Nubian Jak Community Trust
Charity 1169656
Overview
Summary
Nubian Jak Community Trust appears to be a specialist heritage-recognition organisation that uses permanent public commemoration to address racial exclusion from Britain’s shared historical narrative. Rather than primarily delivering direct support services, it combines historical research, interpretive authorship, design and public ceremony to make overlooked African, Caribbean and wider Black contributions visible in civic space. Its role seems to sit between community memory, heritage practice and equality advocacy, with memorials acting as durable interventions in how places tell their histories.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
City Centre
Confidence: high
Direct evidence shows that NJCT installed and commissioned a Benjamin Zephaniah blue plaque at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, a City Centre venue. The museum continues to describe the plaque as part of its Zephaniah display.
- Nubian Jak Community Trust annual report and financial statements, year ended 17 October 2025
The Trust reports that its Benjamin Zephaniah plaque was installed at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery during the reporting period. - Birmingham Museums — Benjamin Zephaniah display page
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery states that its Benjamin Zephaniah display includes a new blue plaque commissioned by the Nubian Jak Community Trust.
Small Heath
Confidence: low
NJCT's current official plaque catalogue records an Access Housing blue plaque in Small Heath, Birmingham, installed in June 2025. The Trust's latest annual report independently confirms an Access Housing plaque on one of the original Birmingham homes. However, the available evidence does not establish the ward assignment.
- Nubian Jak Community Trust — Nubian Jak Plaques catalogue
The catalogue records an Access Housing blue plaque in Small Heath, Birmingham, dated June 2025. - Nubian Jak Community Trust annual report and financial statements, year ended 17 October 2025
The Trust reports that it installed an Access Housing blue plaque in June 2025 on one of the original 13 Birmingham homes associated with the organisation's founders.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence supports two current Birmingham commemorative installations, rather than a programme delivered across Birmingham's neighbourhoods or wards.
- No evidence was found of a Birmingham office, regularly staffed service venue, or other physical operational base. The charity's registered contact address is in London and should not be treated as a Birmingham site.
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery materially hosts and displays the Benjamin Zephaniah plaque, but the available evidence does not establish a wider continuing partnership programme between the museum and NJCT.
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City as an area of operation, but does not specify whether further Birmingham installations, events, beneficiaries or partnerships currently exist.
Additional evidence needed
- A current NJCT project or plaque register identifying all Birmingham installations, installation dates and present status.
- Confirmation from NJCT of whether it undertakes Birmingham-based unveiling events, education, research or community engagement beyond the two evidenced plaques.
- Information on any formal Birmingham delivery partners, including the role and duration of relationships with Birmingham Museums and Access Housing.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
- Other Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Other Charitable Activities
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Services
- Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Public space is its principal medium for equality work
The Trust appears to pursue racial equality partly by changing who is visibly represented in streets, institutions and memorial landscapes. Its plaques and sculptures are not simply heritage outputs; they may be intended as lasting corrections to public historical omission.
Why it matters
This explains why the organisation’s influence may extend beyond individual events or participants: its work remains embedded in places and can shape everyday civic memory over long periods.
Show evidence
“The Trust has installed more than 120 commemorative plaques and a growing collection of public memorials and sculptures.”
Source:Organisation“Its objects include eliminating racial discrimination and advancing education and awareness in equality and diversity.”
Source:Charity Commission
The Trust operates as a heritage authority, not only a campaigner
Its stated research, verification and inscription processes suggest an operating model built around conferring formal recognition. The Plaque Fellowship may function as a mechanism through which the Trust selects and validates people or histories for public remembrance.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the Trust from organisations that mainly raise awareness: it appears to influence whose histories acquire durable public legitimacy, making its selection processes and partnerships especially consequential.
Show evidence
“Each plaque or commemorative installation undergoes historical research and verification through heritage and institutional protocols.”
Source:Organisation“Recipients recognised under the NJCT Plaque Fellowship are formally acknowledged as Plaque Honourees.”
Source:Organisation
Remembrance creates a recurring community relationship around the memorials
The annual Windrush Square ceremony suggests the Trust uses commemoration as an ongoing civic practice rather than treating installations as one-off projects. This may connect heritage recognition with veterans, diaspora communities and public institutions over time.
Why it matters
It indicates that the Trust’s impact may depend on convening and ritual as well as physical assets, creating opportunities for intergenerational learning and relationship-building.
Show evidence
“The Trust has held an annual Remembrance Day for African and Caribbean servicemen and women since 2017.”
Source:Organisation“Its activities include an annual Remembrance Day Parade on the second Sunday of November in Windrush Square.”
Source:Charity Commission
- How communities, families and historians nominate or influence commemorations.
- Which heritage institutions, local authorities or funders are active partners.
- Whether plaques and memorials lead to measurable educational, attitudinal or local civic effects.
Remaining uncertainties
- A list of installations with locations, dates, partners, funding sources and nomination routes.
- Annual reports or evaluation showing audiences, volunteer involvement, educational use and community feedback.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
NJCT organises plaque installations - over 100 to date, celebrating notable individuals and groups from the global Afri-Caribbean community, with accompanying receptions and activities during the year throughout the UK and abroad. The annual NJCT Remembrance Day Parade also takes place on the second Sunday of November, on Windrush Square, South London with UK and international representation.
Charity objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE THE PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, PARTICULARLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY WITH BRITAIN’S AFRICAN CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY, BY: (A)THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUNDS OF RACE; (B)ADVANCING EDUCATION AND RAISING AWARENESS IN EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY; (C)PROMOTING ACTIVITIES TO FOSTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND OF DIFFERENT RACIAL GROUPS;