The Congo Tree
Charity 1152557
Overview
Summary
The Congo Tree appears to be a youth-led capacity-building organisation connecting eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the UK, with its practical centre of gravity in supporting conflict-affected young people in eastern DRC. Rather than primarily delivering material aid, it seems to invest in young people as community actors: developing leadership, enterprise, creative problem-solving and peer mentoring through a structured programme. Its stated ambition combines individual progression with social cohesion, suggesting it sees youth development as a route to wider community resilience.
Operational geography
Coverage: International
Operational areas:
- City Centre
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
City Centre
Confidence: medium
The organisation’s current Charity Commission entry says that it operates in Birmingham City, while its organisation-controlled LinkedIn profile identifies Birmingham City Centre as its headquarters. However, the most recent statutory contact address is in Bedford, and the charity reports that it does not own or lease property; this leaves uncertainty over whether the Birmingham City Centre address remains a staffed operational base and whether any direct services are delivered there.
- Charity Commission Register of Charities, The Congo Tree (charity 1152557), current entry
The charity’s declared places of operation include Birmingham City; its current registered contact address is in Bedford, and it reports that it does not own or lease land or property. - The Congo Tree LinkedIn organisation profile
The profile identifies the organisation’s headquarters as being in Birmingham City Centre. - The Congo Tree trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2021
The report listed a Birmingham City Centre address as the charity’s principal address, corroborating a historical Birmingham City Centre office presence.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available current evidence does not identify any Birmingham-based programme, beneficiary group, training session or neighbourhood-level service delivery. The organisation’s website instead describes its youth-development work as supporting young people affected by conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
- It is unclear whether the Birmingham City Centre address remains an active operational office, a serviced/registered office, or an outdated address: the latest Charity Commission contact record uses a Bedford address.
- The latest annual report states that the charity works in the DRC and UK and with local community organisations, but does not name Birmingham partners or describe material partnership-delivered activity within Birmingham.
- Birmingham should not be interpreted as the organisation's principal delivery geography. The available evidence indicates an international operational identity, with direct youth leadership activity centred on eastern DRC and a UK organisational presence.
Additional evidence needed
- A current official contact or annual-report statement confirming whether the Birmingham City Centre address is an active office and its operational function.
- A current programme, event, impact or partnership report identifying any services delivered in Birmingham, including locations, frequency and intended beneficiaries.
- Confirmation from the organisation of whether Birmingham activity is limited to administration, fundraising and governance support, or includes direct delivery to young people in the city.
Areas of work
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Youth development is positioned as community change infrastructure
The available evidence suggests The Congo Tree treats young people not only as recipients of support but as people equipped to influence the communities around them. Leadership, enterprise and mentoring appear to be its mechanisms for turning personal development into wider local contribution.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the organisation from a service focused solely on individual outcomes. Its value may lie in strengthening local capability and informal leadership where conflict has disrupted opportunity and trust.
Show evidence
“The organisation supports young people affected by conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Source:Organisation“It provides leadership training, entrepreneurial skills and support for artistic endeavours.”
Source:Organisation“Its objects include helping young people contribute positively to the lives of others.”
Source:Charity Commission
Its operating model appears deliberately relational rather than transactional
The programme's retreat-to-mentoring structure suggests that sustained peer relationships are central to delivery, not an optional addition. Training leader mentors separately before pairing them with young leaders may indicate an intention to distribute support capacity through participants.
Why it matters
This may make the organisation more than a training provider: it appears to cultivate a support network that could persist beyond a single event and reduce reliance on short-term external intervention.
Show evidence
“The programme begins with separate intensive training retreats for leader mentors and young leaders.”
Source:Charity Commission“Young leaders are paired with mentors for a minimum period of 12 months.”
Source:Charity Commission“The WYLD Programme provides mentorship training and support.”
Source:Organisation
Social cohesion is embedded alongside employability
The organisation appears to combine economic and leadership goals with an explicit concern for reducing ethnic, cultural and other boundaries. This may reflect an understanding that opportunity alone is insufficient in settings shaped by long-term conflict.
Why it matters
It suggests a distinctive dual strategy: supporting livelihoods and agency while also creating conditions for cooperation across divisions. Potential partners may therefore include peacebuilding, arts and youth-employment organisations, not only education providers.
Show evidence
“Its objects include creating opportunities for self-sustaining employment or skills to increase employability.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its objects include creating a safe environment for the breakdown of ethnic, cultural and other boundaries through team and group activities.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its beneficiaries include young people affected by poverty, social and economic circumstances, including long-term conflict.”
Source:Charity Commission
- The evidence does not show the scale, locations or continuity of activity in the DRC or UK.
- It is unclear how participants are selected, whether mentoring is locally led, and what outcomes are achieved.
- The role of artistic support within the wider programme is not described.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent programme reports showing participant numbers, locations, mentor relationships and outcomes over time.
- Participant and partner perspectives on whether the programme strengthens employment, leadership and cross-community relationships.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
THE CONGO TREE RUNS A LIFE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WHICH USES PEER-LEARNING TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, STRATEGIC FUTURE PLANNING AND SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING.THE PROGRAMME BEGINS WITH AN INTENSIVE TRAINING RETREAT, ONE FOR LEADER MENTORS AND A SEPARATE ONE FOR YOUNG LEADERS WHO ARE THEN PAIRED UP IN A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS.
Charity objects
TO ACT AS A RESOURCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND UK BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE, AND ORGANISING PROGRAMMES OF INFORMAL EDUCATION, MENTORING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES AS A MEANS OF: A)ADVANCING IN LIFE AND HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE BY DEVELOPING THEIR SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS INDEPENDENT, RESPONSIBLE AND MATURE INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS B)ADVANCING EDUCATION; SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREAS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING, LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY AND RESPONSIBILITY AND CREATIVITY IN ENTERPRISE C)HELPING CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT OR SKILLS TO INCREASE EMPLOYABILITY D)CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF ETHNIC, CULTURAL AND/OR OTHER BOUNDARIES THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN TEAM AND GROUP WORK ACTIVITIES E)PROVIDING RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITY IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE OF YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN DRC AND UK WHO HAVE NEED BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, POVERTY, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES (INCLUDING LONG-TERM CONFLICT) WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE OF SUCH PERSONS.