Srimanta Sankaradeva International Cultural Centre London
Charity 1145880
Overview
Summary
The available evidence suggests that Srimanta Sankaradeva International Cultural Centre London is intended to be more than a cultural association: it has a broad civic mandate combining Assamese cultural heritage with community-centre, welfare, educational and equality-focused ambitions. Its stated activity indicates that this model is still being assembled rather than delivered at a settled scale. The organisation may therefore be best understood as an emerging platform seeking to connect a specific cultural community with wider public benefit, though its practical reach and partnerships remain unclear.
Operational geography
Coverage: International
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission record lists Birmingham City among the places where the charity operates, but provides no Birmingham venue, project, ward, service location or delivery partner. This cannot be mapped reliably to any supplied Birmingham ward or to City Centre.
- The charity's latest available activity statement says it is 'trying to tie up the loose ends', while the latest reported financial year ended on 31 July 2022 with income of £3 and expenditure of £330. This suggests very limited activity at that time, but does not establish whether any services are currently delivered.
- The registered contact address is in Shirley, Solihull, outside Birmingham, and should not be treated as a Birmingham operational site.
- The Charity Commission states that the charity does not own or lease land or property, so there is no evidence of a dedicated physical centre or facility in Birmingham.
- Companies House identifies the associated charitable company, number 07714358, as dissolved. This creates substantial uncertainty about the charity's present operational capacity despite its continuing Charity Commission registration.
- International coverage is based on the charity's self-reported Charity Commission operating areas, which include Birmingham City, London, Slough, Australia, Canada, India and the United States; current delivery in those places is not independently evidenced.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual return, trustees' report or activity update confirming whether the charity is still delivering services and where.
- Evidence of any current Birmingham projects, event venues, community-centre arrangements or delivery partners.
- Confirmation from the trustees or Charity Commission of the relationship between the registered charity and the dissolved company, and of the charity's current legal and operational status.
- A current official website or verified organisational communications identifying active services and locations.
Areas of work
- Accommodation/housing
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
- Overseas Aid/famine Relief
- Recreation
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A culturally rooted organisation with a deliberately broad public mandate
The organisation appears to use Assamese arts, culture and heritage as one part of a wider public-benefit model, rather than limiting itself to cultural preservation for a single community.
Why it matters
This suggests potential to act as a bridge between cultural identity, local community life and wider civic participation.
Show evidence
“To advance Assamese arts, culture and heritage.”
Source:Charity Commission“To further or benefit the public without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or political, religious or other opinions.”
Source:Charity Commission
The organisation may be in a formative or delayed delivery phase
Its stated activity suggests that establishing the intended international cultural-centre model has taken longer than expected, which may indicate unresolved operational, partnership or infrastructure challenges.
Why it matters
This distinguishes formal ambition from demonstrated delivery and makes organisational maturity an important question for potential collaborators.
Show evidence
“Being an international cultural centre we are trying to tie up the lose ends which is taking unusually long time.”
Source:Organisation
An unusually expansive operating model is claimed
The charity appears to envisage multiple roles: providing facilities, grants, advice and research across areas ranging from culture and recreation to health, housing, overseas aid and employment.
Why it matters
This breadth may create opportunities for cross-sector partnership, but it may also risk dispersing limited capacity unless there is a clear delivery focus.
Show evidence
“Makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations, provides buildings, facilities or open space, provides advocacy, advice or information, and sponsors or undertakes research.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its activities include education, health, overseas aid, accommodation, arts and culture, economic and community development, equality and diversity, and recreation.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the organisation currently operates a physical community or cultural centre.
- Which activities, services or grant programmes are actually delivered.
- Whether its beneficiaries are primarily Assamese communities, wider London communities or international networks.
- Which local authorities, voluntary organisations or cultural partners it works with.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or trustee reports describing delivered activities, income, expenditure and future priorities.
- Evidence of premises, programmes, beneficiaries and partnerships.
- Information on the practical meaning of the reported delays and the organisation's current operational capacity.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Being an international cultural centre we are trying to tie up the lose ends which is taking unusually long time
Charity objects
THE CHARITY’S OBJECTS (“THE OBJECTS”) ARE SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTED TO THE FOLLOWING: 1.TO FURTHER OR BENEFIT THE PUBLIC WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE OR OF POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR OTHER OPINIONS BY ASSOCIATING TOGETHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, VOLUNTARY AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS IN A COMMON EFFORT TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND TO PROVIDE FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION AND OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR THE PUBLIC. IN FURTHERANCE OF THESE OBJECTS BUT NOT OTHERWISE, THE TRUSTEES SHALL HAVE POWER: TO ESTABLISH OR SECURE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY CENTRES AND TO MAINTAIN OR MANAGE OR CO-OPERATE WITH ANY STATUTORY AUTHORITY IN THE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF SUCH CENTRES FOR ACTIVITIES PROMOTED BY THE CHARITY IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ABOVE OBJECTS. 2.TO ADVANCE ASSAMESE ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE IN SUCH WAYS AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINE.