The Birmingham Air Raids Remembrance Association
Charity 1110662
Overview
Summary
The Birmingham Air Raids Remembrance Association appears to operate as a small, member-led civic-memory organisation: preserving Birmingham’s civilian experience of the Second World War while turning remembrance into public education. Its role extends beyond an annual ceremony, combining memorial stewardship, historical recovery, publishing and school outreach. The available evidence suggests that BARRA’s distinctive contribution is to restore local recognition to experiences it believes were long underacknowledged, linking older witnesses, archival research and younger residents.
Operational geography
Coverage: Citywide
Operational areas:
- City Centre
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
City Centre
Confidence: high
The association identifies a regular monthly meeting venue and its annual remembrance service at St Martin in the Bull Ring. These are recurring public-facing activities at City Centre locations.
- BARRA official website, Contact Us and Annual Service of Remembrance sections
BARRA states that it meets one Saturday each month at The Brasshouse, and that its 2026 Annual Service of Remembrance is scheduled at St Martin in the Bull Ring. - Historic England, Parish Church of St Martin official list entry
The entry locates St Martin in the Bull Ring in Birmingham City Centre.
Remaining uncertainties
- BARRA offers school visits and visits to societies by arrangement, but its published material does not identify the schools, societies, neighbourhoods or frequency of these visits. It is therefore not possible to evidence additional operational wards.
- The registered address is a charity contact address, but the available evidence does not establish that it is a service-delivery site, meeting venue or publicly accessible operational base.
- The Lord Mayor's Office is listed as patron and Birmingham councillors are listed as officers, but the available evidence does not demonstrate a delivery partnership that materially extends BARRA's geographical reach.
- The annual service listed for 10 October 2026 is scheduled after 5 August 2026; it evidences planned City Centre activity rather than an event already delivered in 2026.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report, activity report or programme showing the locations and frequency of school and society visits.
- Confirmation from BARRA of whether its monthly meetings at The Brasshouse remain current and whether it uses any other regular venues.
- Details of any formal delivery arrangements with schools, Birmingham City Council, St Martin in the Bull Ring, or other heritage and education partners.
Areas of work
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Human Resources
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
It treats remembrance as a correction to civic invisibility
BARRA appears to see commemoration not only as honouring victims, but as addressing a perceived historical failure to recognise Birmingham’s wartime suffering and contribution.
Why it matters
This helps explain why the organisation invests in a memorial, a Roll of Honour and public awareness: its work is shaped by recognition and civic justice, not simply heritage interest.
Show evidence
“The association says a government Security 'D' Notice remained on Birmingham for a further thirty years after the war.”
Source:Organisation“The association was established following a desire to create a memorial to Birmingham civilians killed in bombing raids and publicise the city's wartime role.”
Source:Organisation
Its historical work connects generations rather than only preserving archives
BARRA appears to use wartime memory as an intergenerational civic resource, translating research, testimony and artefacts into learning for children and the wider public.
Why it matters
This suggests its educational role may be as important as its commemorative role, creating a route by which local history remains socially active as direct witnesses become fewer.
Show evidence
“Its objects include recording and publishing memories and obtaining photographs, artefacts and documents, especially to educate children.”
Source:Charity Commission“It offers school visits by arrangement and published a 190-page book of Blitz stories.”
Source:Organisation
The organisation combines volunteer continuity with civic legitimacy
Its monthly meetings, membership model and committee-led structure suggest a volunteer association, while relationships with the Lord Mayor's Office, councillors and St Martin-in-the-Bull Ring may provide public visibility and ceremonial legitimacy.
Why it matters
This combination may be central to its resilience: community ownership can sustain specialist knowledge, while civic links help make remembrance a city-wide rather than private activity.
Show evidence
“BARRA describes itself as a committee-led association elected by its members and charges annual membership of £10.”
Source:Organisation“The Lord Mayor's Office of Birmingham is listed as patron, and the annual service is held at St Martin-in-the-Bull Ring.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether BARRA has sufficient capacity to sustain archival, educational and commemorative work as founding members age.
- How many schools, residents and families engage with its activities, and which communities are least reached.
- Whether its civic relationships involve active collaboration, funding or primarily ceremonial support.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports, accounts and membership trends.
- Records of school visits, audiences, partnerships and participant feedback.
- Information on the memorial's stewardship, digital archives and plans for preserving collected testimony.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Hold monthly meeting, issue a monthly newsletter and annual Remembrance Service. Visit schools and societies to bring full awareness of Birmingham's wartime efforts which incurred the loss of 2241 civilians during 3 years of Blitz and approx 9000 injured.
Charity objects
THE TRUSTEES SHALL HOLD THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY AND ITS INCOME UPON TRUST, TO APPLY THEM FOR THE FOLLOWING OBJECTS (THE OBJECTS) IN BIRMINGHAM (THE AREA OF BENEFIT) A) TO FOSTER GOOD CITIZENSHIP FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MONUMENT TO COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN, AS THE BLITZ. B) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC (ESPECIALLY CHILDREN) BY RECORDING AND PUBLISHING MEMORIES, OBTAINING PHOTOGRAPHS OF INCIDENTS, ARTEFACTS AND DOCUMENTS, FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA. C) OR THROUGH ANY CHARITABLE MEANS THAT THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DEEM FIT.