Project Gambia Trust - Ridgewood
Charity 1160143
Overview
Summary
Project Gambia Trust - Ridgewood appears to be a school-rooted international development charity whose distinctive role is to connect UK educational communities with Gambian schools and communities. Its model combines material support, child sponsorship, grants and volunteer visits with an expressed aim of supporting independence and sustainable poverty reduction. The available evidence suggests that its value may lie as much in building long-term relationships and global learning among UK participants as in delivering resources in The Gambia.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bartley Green
Confidence: medium
Direct evidence shows an active 2026 partnership with Bartley Green School, involving Project Gambia-supported educational activity, fundraising and pupil participation in Gambian projects. This reasonably supports operational reach through a partner school, but does not evidence a Project Gambia-owned site or routine service delivery to residents in the area.
- Bartley Green School, Project Gambia Blog, April 2026
The school records a 2026 Gambia visit in which its pupils participated in activities at Gambian partner schools and communities. It describes school-to-school links and states that these were made possible through the ongoing work of Project Gambia. - Project Gambia official website
Project Gambia states that it works with UK schools and community groups through donations, fundraising, sponsorship, assemblies and lessons, while organising trips involving students and staff from schools and colleges.
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City among the places where the charity operates, but neither the register nor the charity website identifies other current Birmingham schools, community groups, wards or venues. It would therefore be inappropriate to infer wider Birmingham coverage.
- The available evidence indicates that the organisation's principal direct delivery is in The Gambia, including schools, villages and farms. Its Birmingham presence appears to be partnership-led educational and fundraising activity rather than a Birmingham-based frontline service.
- The Charity Commission states that the charity does not own or lease land or property. No Birmingham physical site operated by the charity was identified; its listed principal address is in Stourbridge.
- Bartley Green School provides strong evidence of a current partnership, but the evidence does not establish the frequency, scale or permanence of Project Gambia activity at the school within Birmingham.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report or project/partner register identifying all UK partner schools and community groups, with locations and the nature of each relationship.
- Confirmation from Project Gambia of which Birmingham schools or venues currently receive assemblies, curriculum support, collection activity or other direct engagement.
- Information distinguishing one-off fundraising or travel activity from recurring partnership delivery in Birmingham.
Areas of work
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Overseas Aid/famine Relief
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Other Finance
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Education is both the route to impact and the bridge between places
The charity appears to use education as a shared platform: supporting Gambian learners while involving UK schools, students and staff in global learning and direct partnership.
Why it matters
This suggests the organisation is not solely an overseas aid provider; it may also strengthen international awareness and civic participation within its UK school network.
Show evidence
“The objects include advancing education in The Gambia and educating individuals associated with Ridgewood High School about issues facing people in The Gambia.”
Source:Charity Commission“Assemblies and lessons introduce pupils to life for children in The Gambia and support staff to embed global learning into the curriculum.”
Source:Organisation
Its operating model combines immediate aid with a stated independence strategy
Project Gambia appears to balance practical resource transfers with a longer-term ambition to help people become independent, although the evidence does not show how that transition is measured.
Why it matters
This is a central tension in understanding its approach: donated goods and sponsorship may meet urgent needs, while sustainable poverty reduction requires locally durable capabilities and income.
Show evidence
“The charity says it goes beyond handouts by providing education, support and funding to help people become independent.”
Source:Organisation“Donations of clothes, shoes, school resources and Christmas shoeboxes are shipped each year in a 40ft container to The Gambia.”
Source:Organisation
The charity may function as a relationship broker across schools and communities
Its work appears to depend on connecting UK schools, colleges, community groups and travellers with Gambian schools, villages and farms, rather than operating through a single service site.
Why it matters
This networked role could create collaboration and mutual learning that are difficult for isolated donors or schools to achieve independently.
Show evidence
“Several trips to The Gambia involve students, staff from schools and colleges, and local community members working with Gambian communities.”
Source:Organisation“Many local schools and community groups support the work through donations and fundraising.”
Source:Organisation
- How Gambian partners and communities define priorities and govern projects.
- Whether resource shipments, sponsorship and visits produce sustained educational or economic outcomes.
- Which communities benefit most, and whether any groups are underserved.
Remaining uncertainties
- Outcome data and beneficiary feedback from Gambian schools and communities.
- Details of local partners, decision-making arrangements, project budgets and multi-year results.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Working alongside Gambian schools and communities we go beyond handouts to provide the education, support and funding needed for people to become independent, and find a sustainable solution to poverty.
Charity objects
(A) TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION INCLUDING SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL TRAINING OF PEOPLE IN ALL FORMAL LEVELS OF EDUCATION IN GAMBIA IN SUCH WAYS AS THE CHARITY TRUSTEES THINK FIT AND TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC SPECIFICALLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, THOSE INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED TO RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL IN ISSUES FACING THOSE IN THE GAMBIA. (B) TO PREVENT OR RELIEVE POVERTY TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE GAMBIA BY PROVIDING GRANTS, ITEMS AND SERVICES TO THOSE IN NEED AND/OR CHARITIES OR OTHER ORGANISATIONS WORKING TO PREVENT OR RELIEVE POVERTY.