Sutton Coldfield Young Mens Christian Association
Charity 1008752
www.suttoncoldfieldymca.org.uk
Overview
Summary
Sutton Coldfield Young Mens Christian Association appears to be a broad-based YMCA whose role extends beyond youth work into accommodation, social support, learning and community facilities. Its charitable purposes suggest a faith-rooted mission, while its stated activities and beneficiary groups indicate a practical welfare function spanning young people, disabled people and other voluntary organisations. The organisation may operate as local civic infrastructure: combining direct support with spaces, services and capacity that other groups can use.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sutton Vesey
Confidence: low
The organisation identifies a main site in Sutton Coldfield, with supported accommodation, youth clubs, disability activities, offices and specialist facilities. However, the supplied evidence does not directly establish ward-level operational geography.
- YMCA Sutton Coldfield, Where We Are
A YMCA main site in Sutton Coldfield is described as containing accommodation, youth clubs, hall, sensory room, outdoor gym and offices. - YMCA Sutton Coldfield, Housing
The organisation provides supported accommodation for 18- to 30-year-olds, with 39 rooms.
Erdington
Confidence: high
The organisation explicitly states that its adult-disability services are run in Erdington, and also identifies a regularly used allotment there.
- YMCA Sutton Coldfield, Where We Are
Services for adults with disabilities are run in Erdington. - YMCA Sutton Coldfield, Adults With Disabilities
The Stepping Up weekday service is based in Erdington, and the YMCA uses allotments there at least weekly during the growing season.
Handsworth
Confidence: high
The YMCA states that it delivers a weekly term-time sports and mentoring session in Handsworth; its annual report confirms this as one of its weekly youth-club locations.
- YMCA Sutton Coldfield, Youth
The organisation runs weekly term-time sports sessions in Handsworth. - YMCA Sutton Coldfield Annual Report 2024/25
The report states that the YMCA runs three weekly youth clubs in Sutton Coldfield and Handsworth, including a weekly football session in Handsworth.
City Centre
Confidence: low
The YMCA's current location page names higher-education settings in Birmingham as places where it supports young adult carers. The evidence supports delivery at these institutions, though it does not directly establish a city-centre operational area.
- YMCA Sutton Coldfield, Where We Are
The organisation says it supports young adult carers in colleges and universities across Birmingham and lists higher-education settings among the locations. - YMCA Sutton Coldfield Annual Report 2024/25
The report identifies increased work in schools, colleges and universities to support carers and describes one-to-one mentoring for young carers across Birmingham.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available evidence identifies three regular physical service locations, but does not provide a complete current list of every school, college, university, trip venue or community activity used by the organisation.
- The organisation's citywide young-carer and young-adult-carer work is clearly evidenced, but the evidence does not quantify activity by ward or establish whether every Birmingham ward receives direct delivery in a given year.
- The Handsworth session is delivered at a venue used for a weekly YMCA session rather than evidence of a YMCA-owned or exclusively operated site.
- The annual report and website evidence concern different reporting and publication dates; they consistently support current activity across Birmingham, but do not give a single comprehensive service-location register.
Additional evidence needed
- A current service delivery schedule or locality breakdown showing the areas where staff are actively delivering support.
- Confirmation from the organisation of whether any other regular operational bases exist.
- Current Birmingham Carers Hub partnership documentation identifying the YMCA's commissioned or agreed geographic remit and referral pathways.
Areas of work
- Accommodation/housing
- Amateur Sport
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Disability
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- 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 faith-rooted organisation with a wide civic remit
The organisation appears to translate an explicitly Christian YMCA purpose into a broad practical mission covering welfare, education, recreation, housing and relief of hardship.
Why it matters
This helps explain why its recorded areas of work are unusually wide. It may be better understood as a values-led community institution than as a single-service provider.
Show evidence
“Its objects include extending the Christian faith and leading young people to Jesus Christ.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its objects include recreation, education, relief of hardship, and housing or hostel accommodation for people of all ages.”
Source:Charity Commission
Potentially a bridge between individual support and voluntary-sector capacity
By identifying other charities or voluntary bodies among those it helps, alongside providing human resources, facilities and services, it may support the local voluntary ecosystem as well as individual beneficiaries.
Why it matters
This suggests its influence could extend beyond its own programmes. Its buildings, staff capacity or advice may enable activity delivered by other organisations.
Show evidence
“The charity helps children or young people, people with disabilities, and other charities or voluntary bodies.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity provides human resources, buildings, facilities or open space, services, and advocacy, advice or information.”
Source:Charity Commission
Accommodation may be central rather than incidental
The combination of social work with accommodation and explicit objects concerning houses and hostels suggests accommodation may be integrated with support, rather than merely a secondary asset.
Why it matters
If so, the organisation may hold a distinctive role for people whose housing needs overlap with social, economic or personal hardship.
Show evidence
“Its activities include social work with accommodation.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its objects include providing, improving and managing houses and hostels for people of all ages.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which services are currently delivered directly, and which are only permitted by the charity's objects.
- Whether accommodation serves young people, disabled people, or wider groups experiencing hardship.
- Which local organisations, communities or public bodies the charity works with.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or service descriptions showing current programmes, reach and priorities.
- Information on accommodation capacity, referral routes and resident support.
- Evidence of partnerships, facility users and support provided to other voluntary organisations.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Social work without accommodation Social work with accommodation
Charity objects
(A) TO UNITE THOSE WHO, REGARDING JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR GOD AND SAVIOUR ACCORDING TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, DESIRE TO BE HIS DISCIPLES IN THEIR FAITH AND IN THEIR LIFE, AND TO ASSOCIATE THEIR EFFORTS FOR THE EXTENSION OF HIS KINGDOM (B) TO LEAD YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND TO FULLNESS OF LIVE IN HIM. (C) TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION AND OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE. (D) TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH THE OBJECT OF DEVELOPING THEIR PHYSICAL, MENTAL OR SPIRITUAL CAPACITIES. (E) TO RELIEVE OR ASSIST IN THE RELIEF OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO ARE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED, HARDSHIP OR DISTRESS BY REASON OF THEIR SOCIAL, PHYSICAL OR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES. (F) TO PROVIDE, IMPROVE AND MANAGE HOUSES AND HOSTELS PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES UPON TERMS APPROPRIATE TO THEIR MEANS.