The Albion Foundation
Charity 1081948
Overview
Summary
The Albion Foundation appears to use West Bromwich Albion Football Club’s identity, facilities and cultural reach as a platform for civic work, rather than operating solely as a sports provider. Its stated role combines education, health, inclusion and community participation, with football serving as an accessible route into broader social and physical development. The available evidence suggests a locally rooted organisation with wide charitable latitude, but gives limited visibility of its present programmes, partnerships, scale or demonstrated outcomes.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Kingstanding
Confidence: medium
The Foundation directly delivered an Anti-Bullying Week workshop to pupils at Hawthorn Primary School in Kingstanding in November 2024, and its 2025 annual activity review records this as part of its schools delivery. This is clear evidence of delivery in the ward, although the available sources do not confirm that a continuing programme remains active at this particular school in 2026.
- West Bromwich Albion / The Albion Foundation, “Hawthorn Primary School students to Choose Respect this Anti-Bullying Week”, 7 November 2024
The Foundation states that its School Partnerships Manager delivered an Anti-Bullying Week workshop to 30 children at Hawthorn Primary School in Kingstanding. - West Bromwich Albion / The Albion Foundation, “A year in the life of The Albion Foundation | Foundation Day 2025”, 1 April 2025
The Foundation's review of activity from April 2024 to April 2025 identifies delivery by its Premier League Primary Stars team at Hawthorn Primary School in Kingstanding.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence supports direct delivery in Kingstanding, but does not provide a current, comprehensive list of Birmingham schools, community venues or wards served by the Foundation.
- The Foundation's current strategy describes its core geography as serving Sandwell 'and beyond'. This supports interpreting its overall footprint as district-scale, centred on Sandwell and extending into nearby areas, rather than as Birmingham-wide provision.
- The charity's registered office and a Foundation base are recorded in organisational material, but this does not by itself establish operational activity in a Birmingham ward; it has therefore not been recorded as a Birmingham operational area.
- The Foundation lists a range of partners, including Sandwell College and commercial sponsors, but the available partner information does not demonstrate that these partnerships create additional regular delivery locations within Birmingham.
- Regional and national disability-football competitions, fundraising events and participant travel should not be treated as evidence of routine service delivery across Birmingham or the wider region.
Additional evidence needed
- A current programme or school-partnership list identifying the Birmingham schools and venues where the Foundation delivers regular sessions.
- The 2025 trustees' annual report or impact report with a geographic breakdown of participants, delivery sessions and delivery venues.
- Confirmation from the Foundation of whether the Hawthorn Primary School activity in Kingstanding is a continuing school partnership or a one-off workshop.
- A current list of Foundation-operated or regularly hired physical delivery sites, with geographic areas and programme use.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Football is the delivery mechanism, not the whole purpose
The Foundation appears to treat football and other sport as practical tools for education, health and social inclusion, rather than as ends in themselves.
Why it matters
This positions the organisation as a potential bridge between sport, schools, wellbeing services and community development, widening the range of partners and outcomes relevant to its work.
Show evidence
“Its activities use football, including its history and rules, and other sports activities as educational tools for children attending schools in West Bromwich and the surrounding area.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its objects include promoting physical and mental health, advancing academic, social and physical education, and providing recreation for people facing disadvantage.”
Source:Charity Commission
The club relationship may be a distinctive civic asset
As West Bromwich Albion Football Club’s official charity partner, the Foundation appears able to convert a professional club’s facilities, recognition and supporter identity into community-facing capacity.
Why it matters
This may give it unusual convening power and public visibility compared with smaller local charities, while making its connection to the club central to understanding its operating model.
Show evidence
“The Albion Foundation is the official charity partner of West Bromwich Albion Football Club.”
Source:Organisation“Its activities include providing facilities at WBA FC for meetings, lectures and classes.”
Source:Charity Commission
Its formal remit is broader than its visible local focus
The Foundation’s legal objects permit very broad charitable activity in the United Kingdom and overseas, while the specific activity evidence is concentrated on West Bromwich and nearby schools. This may indicate a locally focused delivery model operating within a deliberately flexible constitution.
Why it matters
The distinction matters when assessing future potential: the organisation may be capable of expanding or diversifying, but current evidence should not be read as proof that it does so.
Show evidence
“Its objects are for public benefit in the United Kingdom and overseas and include promoting any charitable purpose recognised under the laws of England and Wales.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its stated activities concern children attending schools within West Bromwich and the surrounding area.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which programmes are currently active, and which beneficiary groups they reach most substantially.
- Whether the Foundation works with schools, health providers, disability organisations or other local partners beyond the football club.
- Its scale, funding model, outcomes and degree of independence from West Bromwich Albion Football Club.
Remaining uncertainties
- A current programme portfolio with locations, target groups, delivery partners and participant numbers.
- Recent annual reports or impact evidence showing outcomes, funding sources and changes in activity over time.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
To further assist in the education (inc. social and physical training) of children attending schools within West Bromwich and the surrounding area through the use of the game of football (inc. its history and rules) and other sports activities as educational tools and in furtherance to provide West Bromwich and the surrounding areas with facilities at WBA FC for meetings, lectures and classes.
Charity objects
THE CHARITY'S OBJECTS (OBJECTS) ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC GENERALLY, BOTH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OVERSEAS, TO PROMOTE ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE RECOGNISED UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES AND IN PARTICULAR: 3.1 PROMOTE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HEALTHY RECREATION BY PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR THE PLAYING OF ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL AND OTHER SPORTS CAPABLE OF IMPROVING HEALTH (FACILITIES IN THIS ARTICLE 3 MEANS LAND, BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT AND ORGANISING SPORTING ACTIVITIES); 3.2 TO PROVIDE AND ASSIST IN PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR SPORT, RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION OF SUCH PERSONS WHO HAVE NEED FOR SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABLEMENT, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, POVERTY OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OR FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE; 3.3 TO RELIEVE SICKNESS AND TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH HEALTHY RECREATION AND SUCH CHARITABLE MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES THINK FIT; 3.4 TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION (INCLUDING ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION) OF CHILDREN AND OTHER PERSONS THROUGH SUCH CHARITABLE MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES THINK FIT; AND 3.5 FOR THE GENERAL PURPOSES OF SUCH CHARITABLE BODIES OR FOR SUCH OTHER EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN EACH CASE AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DECIDE.