Surma Islamic Education Centre Trust
Charity 1135305
Overview
Summary
Surma Islamic Education Centre Trust appears to operate as a locally rooted faith-based community anchor in Small Heath: combining a daily place of worship with Islamic education and practical advice for people experiencing unemployment and welfare dependence. Its role seems broader than religious provision alone, using a trusted setting within the local BAME community to connect spiritual life, learning and economic support. The available evidence suggests a potentially important bridge between residents, public bodies and other local organisations, though its active partnerships and reach are not yet clear.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Small Heath
Confidence: high
The charity’s current Charity Commission activity description explicitly identifies Small Heath and its surrounding area as the community served. Its official Surma Masjid website identifies an active mosque and centre in Small Heath and publishes current prayer information.
- Charity Commission Register, Surma Islamic Education Centre Trust (charity 1135305)
The charity states that it provides Islamic education to the local BAME community living in Small Heath and the surrounding area; it also provides information, advice and guidance, and operates a place of worship with five daily prayers. - Charity Commission Register, governing document and 2024 trustees' report
The governing document defines Small Heath as the area of benefit. The 2024 trustees' report describes Surma Islamic Centre as a mosque used by the local Muslim community for prayer and Arabic teaching for young children. - Surma Masjid official website
The site identifies Surma Masjid and Islamic Centre, charity number 1135305, in Small Heath, Birmingham, and displays a current prayer timetable.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence supports a single active site in Small Heath, but does not establish whether education or advice services are also delivered at other venues.
- “Surrounding area” is not geographically defined, so it does not justify identifying additional Birmingham wards as operational areas.
- The available evidence does not identify any current delivery partnerships that materially extend the charity's operational reach beyond Small Heath.
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City as the charity's reported area of operation, but its more specific current activity description, charitable area of benefit and active site evidence indicate a fundamentally neighbourhood-based operation rather than citywide delivery.
Additional evidence needed
- A current service timetable, annual report or programme information specifying where Islamic education and advice sessions are delivered and the areas from which they are actively targeted.
- Confirmation from the charity of whether it operates any venues, outreach provision or formal delivery partnerships outside its current site.
- Details of any current partner arrangements that involve joint delivery rather than networking or referrals.
Areas of work
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Religious Activities
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- 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
Faith setting appears to be the organisation's community infrastructure
The Centre may use its place of worship and regular prayer activity as a stable, trusted base from which education and advice services can be offered, rather than treating these as separate functions.
Why it matters
This suggests its value may lie partly in accessibility and trust: people may encounter practical support through an institution already embedded in everyday religious life.
Show evidence
“We have place of worship and we carry out 5 times a day prayer 7 days a week.”
Source:Organisation“We provide Islamic education to the local Black Asian Minority Ethnic Community (BAME) living in small heath and surounding area, Birmingham, West Midlands.”
Source:Organisation
The organisation combines cultural relevance with economic inclusion
Its advice and guidance work appears directed toward BAME residents who are unemployed and receiving welfare benefits, indicating an effort to address economic exclusion through support tailored to a specific local community.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the Centre from a solely religious or educational provider and may make it a useful connector to employment, welfare and public-service networks.
Show evidence
“We also provide IAG to the BAME community to those who are unemployed, and in receipt of welfare benefits.”
Source:Organisation“Economic/community Development/employment”
Source:Charity Commission
Its formal remit anticipates partnership, but collaboration is unconfirmed
The charity's objects position it to work with community representatives, statutory authorities and other organisations; this may indicate an intended convening or bridging role in Small Heath.
Why it matters
If active, such relationships could extend the Centre's influence beyond direct services and make it an important route for collaboration across faith, community and public sectors.
Show evidence
“TO PROMOTE ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY IN SMALL HEATH.”
Source:Charity Commission“BY ASSOCIATING TOGETHER WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY, STATUTORY AUTHORITIES AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT.”
Source:Charity Commission
- The scale, frequency and outcomes of education and advice services are unknown.
- It is unclear whether children, older people and the wider public actively use distinct services.
- No current partnerships, referral routes or relationships with statutory bodies are identified.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or impact information showing service volumes, participant groups and outcomes.
- Details of delivery partners, referral arrangements and collaboration with local agencies.
- Information on how welfare and employment advice is delivered, including adviser capacity and onward support.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
We provide Islamic education to the local Black Asian Minority Ethnic Community (BAME) living in small heath and surounding area, Birmingham, West Midlands. We also provide IAG to the BAME community to those who are unemployed, and in receipt of welfare benefits. We have place of worship and we carry out 5 times a day prayer 7 days a week.
Charity objects
TO PROMOTE ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY IN SMALL HEATH (HEREIN AFTER CALLED THE AREA OF BENEFIT) IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY ADVANCEMENT OF THE ISLAMIC RELIGION, THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE RELIEF OF POVERTY AND SICKNESS BY ASSOCIATING TOGETHER WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY, STATUTORY AUTHORITIES AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT.