Piers Road New Communities Centre Association
Charity 1132350
Overview
Summary
Piers Road New Communities Centre Association appears to operate as a neighbourhood-based settlement and inclusion organisation: combining practical support for refugees and non-English-speaking families with broader community development, learning and welfare activity. Its role seems less defined by a single service than by offering an accessible local base through which people facing language, poverty and social exclusion can build confidence, navigate needs and participate more fully in community life.
Operational geography
Coverage: Neighbourhood
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission's current activity description confirms direct support in a disadvantaged area of Birmingham, but does not identify that area or any current delivery venue.
- The charity's current registered contact address is in Sparkhill. This is not sufficient on its own to establish that services are delivered in Sparkhill.
- A 2021 annual report gave a Handsworth address as the association's address, and historical City of Sanctuary information described courses and refugee-community groups using the building. However, the available evidence does not confirm that this remains an operational site in 2026.
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton as places where the charity operates, but there is no current service-level evidence showing where activity is delivered across those places. This may reflect a broad declared area of operation rather than an active regional delivery footprint.
- Historical information refers to partner-led courses and community groups supporting members on and off site, but does not name current partners or identify the locations of that activity.
Additional evidence needed
- A current programme, timetable, annual report or statement from the organisation identifying its active service venues and catchment area.
- Confirmation of whether the Handsworth address remains a venue used by the association, and if so which current services operate there.
- Current information from named partner organisations or hosted refugee community groups confirming where joint or hosted activity takes place.
- Clarification from the charity on whether its current registered contact address is a correspondence address, an administrative base, or a service-delivery site.
Areas of work
- Accommodation/housing
- Amateur Sport
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Disability
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
- Other Charitable Purposes
- Recreation
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Other Charitable Activities
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A local bridge between newcomer support and wider community inclusion
The association appears to connect refugee settlement work with support for established residents in a disadvantaged area, rather than treating refugees as a separate client group. This may position it as a bridge between newcomer and host communities.
Why it matters
This suggests its value may lie partly in strengthening local relationships and reducing isolation across communities, not only in meeting immediate individual needs.
Show evidence
“The objects include relieving need for refugees and those seeking asylum and assisting their settlement into life in the United Kingdom.”
Source:Charity Commission“The association directly supports individual refugees and members of host communities in a disadvantaged area of Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation
Learning appears to be used as an inclusion tool
English speaking, literacy, numeracy, parenting and health-related support appear to form a practical route into participation, rather than a narrowly educational offer. The organisation may use learning to help people manage everyday life and access wider support.
Why it matters
This helps explain how the organisation may address exclusion at its roots: language and basic skills can affect access to services, confidence, family life and economic participation simultaneously.
Show evidence
“The association meets needs including lessons on English speaking, adult numeracy, adult literacy, parenting and health issues.”
Source:Organisation“The objects seek to develop the capacity and skills of socially and economically disadvantaged communities so they can identify and help meet their needs and participate more fully in society.”
Source:Charity Commission
A broad remit may make the centre a flexible local support point
Its charitable purposes span advice, facilities, recreation, health, poverty, disability, housing, employment and equality. This may indicate a flexible community-centre model able to respond to overlapping needs, although the evidence does not show which areas are active in practice.
Why it matters
A broad remit can make an organisation particularly valuable where residents' difficulties do not fit neatly into one service category, but it also raises questions about priorities and delivery capacity.
Show evidence
“The charity's purposes include education and training, health, disability, poverty relief, accommodation and housing, economic and community development, equality and diversity, and recreation.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity provides human resources, buildings or facilities, services, advocacy, advice and information.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the association delivers services directly, refers people onward, or combines both approaches.
- Which communities, neighbourhoods and age groups use the centre most, and whether its broad charitable remit is reflected in current delivery.
- What partnerships connect the association to refugee, housing, health, education and employment services.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent service data showing activities, participant numbers, languages supported, referrals and outcomes.
- Information on current staff, volunteers, premises, funding and partner organisations.
- Feedback from refugees, non-English-speaking families and host-community participants about the centre's role.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The association directly supports individual refugees and members of host communities in a disadvantaged area of Birmingham. We meet specific needs of individuals, including lessons on English speaking, adult numeracy, adult literacy, parenting and health issues. We offer advice and assistance on a wide range of personal support needs. We support families of non English speakers.
Charity objects
1. TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY AND SKILLS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES OF NORTH WEST BIRMINGHAM AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO IDENTIFY, AND HELP MEET, THEIR NEEDS AND TO PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN SOCIETY 2. TO RELIEVE NEED FOR REFUGEES AND THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM BY THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT, TRAINING, SERVICES, FACILITIES AND ASSISTING WITH THEIR SETTLEMENT INTO LIFE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 3. TO PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF NORTH WEST BIRMINGHAM AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABLEMENT, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OR FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF LIFE OF THE SAID INHABITANTS. 4. TO FURTHER SUCH OTHER EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE PURPOSES AS THE TRUSTEES FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINE.