The Colebridge Trust Ltd

Charity 1155468

www.colebridge.org

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

The Colebridge Trust appears to operate as a place-based community-development intermediary: it combines direct support for residents facing exclusion with infrastructure, space and fundraising support for local voluntary organisations. Its role is broader than a single-service provider, linking employment, wellbeing, practical assistance and community capacity in North Solihull and nearby areas. The available evidence suggests an organisation designed to reduce inequalities both directly and by strengthening the local civic networks through which longer-term change may occur.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: Regional

Operational areas:

    Evidence and reasoning
    Supporting evidence
    Remaining uncertainties
    • There is direct current evidence that the charity declares it operates in Birmingham City, Solihull and Warwickshire, and its website describes operations in Solihull, Birmingham and surrounding areas. This supports a regional overall footprint, but does not identify a current Birmingham ward or recognised place.
    • The organisation's named current physical sites are Junction Community Centre in Fordbridge/Chelmsley Wood, Evergreen Family Hub and Colebridge Enterprises in Kingshurst, and offices/community-centre activity in Chelmsley Wood and Smith's Wood. These support operational activity in those areas, but do not support treating them as Birmingham operational areas.
    • The latest accessible trustees' report, for the year ended 31 March 2024, records Active Communities work in East Birmingham and a Commonwealth Games-linked project supporting young people in Birmingham and Solihull. It does not specify the Birmingham neighbourhoods, venues, delivery dates beyond that reporting year, or whether these activities remain live.
    • Colebridge's operational identity appears primarily neighbourhood- and district-focused in North Solihull, with material but geographically unspecified Birmingham activity. The evidence does not support classifying any individual Birmingham ward as a current operational area.
    Additional evidence needed
    • A current annual report, impact report or programme directory identifying live Birmingham projects and their delivery locations.
    • Current contracts, partnership pages or programme materials that name the Birmingham wards, neighbourhoods or venues used for Active Communities, employment, youth or health-and-wellbeing delivery.
    • Service monitoring data distinguishing Birmingham delivery locations from the home locations of beneficiaries.

    Areas of work

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Accommodation/housing
    • Amateur Sport
    • Disability
    • Economic/community Development/employment
    • Education/training
    • Environment/conservation/heritage
    • Other Charitable Purposes
    • Recreation
    • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
    • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

    Who they help

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Children/young People
    • Elderly/old People
    • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
    • Other Defined Groups
    • People With Disabilities
    • The General Public/mankind

    How they help

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
    • Makes Grants To Organisations
    • Other Charitable Activities
    • 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

    Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

    • A dual role: frontline support and civic infrastructure

      Colebridge appears to address inequality through two connected routes: direct help to individuals and families, and capacity-building for other voluntary organisations. This may make it an enabling organisation within Solihull’s wider community system rather than only a service provider.

      Why it matters

      Understanding this dual role helps explain why its activities span practical support, employment, facilities, advice and grants. Its potential influence may extend beyond the people using its own services.

      Show evidence

      • “The organisation supports individuals, families and community organisations across Solihull, Birmingham and surrounding areas.”

        Source:Organisation

      • “Its objects include building the capacity of voluntary sector organisations and providing support, information and services.”

        Source:Charity Commission

    • Community assets appear central to the operating model

      The Trust appears to use locally rooted venues and enterprises as delivery infrastructure, not merely as locations. Its centres, social supermarket, family hub and social enterprise may create multiple entry points into support, participation and work opportunities.

      Why it matters

      This suggests that relationships, trusted physical presence and practical assets may be as important to its role as individual programmes. It may be unusually well positioned to connect needs that are often addressed separately.

      Show evidence

      • “Work is delivered through Junction Community Centre, Around Again Social Supermarket, Unit 21 Social Enterprise and Evergreen Family Hub.”

        Source:Organisation

      • “The charity provides buildings, facilities, services, advocacy, information and human resources.”

        Source:Charity Commission

    • Its strategy may be to connect intertwined inequalities

      Colebridge appears to treat poverty, employment, skills, health, disability, isolation and community participation as connected rather than separate issues. Its broad remit may reflect the realities of neighbourhood disadvantage, where barriers reinforce one another.

      Why it matters

      This helps distinguish the Trust from specialist providers. Its comparative value may lie in coordinating support around people’s circumstances, although the evidence does not confirm whether this is formally integrated in practice.

      Show evidence

      • “The organisation tackles inequalities relating to health, wellbeing, inclusion, poverty, employment and skills.”

        Source:Organisation

      • “Its objects include relief of unemployment, education and training, recreational facilities, public health facilities and urban regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation.”

        Source:Charity Commission

      Remaining uncertainties

    • How the Trust prioritises resources between direct delivery, social enterprise activity and voluntary-sector support.
    • Which local organisations, public bodies and funders are core partners, and whether the Trust occupies a formal convening role.
    • Whether its broad service offer produces sustained outcomes for residents and local groups.

      Additional evidence needed

    • Recent annual reports or impact data showing service reach, outcomes, finances and changes over time.
    • Evidence of referral routes, partnership agreements and the organisations supported through its capacity-building work.
    Charity Commission profile
    Source:Charity Commission

    Activities

    Tackling inequalities relating to health, wellbeing, inclusion, poverty, employment and skills in Solihull and surrounding areas (Birmingham & Warwickshire). To promote the voluntary sector for the public benefit in Solihull by building the capacity of voluntary sector organisations and providing them with the necessary support, information and services.

    Charity objects

    THE OBJECTS OF THE COMPANY (”THE OBJECTS”) ARE SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTED TO THE FOLLOWING: A.THE PROMOTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC OF URBAN REGENERATION IN AREAS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION IN SOLIHULL BY ALL OR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MEANS: I. THE RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT: II. THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, TRAINING OR RETRAINING, PARTICULARLY AMONG UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE, AND PROVIDING UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE WITH WORK EXPERIENCE: III. THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR BUSINESS ADVICE OR CONSULTANCY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE IN CASES OF FINANCIAL OR OTHER CHARITABLE NEED THROUGH HELP: (I) IN SETTING UP THEIR OWN BUSINESS, OR (II) TO EXISTING BUSINESSES: IV. THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE OR THOSE WHO BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABLEMENT, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES: V. THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES: VI. SUCH OTHER MEANS AS MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE DETERMINED SUBJECT TO THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES. B.TO PROMOTE THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN SOLIHULL BY BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF VOLUNTARY SECTOR ORGANISATIONS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE NECESSARY SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND SERVICES TO ENABLE THEM TO PURSUE OR CONTRIBUTE TO ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE. ‘THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR’ MEANS CHARITIES AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS CHARITIES ARE ORGANISATIONS, WHICH ARE ESTABLISHED FOR EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES. VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS ARE INDEPENDENT ORGANISATIONS, WHICH ARE ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES THAT ADD VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, OR A SIGNIFICANT SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WHICH ARE NOT PERMITTED BY THEIR CONSTITUTION TO MAKE A PROFIT FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION. VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS DO NOT INCLUDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR OTHER STATUTORY AUTHORITIES C.SUCH OTHER PURPOSES AS ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINE