Smethwick Asra Limited
Charity 519620
Overview
Summary
Smethwick ASRA Limited appears to be a culturally responsive care organisation whose role extends beyond delivering personal care: it helps older and disabled people remain connected, independent and supported within familiar community and family networks. Its combination of day care, home care, advice and housing-related charitable purposes suggests a practical model for addressing the interlocking social, cultural and care needs that can make later life particularly difficult for some local residents.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East
Confidence: high
ASRA's current official contact page identifies a distinct 'Sparkbrook Asra' operation at Smart Citizens Centre. Birmingham City Council places Smart Citizens Centre in Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East.
- Smethwick ASRA official contact page
Lists 'Sparkbrook Asra', with its own telephone number, at Smart Citizens Centre, Sparkbrook, Birmingham. - Birmingham City Council — Smart Citizen Charitable Foundation directory entry
Places Smart Citizens Centre in Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East. - Smethwick ASRA official website
Describes current day care and seven-day domiciliary home-care services, establishing that the organisation delivers care services as well as maintaining service bases.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available evidence confirms a Sparkbrook service location but does not specify which ASRA services are delivered there, the scale of activity, or whether it is a permanent staffed base, a sessional venue, or a contact address.
- ASRA's use of Smart Citizens Centre indicates a Birmingham operational presence, but the evidence does not establish the terms of any formal partnership, tenancy, referral arrangement, or jointly delivered activity with Smart Citizen Charitable Foundation.
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City among the places where the charity operates, but neither the current website nor the register identifies other Birmingham wards served by its domiciliary care service. Beneficiaries' home locations therefore cannot be mapped reliably.
- ASRA's principal named site is in Smethwick, outside Birmingham City Council's area. Its operational identity appears centred on Smethwick and adjoining West Midlands localities rather than on Birmingham alone.
Additional evidence needed
- A current service directory or annual report identifying the services, staffing and activity delivered from the Sparkbrook location.
- A current domiciliary-care service-area map or commissioning schedule showing the Birmingham neighbourhoods in which ASRA provides home care.
- Confirmation from ASRA or Smart Citizen Charitable Foundation of the nature and duration of their arrangement at Smart Citizens Centre.
- Current contract or commissioning information identifying the local authorities and areas covered by ASRA's government-funded care activity.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Disability
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- Recreation
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Elderly/old People
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
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
Cultural responsiveness appears to be central, not incidental
The available evidence suggests ASRA has developed care around cultural, religious and personal preferences, with a particular historic and continuing relevance to people of Asian origin or descent. This may make it a trusted bridge between formal care systems and communities whose needs can be poorly met by generic provision.
Why it matters
This helps explain ASRA's distinctive role: its value may lie as much in how care is provided and trusted as in the care tasks themselves.
Show evidence
“The charity's objects include accommodation for elderly people, particularly elderly people of Asian origin or descent, in Smethwick and the surrounding area.”
Source:Charity Commission“Services are tailored to religious, cultural and personal preferences.”
Source:Organisation
ASRA may support family care as well as individual service users
Its operating model appears designed to supplement and sustain informal caring relationships: day care offers structured daytime support and social contact, while home care is presented as helping families care with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Why it matters
ASRA may therefore have wider local impact than its direct client numbers suggest, by reducing pressure on family carers and helping people remain at home.
Show evidence
“The day care centre provides activities, meals, refreshments and social interaction from Monday to Thursday.”
Source:Organisation“The organisation states that high-quality care helps family carers look after loved ones with confidence and peace of mind.”
Source:Organisation
The organisation combines social connection with regulated care
ASRA appears to sit between community infrastructure and formal adult social care, combining CQC-registered home care with a day-centre environment focused on meals, activity and connection. This may allow it to address loneliness, practical support and personal care together rather than as separate issues.
Why it matters
This blended role could make ASRA a useful partner for health, social care and community organisations seeking earlier, more relational support for older residents.
Show evidence
“ASRA is registered with the Care Quality Commission.”
Source:Organisation“The day care centre is designed to promote wellbeing, independence and a sense of community.”
Source:Organisation
- It is unclear how many people ASRA supports, which neighbourhoods they come from, and whether its users remain predominantly from Asian communities.
- There is no evidence on funding, affordability, referral routes, housing provision or measurable outcomes.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or impact data showing service users, unmet demand, outcomes and family-carer experience.
- Information on partnerships, referral sources, commissioning arrangements and any current accommodation or housing-related activity.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The principal activity is the provision of health and care services to all needy, elderly, disabled and families particularly but not exclusively of the Asian origin, in the West Midlands area. As an ancillary, assistance is also given on appropriate housing, social, recreational and educational matters.
Charity objects
THE OBJECTS FOR WHICH THE COMPANY IS ESTABLISHED ARE TO PROMOTE:- I. THE RELIEF OF POVERTY HARDSHIP AND DISTRESS BY PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING ACCOMMODATION FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE (PARTICULARLY ELDERLY PEOPLE OF ASIAN ORIGIN OR DESCENT) RESIDENT IN SMETHWICK AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD THEREOF WHO ARE EXPERIENCING PERSONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES; II. THE MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT