The Aspinall Trust
Charity 1061909
Overview
Summary
The Aspinall Trust appears to function as a place-rooted religious endowment rather than a general-purpose charity. Its role combines stewardship of St Alban the Martyr church in Highgate, Birmingham, support for the parish’s mission and ecumenical activity, and targeted financial assistance connected to parish life and Anglican ministry. This suggests an organisation whose value lies in sustaining local religious infrastructure and continuity, while also acting as a small support mechanism for individuals facing temporary need.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bordesley and Highgate
Confidence: high
The Trust’s stated activity is focused on maintaining and supporting the mission of St Alban and St Patrick parish in Highgate. The associated church is currently active in Highgate, and Birmingham City Council material identifies Highgate within the Bordesley and Highgate ward.
- Charity Commission record for The Aspinall Trust (charity 1061909), supplied organisation record
The Trust reports that it supports the maintenance and upkeep of the Church of St Alban the Martyr in the parish of St Alban and St Patrick, Highgate, Birmingham, alongside its mission and ecumenical activities and temporary support for parishioners. - St Alban the Martyr official website
The church identifies itself as the Church of England parish church for the people of Highgate, Birmingham, and lists current regular worship and community activity. - Birmingham City Council, Bordesley and Highgate Ward Action Plan
The Council's ward action plan identifies Highgate within Bordesley and Highgate ward, supporting assignment of the church-based activity to this ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- The Trust's registered correspondence address is in Selly Oak, but the available evidence does not show that services are delivered there; it should not be treated as an operational site.
- The Charity Commission states that the Trust does not own or lease land or property. Its operational connection to St Alban's Church is through funding and support for upkeep and parish activity, rather than evidence that it operates or owns the building directly.
- The available evidence does not identify the locations of grants to male ordinands or confirm whether these awards extend the Trust's activity beyond the Highgate parish.
- The church has connections with Ark St Alban's Academy, Stanhope Wellbeing Hub and Highgate United Food Bank, but the evidence does not establish that The Aspinall Trust itself funds, delivers or governs activity through those partnerships.
Additional evidence needed
- The Trust's latest annual report, accounts or grant-making records showing the recipients, purpose and geographic location of grants.
- Evidence from the Trust or parish confirming whether its financial support is confined to the ecclesiastical parish or supports activity elsewhere in Birmingham or beyond.
- Evidence identifying any current formal partnerships or funded projects in which the Trust, rather than the parish church generally, has a material role.
Areas of work
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Makes Grants To Organisations
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A church-centred civic anchor
The Trust appears primarily designed to sustain a specific parish church and its associated religious life, rather than to fund a broad range of community causes.
Why it matters
This clarifies that its contribution may be durable but geographically and institutionally concentrated: maintaining a venue, congregation and base for parish activity in Highgate.
Show evidence
“The general purposes of the Parish Church of St Alban and St Patrick, Highgate, Birmingham.”
Source:Charity Commission“The maintenance and upkeep of the Church of St. Alban the Martyr in the parish of St. Alban and St. Patrick, Highgate, Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation
Support extends beyond the building
Although property maintenance is central, the Trust may operate as an enabling fund for the parish’s outward-facing religious relationships and activity.
Why it matters
This suggests its local role should not be assessed only through the church building: support for mission and ecumenical work may create connections across congregations or faith-based networks.
Show evidence
“Its mission and ecumenical activities.”
Source:Organisation“Religious activities.”
Source:Charity Commission
A narrowly targeted individual-support function
The Trust appears to combine institutional grants with selective personal assistance, particularly for parishioners in temporary difficulty and male ordinands.
Why it matters
This mixed model may make the Trust an informal source of resilience within its religious network, while its eligibility criteria indicate that support is not universally accessible despite the broad beneficiary category.
Show evidence
“A loan to support parishioners requiring temporary financial support.”
Source:Organisation“Financial assistance for any who are male ordinands.”
Source:Organisation“Makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the Trust is financially active, and how its resources are divided between church upkeep, organisational grants and individual support.
- Which ecumenical partners, parish groups or wider communities benefit from its mission-related activity.
- Whether the male-ordinand provision reflects a historic restriction, a current practice or an infrequently used charitable power.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports, accounts and grant records showing expenditure, recipients and trends over time.
- Information from the parish or Trust about current programmes, partnerships and how temporary financial support is accessed.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The maintenance and upkeep of the Church of St. Alban the Martyr in the parish of St. Alban and St. Patrick, Highgate, Birmingham; It's mission and ecumenical activities - A loan to support parishioners requiring temporary financial support, and financial assistance for any who are male ordinands.
Charity objects
THE GENERAL PURPOSES OF THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST ALBAN AND ST PATRICK HIGHGATE BIRMINGHAM