV's distinctive contribution may lie in environmental change and safe shared experiences, not simply in inexpensive beds. It would be useful to assess outcomes linked to confidence, relationships, wellbeing and access to nature.
Show evidence
“The accommodation is in a peaceful rural setting with onsite activities, grounds and animals.”
Source:Organisation“A guest group said the setting makes children step back from the aggression and speed of their normal lives.”
Source:Organisation
A London-to-rural access bridge
NACV appears to connect groups from Lewisham and elsewhere with a rural Gloucestershire site, potentially addressing unequal access to residential and nature-based experiences.
Why it matters
This geographic role may make the organisation a valuable partner for urban youth, family-support, disability and education organisations, while also creating practical dependencies on transport, referral relationships and affordability.
Show evidence
“The charity supports groups working with disadvantaged backgrounds from the London Borough of Lewisham and elsewhere.”
Source:Charity Commission“Macaroni Wood is in Eastleach, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.”
Source:Organisation
- Which organisations use the site most often, and whether Lewisham remains its principal referral area.
- How low-cost provision is funded and whether affordability limits demand or access.
- What outcomes visitors experience beyond positive testimonials.
Remaining uncertainties
- Annual reports or service data showing visitor numbers, group types, geography, repeat use and subsidy arrangements.
- Participant and partner feedback, plus outcome evaluation on wellbeing, learning, inclusion and access to nature.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
NACV provides high quality, low cost residential facilities for groups who work with children, young people and adults from disadvantaged backgrounds from the London Borough of Lewisham and elsewhere.
Charity objects
2.1 The Charity's objects are restricted specifically only for the public benefit are the provision of facilities for the recreation and other leisure time occupation for children being facilities: (i) Of which children and others have need by reason of their youth, disability, poverty, or social and economic circumstances, (ii) Which will improve the conditions of life for such children and others by promoting their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing, and (iii) To assist in such ways as the charity trustees think fit, any charity, social care or education organisation in the United Kingdom whose aims include the advancing of education of persons under the age of 25 years in conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment