St Korkos Orthodox Church And Eritreans' Community
Charity 1174445
Overview
Summary
St Korkos Orthodox Church And Eritreans' Community appears to combine a faith-based role with practical support for refugees and asylum seekers in Birmingham and nearby areas. Its stated religious purpose is broad and church-centred, while its activities suggest that religious affiliation may also provide a trusted setting for integration support. The organisation may therefore function as a bridge between an Eritrean community, Christian worship and wider participation in UK society, although the scale and formality of that support remain unclear.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Stockland Green
Confidence: low
The annual report directly supports regular activity at the charity's place of worship, including religious, educational and newcomer-support activities. However, the ward-level attribution relies on location information associated with that premises, rather than evidence of activity explicitly described at ward level.
- Charity Commission register, charity 1174445
The current register gives the charity's address in Birmingham; it also records that the charity owns and/or leases land or property. - Charity Commission annual report for the year ended 31 March 2024
The report says the congregation currently gathers at its place of worship in Erdington; the charity acquired this property as its place of worship in December 2021 and delivers worship, weekday lessons, Saturday children's lessons, Sunday liturgy, and advice and practical support for newcomers. - Birmingham City Council, Erdington District Committee document
The council document identifies Stockland Green.
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission currently records the charity as operating in Birmingham City, and its activity description refers to supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Birmingham and nearby areas. This supports a citywide operational identity, but the available evidence does not identify regular delivery venues or outreach activity in other Birmingham wards.
- The annual report provides strong evidence of activity at the charity's place of worship, but does not show where people receiving newcomer support, language help, form-filling assistance or advice live.
- Earlier reports describe St James Church in Handsworth as a meeting venue, but this predates the acquisition and reported current use of the charity's place of worship. There is no sufficiently current evidence to treat Handsworth as an active operational area.
- No current formal delivery partnerships or partner-operated sites were identified. Historical use of St James Church should not be treated as a current partnership without newer confirmation.
Additional evidence needed
- The trustees' annual report for the year ended 31 March 2025, or a current programme timetable, confirming whether all services continue to be delivered from the charity's place of worship.
- Current service records identifying any regular outreach, satellite venues, partner venues or referral arrangements elsewhere in Birmingham.
- Information on the geographic reach of the refugee and asylum-seeker support service, distinguishing people travelling to the church from services delivered in other locations.
Areas of work
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- Children/young People
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Faith community as an integration gateway
The available evidence suggests the church uses its religious community as a setting through which refugees and asylum seekers can receive support and orient themselves to life in the UK.
Why it matters
This indicates that the organisation's civic role may extend beyond worship: trust, shared identity and regular gathering may be important parts of its support model.
Show evidence
“We are church based charity organization, assisting refugees and asylum seekers in Birmingham and nearby areas.”
Source:Organisation“We provide religious service and assisting them in integration to the UK community.”
Source:Organisation
A potentially specific community anchor within a broad public purpose
Although its formal charitable object is the advancement of Christianity for public benefit, the organisation's name and refugee-focused activity may indicate a particular anchoring role for Eritreans while serving a wider local public.
Why it matters
This distinction could help identify the organisation as a culturally meaningful point of connection, rather than viewing it solely as a conventional place of worship.
Show evidence
“THE OBJECT OF THE CIO IS, FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF FAITH, IN BIRMINGHAM, WEST MIDLANDS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE WORLD IN SUCH WAYS AS THE CHARITY TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DECIDE.”
Source:Charity Commission“St Korkos Orthodox Church And Eritreans' Community”
Source:Organisation
Buildings may be part of the support infrastructure
Its recorded provision of buildings, facilities or open space may indicate that the organisation offers more than advice or worship, potentially creating a physical base for community contact and support.
Why it matters
Accessible gathering space can be a significant civic asset for newly arrived people, especially where relationships and informal information-sharing are important.
Show evidence
“Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space, Provides Services”
Source:Charity Commission“Children/young People, The General Public/mankind”
Source:Charity Commission
- What practical integration support is provided, and whether it is delivered directly or through partners.
- Whether refugees and asylum seekers are primarily Eritrean, Orthodox Christian, or drawn from wider communities.
- The scale, frequency and accessibility of worship, facilities and support services.
Remaining uncertainties
- Details of programmes, attendance, languages used and referral pathways for refugees and asylum seekers.
- Information on partner organisations, venue use and examples of integration outcomes.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
We are church based charity organization, assisting refugees and asylum seekers in Birmingham and nearby areas. We provide religious service and assisting them in integration to the UK community.
Charity objects
THE OBJECT OF THE CIO IS, FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF FAITH, IN BIRMINGHAM, WEST MIDLANDS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE WORLD IN SUCH WAYS AS THE CHARITY TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DECIDE.