St Thomas Community Project
Charity 1170109
Overview
Summary
St Thomas Community Project appears to operate as a neighbourhood-based social infrastructure organisation in Garretts Green: combining practical poverty relief with regular activities that create accessible routes into support. Its role seems broader than a food-bank provider or youth service alone, using a church and community-centre setting to connect children, families, men and other residents with informal social contact, information and signposting. The available evidence suggests a deliberately wide remit, though its actual reach, referral relationships and service capacity remain unclear.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Garretts Green
Confidence: high
Direct current and official evidence identifies Garretts Green as the area in which the charity mainly operates, and locates its recurring activities and operating premises there. The neighbourhood classification is a reasonable interpretation of this single-area, venue-based delivery model.
- Charity Commission Register of Charities, St Thomas Community Project (charity 1170109)
The charity states: "We operate mainly in the area of Garretts Green Birmingham" and lists community activities including stay-and-play, children's and youth clubs, an after-school club, a Place of Welcome, food-bank access, support and family activities. - St Thomas Church and Community Project official website
The website identifies the organisation's venue as St Thomas' Church and Community Project in Garretts Green, Birmingham, and advertises recurring activities there, including Brothers' Union and Little Angels Stay and Play. - Charity Commission annual report for year ended 31 December 2023
The report describes the premises as the principal office and trading address and states that the charity continues to operate in St Thomas' Church hall and St Thomas' Community Centre.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence supports one set of premises containing St Thomas' Church hall and St Thomas' Community Centre, but does not establish whether these are separately managed physical sites or distinct spaces within the same premises.
- No current evidence reviewed demonstrates routine delivery from additional locations, outreach activity in other Birmingham wards, or partnerships that materially extend the charity's operating footprint beyond Garretts Green.
- Services such as the food bank, advice, signposting and room bookings may receive users from beyond Garretts Green, but beneficiary catchment is not evidenced and has not been treated as an operational area.
Additional evidence needed
- A current activity timetable, annual report or service monitoring data showing the locations and catchments of each service.
- Details of any formal delivery partnerships, referral arrangements or outreach provision that operate outside the Garretts Green premises.
- Confirmation from the organisation of whether St Thomas' Church hall and St Thomas' Community Centre are separate operational sites or facilities at the same premises.
Areas of work
- Disability
- Economic/community Development/employment
- General Charitable Purposes
- Other Charitable Purposes
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- Other Defined Groups
- 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
Support is embedded in everyday community activity
The organisation appears to use routine, low-threshold activities as a route into practical support, rather than separating crisis assistance from community participation.
Why it matters
This suggests its value may lie partly in making help easier to approach: residents can encounter food-bank access, information and signposting through a coffee morning and alongside family or children’s activities.
Show evidence
“Place of Welcome coffee morning with access to our food bank, information, support and signposting.”
Source:Organisation“Activities include stay and play, children's clubs, youth clubs, after school club and family activities.”
Source:Organisation
The organisation spans generations rather than serving one client group
It appears designed as a local hub with a lifecycle role: supporting children and young people while also creating provision for adults and older residents.
Why it matters
This breadth may enable it to see household pressures and community needs that are less visible to narrowly focused services, and could make it a useful connector between age-specific organisations.
Show evidence
“The charity helps children/young people, elderly/old people, people with disabilities and the general public.”
Source:Charity Commission“Brothers' Union meets every Tuesday and is for men only.”
Source:Organisation
A broad charitable remit may be a source of flexibility
Its objects combine poverty relief, debt advice, welfare facilities and youth development, suggesting the organisation can respond to interconnected social and economic needs rather than a single issue.
Why it matters
This may make St Thomas an adaptable local partner, but it also raises a useful question about which parts of its wide remit are currently active and sufficiently resourced.
Show evidence
“The objects include providing food parcels, assisting in the provision of debt advice and relieving financial hardship.”
Source:Charity Commission“The objects include advice, assistance and physical, educational and other activities for young people up to age 18 living in Garretts Green.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether debt advice is delivered directly, through referral, or is no longer active.
- How many residents use each activity, and which communities are least reached.
- Which local organisations, schools, advice services or funders are key partners.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual report or impact data showing attendance, food support demand, referrals and outcomes.
- Information on partnerships, referral pathways, staffing, volunteers and funding sources.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
We operate mainly in the area of Garretts Green Birmingham offering community activities and services, these currently include : A stay and play group Children's clubs Youth clubs After school club Place of Welcome coffee morning with access to our food bank, information, support and signposting Family activities
Charity objects
1) THE PREVENTION AND RELIEF OF POVERTY IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY PROVIDING FOOD PARCELS TO PEOPLE IN NEED, PROVIDING OR ASSISTING IN THE PROVISION OF DEBT ADVICE AND BY SUCH OTHER MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES MAY DETERMINE. 2) THE RELIEF OF THOSE IN NEED BY REASON OF YOUTH, AGE, ILL-HEALTH, DISABILITY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR OTHER DISADVANTAGE. 3) TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE INFIRMITY OR DISABILITY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE. 4) TO ACT AS A RESOURCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO THE AGE OF 18 LIVING IN GARRETTS GREEN BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AND ORGANISING PROGRAMMES OF PHYSICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES AS A MEANS OF: (A) ADVANCING IN LIFE AND HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE BY DEVELOPING THEIR SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS INDEPENDENT, MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS; (B) ADVANCING EDUCATION; (C) PROVIDING RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITY IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT WHO HAVE NEED BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABILITY, POVERTY OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE OF SUCH PERSONS.