Smethwick United Academy
Charity 1135059
Overview
Summary
Smethwick United Academy appears to be a community-sport organisation using access to facilities as its main route to wider youth development. Its stated focus extends beyond participation in football, cricket and netball: it also identifies education, training and community or employment development as part of its charitable role. This suggests sport may function as an engagement platform for children and teenagers, particularly including people from particular ethnic or racial backgrounds, rather than being solely an end in itself.
Operational geography
Coverage: District
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence from the Charity Commission states that the charity operates in Birmingham City and Sandwell, but does not identify any Birmingham ward, venue, programme location or service catchment. No supplied Birmingham area can therefore be evidenced as a current operational area.
- The Charity Commission describes the area of benefit as "undefined; in practice, local". A district-scale footprint spanning Birmingham City and Sandwell is a reasonable interpretation, rather than evidence of citywide Birmingham delivery.
- The registered Smethwick address is a contact address and should not be treated as an operational sports or service site. The Charity Commission also records that the charity does not own or lease land or property.
- Current operational activity is uncertain: the latest recorded financial year ending 1 April 2024 shows zero income and zero expenditure, and the charity's subsequent reporting was overdue on the Charity Commission record consulted.
- No material operational partnerships were evidenced. A shared trustee role with Khalsa Football Federation does not by itself establish a delivery partnership or extend Smethwick United Academy's operational geography.
Additional evidence needed
- Current programme, fixture, training or venue information identifying where football, cricket, netball or other activities are delivered.
- A current annual return, trustees' report or impact report describing active services, participants and delivery locations.
- Confirmation from the organisation of its current Birmingham venues, neighbourhood catchments and any delivery partners.
- Official partner or venue records that name Smethwick United Academy as a current user, operator or delivery organisation.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
How they help
- Other Charitable Activities
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Sport appears to be the organisation's engagement infrastructure
The available evidence suggests that providing places to play is the organisation's core operating mechanism, through which it may create opportunities for healthier participation and wider support for young people.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the organisation from a conventional sports club: its facilities may be an important local point of contact for young people and a possible base for other civic activity.
Show evidence
“The charity promotes healthy recreation through facilities for football, cricket, netball and other sports.”
Source:Charity Commission“The club provides facilities firstly for amateur football, cricket, netball and other sports activities.”
Source:Organisation
Its intended role is broader than sports participation
Although sport is prominent, the charity's stated fields of work may indicate an ambition to connect recreation with education, training and community or employment development.
Why it matters
This raises the possibility that the organisation could complement youth, skills and community-development providers, not only other sports organisations.
Show evidence
“The charity's work includes education/training, amateur sport, and economic/community development/employment.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity helps children and young people.”
Source:Charity Commission
There may be a deliberate inclusion focus alongside youth provision
The identification of people of a particular ethnic or racial origin as beneficiaries may indicate that the organisation sees sport as a route to inclusion for communities that may face unequal access or participation.
Why it matters
This is relevant when assessing whether the organisation fills a distinct local role, and which partnerships or community voices may be especially important to understand.
Show evidence
“The charity helps people of a particular ethnic or racial origin.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity helps children and young people.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the organisation directly delivers education, training or employment support, or is only classified within those areas.
- Which communities use its facilities, how many young people it reaches, and whether participation is affordable and accessible.
- Whether it works with schools, other charities, sports clubs or community groups.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent activity reports or programme descriptions showing services, participation and outcomes.
- Information on facilities, locations, staffing, volunteers, partners and referral relationships.
- Evidence of how the organisation reaches and supports particular ethnic or racial communities.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The objects of the Charity (club) shall be the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation in particular by the provision of facilities firstly for the playing of amateur football ; and or cricket, netball ; and ; any other sports activities capable of advancing the health of the participant children and teenagers.
Charity objects
THE PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HEALTHY RECREATION IN PARTICULAR BY THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR THE PLAYING OF FOOTBALL, CRICKET, NETBALL AND OTHER SPORTS CAPABLE OF ADVANCING THE HEALTH OF THE PARTICIPANTS.