Smart Citizens Charitable Foundation
Charity 1182504
Overview
Summary
Smart Citizens Charitable Foundation appears to be a place-based inclusion organisation focused on reducing exclusion in Sparkhill, with particular attention to Muslim women. Its stated role spans practical support, capability-building, health, education and community participation, suggesting an approach that treats exclusion as interconnected rather than as a single issue. The organisation may function as both a service provider and a community bridge, although the available evidence does not show how its activities are delivered or who it works alongside.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East
Confidence: medium
A 2023 project description gives direct, though not fully current, evidence of locally delivered food, advice, health, education and community-centre services for Sparkbrook residents. Current contact information confirms that the charity remains active, while the available 2025 statutory information does not describe service locations in sufficient detail to independently confirm that every service remains active.
- Charity Commission register, contact information and 2025 return for charity 1182504
The current registered contact address is Smart Citizens Community Centre in Birmingham; the charity's 2025 accounts and annual return were received on 22 January 2026. - Smart Citizens Charitable Foundation, Contact Us page
The organisation gives its address as Smart Citizens Community Centre in Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East, Birmingham. - Food For All Sparkbrook Foodbank crowdfunding project, closed 12 October 2023
The organisation described itself as serving local people in Sparkbrook and stated that it offered a food bank, community kitchen, advice, translation, drop-ins, health sessions, educational programmes, children's activities and community events.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence supports neighbourhood-based activity for Sparkbrook residents, but the Charity Commission record also describes the charity's operating area broadly as Birmingham City. This is not enough, by itself, to establish routine citywide delivery.
- The strongest detailed description of services is from a crowdfunding project that closed unsuccessfully on 12 October 2023. It supports the organisation's neighbourhood-based operational model, but does not conclusively show which individual services were still running after that date.
- The charity's objects refer to work with people in Sparkhill, while its current centre address is identified as being in Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East. The supplied evidence does not establish a current service site or routine delivery activity in the Sparkhill ward.
- No authoritative evidence was found of current delivery sites elsewhere in Birmingham or of partnerships that materially extend the charity's geographic reach.
- The official website contains content that appears inconsistent with the charity's Charity Commission record, including generic claims of international work. It has therefore been used only for its specific contact information, and not as evidence of international or citywide operations.
Additional evidence needed
- A current service timetable, annual report narrative or impact report specifying which activities operate from the community centre and their current catchment.
- Confirmation from the charity of whether it delivers services beyond the immediate Sparkbrook area, including any regular outreach venues or satellite sites.
- Current agreements, referral arrangements or partner statements identifying any partnerships that extend service delivery into other Birmingham wards.
- Clarification of the relationship between the charity's stated Sparkhill-focused objects and its Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East community-centre location.
Areas of work
- Disability
- Economic/community Development/employment
- General Charitable Purposes
- Recreation
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- 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
A broad response to social exclusion
The organisation appears to understand exclusion as a combination of material, social, health, educational and participation barriers, rather than a problem addressed through one specialist service.
Why it matters
This suggests its value may lie in connecting needs that are often addressed separately. It may therefore be relevant to organisations working in health, learning, employment, poverty or community engagement.
Show evidence
“Its objects include relieving needs, developing capacities and skills, protecting physical and mental health, promoting education and increasing participation in the wider community.”
Source:Charity Commission“It identifies poverty relief, disability, economic and community development, employment, recreation and general charitable purposes as areas of activity.”
Source:Charity Commission
A targeted focus within a wider constituency
Muslim women appear to be a particular priority, while the stated beneficiary groups indicate a wider potential reach across age, disability and ethnic or racial identity.
Why it matters
This may position the organisation as a source of culturally informed insight and trust, while also raising a useful question about whether its wider offer is designed around the needs of this priority group or serves several distinct communities.
Show evidence
“The objects identify women in the Muslim community as a particular group experiencing social exclusion in Sparkhill.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity helps children and young people, elderly or old people, people with disabilities and people of a particular ethnic or racial origin.”
Source:Charity Commission
Potentially a community-facing access point
By combining facilities or open space, direct services and advocacy or information, the organisation may provide both a physical point of contact and support navigating wider systems.
Why it matters
This combination could make it an important connector for residents whose exclusion includes limited information, confidence or access to institutions. It may also create opportunities for referral and partnership activity.
Show evidence
“The charity provides buildings, facilities or open space.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity provides services and advocacy, advice or information.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which services are currently delivered, and which beneficiary groups use them most.
- Whether the organisation works mainly directly with residents, through partners, or both.
- What facilities or spaces it operates and how they contribute to its inclusion work.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports, activity descriptions or outcome data showing delivery, reach and change achieved.
- Information about local partners, referral relationships, staffing, volunteers and use of physical spaces.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space Provides Services Provides Advocacy/advice/information
Charity objects
FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INCLUSION BY WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN SPARKHILL WHO ARE SOCIALLY EXCLUDED ON THE GROUNDS OF THEIR SEX, RELIGION, BELIEF OR CREED (IN PARTICULAR WOMEN IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY) IN PARTICULAR BY: A) RELIEVING THEIR NEEDS AND PREVENTING THEM FROM BECOMING SOCIALLY EXCLUDED; B) ASSISTING THEM TO INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY AND ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH DEVELOPING THEIR CAPACITIES AND SKILLS; C) PROMOTING AND PROTECTING THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH D) PROMOTING THEIR EDUCATION; AND E) INCREASING THEIR EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION WITHIN THE WIDER COMMUNITY.