Norton Hall Children And Family Centre

Charity 1112752

www.nortonhall.org.uk

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

Norton Hall Children And Family Centre appears to be a neighbourhood-based family-support organisation that combines childcare, youth provision, women’s economic support and shared community facilities. Its role is broader than delivering individual services: it seems designed to reduce barriers that can compound across family life, particularly for disadvantaged women, children and young people. The organisation’s mix of provision suggests an operating model rooted in practical support, accessible local space and opportunities for longer-term participation.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: Multi Neighbourhood

Operational areas:

Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Alum Rock

Confidence: high

Direct evidence from the organisation’s current website identifies Alum Rock as one of the two areas in which it works.

  • Norton Hall Children & Family Centre, About Us page
    The charity describes itself as a community-based organisation working in the Ward End and Alum Rock areas of Birmingham.
  • Ofsted, Norton Hall Children and Family Centre provider record
    Ofsted lists Norton Hall Children and Family Centre as an open, registered childcare provider.
Ward End

Confidence: high

Direct evidence shows a second operational base at the Dolphin Women’s Centre/Lakeside Café in Ward End Park. The organisation delivers regular women’s education, employability, health and wellbeing activity there, while its WASH environmental project is explicitly based there and focused on Ward End Park. Named partner activity reinforces, rather than merely implies, an operational presence in this ward.

  • Norton Hall Children & Family Centre, Dolphin Women’s Centre page
    The organisation states that the Dolphin Women’s Centre is based by the lake in Ward End Park and provides local women with education, training, employment, health and wellbeing support; regular activities take place at the centre and the Lakeside Café.
  • Norton Hall Children & Family Centre, WASH Project page
    The WASH Project is centred on Ward End Park, is based at the Dolphin Women’s Centre and Lakeside Café, and delivers events, courses, volunteering and outdoor learning focused on the park and lake.
  • Birmingham City Council planning application 2021/10608/PA
    The council identifies the Dolphin Centre at Ward End Park as a Norton Hall Children and Family Centre project site, records the ward as Ward End, and describes proposed community, café and training facilities.
  • Norton Hall Children & Family Centre, WASH Project page
    The project names Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, Friends of Ward End Park and New Leaf Sustainable Development as partners in year-round community-led activity.
Remaining uncertainties
  • The conclusion that the organisation is multi-neighbourhood rather than district-wide is a reasonable interpretation of current evidence: its own description centres on Ward End and Alum Rock, and the evidenced delivery sites are in those two wards. This does not establish that all current activity is confined to them.
  • The organisation’s charitable objects refer more broadly to Birmingham and to Hodge Hill, Ladywood and Small Heath constituencies, but these are purposes and areas of benefit rather than direct evidence of current service delivery in every relevant ward.
  • The WASH Project mentions outings and trips, but the available evidence does not identify their locations. They should not be treated as evidence of regular operations in additional wards.
  • Partner organisations extend the range of expertise available through Ward End activity, but the reviewed evidence does not show Norton Hall routinely delivering services from partner sites elsewhere in Birmingham.
Additional evidence needed
  • A current annual report, service-delivery plan or monitoring return that lists each project and its delivery venue.
  • Current programme timetables for children’s, youth, holiday-care and outreach services, including any school or community venues used away from the identified bases.
  • Confirmation from the organisation of whether any services are delivered regularly outside Alum Rock and Ward End, and whether the two identified bases remain its only operational sites.

Areas of work

Source:Charity Commission
  • Amateur Sport
  • Arts/culture/heritage/science
  • Economic/community Development/employment
  • Education/training
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

Who they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Children/young People
  • Other Defined Groups
  • People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin

How they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
  • Provides Services

Discoveries involving this organisation

The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.

Observations

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

  • A family-centred response to interconnected disadvantage

    The available evidence suggests the organisation treats children’s outcomes, parental capacity and women’s economic participation as connected rather than separate issues. Childcare, youth work, personal development and support into employment appear to form a linked offer.

    Why it matters

    This helps explain why its activities span several charitable categories: the organisation may be addressing the conditions around family wellbeing, not only providing care or recreation.

    Show evidence

    • “The objects include childcare, children’s play provision, youth work, education and training, and support for women into employment and enterprise.”

      Source:Charity Commission

    • “The charity works towards children and young people fulfilling their potential and parents and guardians being equipped to support their families.”

      Source:Organisation

  • Childcare may function as local social infrastructure

    The community nursery, out-of-school care, holiday provision and facilities suggest childcare may be a foundation for wider engagement with families, rather than a stand-alone service.

    Why it matters

    If so, the centre may hold relationships with families at moments when support needs, aspirations and barriers become visible—making it a potential connector to education, advice and employment opportunities.

    Show evidence

    • “The objects include providing a community nursery and out-of-school childcare aimed at meeting the needs of low income families.”

      Source:Charity Commission

    • “The charity manages a Community Nursery, Out of School and Holiday Care Project, support services for local women, and community facilities.”

      Source:Organisation

  • A place-based organisation with a potentially wider catchment

    The organisation is explicitly focused on disadvantaged residents in Hodge Hill, Ladywood and Small Heath, while also providing facilities for the wider community. This may indicate a targeted mission delivered through an inclusive local asset.

    Why it matters

    This tension is useful for understanding its role: it may need to balance focused support for priority groups with maintaining a welcoming, shared community presence.

    Show evidence

    • “The area of benefit includes the Hodge Hill, Ladywood and Small Heath constituencies.”

      Source:Charity Commission

    • “The objects include providing facilities beneficial for the wider community in the area of benefit.”

      Source:Charity Commission

    Remaining uncertainties

  • How the different projects connect in practice and whether families move between them.
  • Which communities are most reached, and whether any intended groups are underserved.
  • Whether the centre works through formal partnerships with schools, health services, employers or other local organisations.

    Additional evidence needed

  • Recent service data showing participant numbers, demographics, repeat engagement and outcomes across projects.
  • Information on referral pathways, partner organisations and the use of its community facilities.
Charity Commission profile
Source:Charity Commission

Activities

Working towards a community where children and young people are able to fulfill their potential and parents & guardians are equipped to support their families. The charity manages a variety of projects including Community Nursery, Out of School & Holiday Care Project, Positive Activities for Young People, support services for local women, & a range of evening/weekend sports & community facilities

Charity objects

1. TO RELIEVE POVERTY AND ADVANCE HEALTH AND EDUCATION IN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, AND IN PARTICULAR TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF DISADVANTAGED WOMEN, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE HODGE HILL, LADYWOOD AND SMALL HEATH CONSTITUENCIES, BY (WITHOUT EXCLUDING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING); A) PROVIDING A COMMUNITY NURSERY AND PROVISION FOR OUT OF SCHOOL CHILDCARE, AND GENERALLY PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDCARE PROVISION AIMED AT MEETING THE NEEDS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES; B) RUNNING HOLIDAY PLAYSCHEMES AND OTHER CHILDRENS PLAY PROVISION; C) DEVELOPING SUPPORT AND PROVISION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOUTH WORK WITH GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN; D) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT; E) PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN, INCLUDING SUPPORTING WOMEN INTO EMPLOYMENT AND ENTERPRISE; F) PROVIDING SUCH FURTHER FACILITIES AS MAY BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE WIDER COMMUNITY IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT