Rathbone Road Warley Woods Meeting Room Trust
Charity 1050018
rathboneroadchristianhall.co.uk
Overview
Summary
Rathbone Road Warley Woods Meeting Room Trust appears to be a small, faith-rooted venue-holding charity whose public role extends beyond worship. Its core purpose is Christian mission, but it also makes space available to local groups without charge, suggesting that the hall functions as modest shared neighbourhood infrastructure. The available evidence points to an organisation with a low-cost, relationship-based operating model rather than a broad programme-delivery charity.
Operational geography
Coverage: Neighbourhood
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission record reports that the charity operates in Birmingham City, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. However, the available current activity description and website identify only the Rathbone Road Christian Hall in Smethwick as a delivery venue; they provide no Birmingham service location, programme, partner delivery arrangement or beneficiary catchment evidencing activity in a named Birmingham ward or place.
- The hall is in Smethwick, outside the supplied Birmingham ward geography. It is therefore not appropriate to assign the organisation to a Birmingham operational area solely on the basis of its nearby metropolitan location.
- The allotment society and Neighbourhood Watch are described as occasional local users of the venue, rather than evidenced delivery partners with activities extending the trust's operational footprint.
Additional evidence needed
- Current service or event information identifying any venues, neighbourhoods or regular activities delivered within Birmingham.
- A current annual return, trustee report or official organisational statement explaining the basis for the Charity Commission's multi-local-authority 'where the charity operates' entries.
- Evidence from any named local groups using the hall that demonstrates an ongoing operational partnership or activity within a specific Birmingham ward.
Areas of work
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A faith-led charity with a wider civic footprint
The Trust appears to use a Christian meeting hall as both a place for gospel preaching and an informal community resource. Its local contribution may therefore depend as much on access to space and relationships as on its explicitly religious activity.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the organisation from a solely congregational body: its venue may support civic connections between people and groups that do not share its religious purpose.
Show evidence
“Gospel Preaching (evening service) 6pm every Sunday.”
Source:Organisation“A venue for some local interests eg An allotment society (no charges made).”
Source:Charity Commission“Sometimes the venue is used by the Neighbourhood Watch.”
Source:Charity Commission
The building is likely its principal charitable asset
The Trust appears to operate primarily by sustaining premises rather than by funding or directly delivering a large portfolio of services. Building-cost support is specifically identified, while the children's club is described as financially separate from the Trust.
Why it matters
Understanding the hall as the main asset clarifies where its local value and constraints may lie: maintaining affordable, accessible space could be its most consequential contribution.
Show evidence
“Provision of some building costs.”
Source:Charity Commission“Childrens Club (costs for this not passed through the Trust).”
Source:Charity Commission“Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space.”
Source:Charity Commission
Community use appears intentionally low-barrier but limited in scale
Free use by an allotment society, and occasional use by Neighbourhood Watch, may indicate a willingness to support local self-organising groups rather than to run community programmes itself. The examples also suggest that use may be selective or informal rather than systematically promoted.
Why it matters
This raises a useful question about unrealised potential: the Trust may already have an asset suited to neighbourhood collaboration, but its reach and availability are unclear.
Show evidence
“A venue for some local interests eg An allotment society (no charges made).”
Source:Charity Commission“Sometimes the venue is used by the Neighbourhood Watch.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the hall is available to other community groups, and on what terms.
- How many people use the venue for worship, children's activity and local interests.
- Whether the Trust directly supports poverty relief, despite this being included in its objects.
Remaining uncertainties
- Venue booking records, capacity, accessibility information and any community-use policy.
- Recent accounts showing income sources, building costs and grants or donations.
- Information on the children's club, its operator and its relationship to the hall.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Provision of some building costs. Propagation of the Gospel. Childrens Club (costs for this not passed through the Trust). A venue for some local interests eg An allotment society (no charges made). Sometimes the venue is used by the Neighbourhood Watch.
Charity objects
FOR SUCH CHARITABLE OBJECTS BEING FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION OR FOR THE RELIEF OF POVERTY