St Francis Youth And Community Centre
Charity 1153521
Overview
Summary
St Francis Youth and Community Centre appears to function as neighbourhood social infrastructure rather than a single-purpose youth provider. Its role is to make a shared, accessible place useful across life stages: early-years care, school-age childcare, youth activity, adult learning and older people’s social support. The organisation’s distinctive model appears to combine premises, direct provision and partnership-led activity, positioning it as a local platform through which community connection and practical support can be organised.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bournville and Cotteridge
Confidence: low
The organisation’s official website identifies its active centre and service venue in Bournville. However, the available evidence does not independently establish ward-level operational geography.
- St Francis Youth and Community Centre official website — home page
The centre describes itself as a focal point at the heart of the Bournville community and delivers childcare, youth, older-adult, learning, leisure and community activities from St Francis Youth & Community Centre in Bournville. - St Francis Youth and Community Centre official website — How to find us
The organisation states that St Francis Centre is situated in Bournville. - Birmingham City Council — Birmingham ward map
The council’s current ward mapping includes Bournville and Cotteridge as a Birmingham ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available evidence does not specify the home areas served by the Lunch Club transport offer, so it is not possible to establish whether this extends operations beyond the immediate Bournville neighbourhood.
- The centre says it works with schools, libraries, children’s centres, tutors, volunteers and voluntary organisations, but does not name current partners or identify the locations at which any jointly delivered activity takes place.
- No current evidence was found of additional operational premises, satellite services or regular delivery in other Birmingham wards.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report, service report or monitoring return showing stated catchment areas.
- A current list of delivery partners, linked projects and the venues where jointly delivered activities occur.
- Confirmation from the organisation of the geographic scope of Lunch Club transport and any outreach activity.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A life-stage bridge within one neighbourhood
The Centre appears to reduce fragmentation between services for different age groups by offering, or hosting, activity from preschool through to older-adult support in one local setting.
Why it matters
This suggests its value may lie not only in individual activities, but in sustaining a familiar community anchor across changing family and life circumstances.
Show evidence
“Hopscotch Pre-School serves children aged 2–5, K@Boom provides school and holiday care, and the Lunch Club serves people aged 55 and over.”
Source:Organisation“The charity helps children and young people, elderly people, people with disabilities and the general public.”
Source:Charity Commission
The building is a delivery mechanism, not simply a venue
The Centre appears to use its physical space as a platform for combining childcare, social connection, learning and community-led activities, rather than treating room hire as a separate commercial function.
Why it matters
Understanding this helps distinguish the organisation from a conventional hall: maintaining accessible space may be central to its charitable impact and local resilience.
Show evidence
“The Centre provides a safe and accessible Centre and offers rooms for weekday community groups and meetings.”
Source:Organisation“The charity provides buildings, facilities or open space, services and human resources.”
Source:Charity Commission
An enabling organisation with a partnership-dependent model
The organisation appears to create value partly by convening external providers, volunteers and local institutions, meaning its reach may depend on the strength and continuity of those relationships.
Why it matters
This indicates that partnership capacity may be as important as its own programmes when assessing the Centre’s role, opportunities and vulnerabilities.
Show evidence
“The Centre works with schools, libraries, children’s centres, independent tutors, volunteers and voluntary organisations.”
Source:Organisation“The charity acts as an umbrella or resource body.”
Source:Charity Commission
- It is unclear which activities are delivered directly by the charity and which are independently run by partners or hirers.
- No evidence shows demand, attendance, financial resilience, accessibility barriers or outcomes for participants.
- The relationship between the Centre’s youth-focused identity and its current balance of provision across age groups is unclear.
Remaining uncertainties
- Annual reports, accounts and service data showing participant numbers, income sources, delivery responsibilities and changes over time.
- Partnership agreements or feedback from users and local organisations about unmet needs, referral routes and the Centre’s community role.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
to further or benefit primarily those residing in or near Bournville without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or political, religious or other opinions to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for residents and particularly for young people.
Charity objects
THE CHARITY'S OBJECTS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT ARE SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTED TO THE FOLLOWING: TO FURTHER OR BENEFIT PRIMARILY (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) THOSE RESIDING IN OR NEAR THE PARISH OF ST FRANCIS, BOURNVILLE WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE OR OF POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR OTHER OPINIONS BY ASSOCIATING TOGETHER THE RESIDENTS 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 LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND PARTICULARLY (BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION) FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.