The Ernest Mason Youth Foundation
Charity 522858
https://www.ernestmasonfoundation.co.uk/
Overview
Summary
The Ernest Mason Youth Foundation appears to be a place-based charitable asset for youth flourishing in Attwood Green and nearby Birmingham, combining a long-standing youth-development purpose with control of a building or facilities. Its role may be less that of a direct youth provider and more that of an enabling institution: maintaining space and potentially resourcing other voluntary organisations. The current pause on grant applications suggests its outward funding role is presently constrained, being reviewed, or secondary to stewardship of its physical base.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Ladywood
Confidence: high
The Foundation’s current operational asset, the E.R. Mason Youth Centre, is identified by Birmingham City Council as being in Ladywood. The Foundation states that CCS Birmingham Ltd currently delivers youth work from this centre, in partnership with Birmingham City Council Youth Service.
- Ernest Mason Youth Foundation, The Building
States that the E.R. Mason Youth Centre currently delivers youth work through CCS Birmingham Ltd in partnership with Birmingham City Council Youth Service, engaging young people in the area. - Ernest Mason Youth Foundation, Our History
States that CCS Birmingham holds a licence from the Foundation to deliver youth work and manage the building. - Birmingham City Council, E R Mason Youth Centre directory record
Identifies E R Mason Youth Centre's ward as Ladywood.
Remaining uncertainties
- The Foundation describes its intended geography as Attwood Green and the surrounding area of Birmingham, but does not define the surrounding catchment or identify additional current service locations. It would therefore be unsafe to assign neighbouring wards.
- The Charity Commission record says that the charity operates in Birmingham City and that grant-making is its main method. However, no current grant-recipient list, grant locations or programme information was found to demonstrate an operational footprint across the city.
- CCS Birmingham Ltd and Birmingham City Council Youth Service materially support delivery at the Ladywood youth centre, but the available evidence does not show that these partnerships extend the Foundation's current activity to other Birmingham locations.
- The Foundation's registered contact address at Gas Street St Luke's differs from the youth-centre address. The available evidence supports treating the youth centre as the operational site and treating the registered address cautiously as an administrative or correspondence address.
Additional evidence needed
- A current list of grants awarded by the Foundation, including recipient organisations and delivery locations.
- Current service timetables, referral information or an operating agreement for E.R. Mason Youth Centre showing its defined catchment and any outreach activity.
- Confirmation from the Foundation or CCS Birmingham Ltd of whether Foundation-funded youth work takes place at sites other than the E.R. Mason Youth Centre.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Education/training
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
How they help
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A local youth asset with a broad developmental purpose
The Foundation appears to frame youth provision as more than recreation: leisure-time activity is intended to support physical, mental and spiritual development. Its focus on Attwood Green and the surrounding area suggests a geographically rooted role rather than a citywide generic grant-maker.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the Foundation from organisations focused on a single issue or service. It may be relevant to partners seeking locally grounded space, support or activity that addresses young people's wider development.
Show evidence
“We exist to see the lives of young people flourish in their physical, mental, and spiritual capabilities in the Attwood Green area and the surrounding area of Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation“TO HELP AND EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES.”
Source:Charity Commission
Its distinctive contribution may be infrastructure rather than delivery
The available evidence suggests the Foundation may operate primarily by making facilities available and supporting other voluntary bodies, rather than solely running activities itself. Its building is prominent on the website, while its registered methods include grants and buildings or open space.
Why it matters
An organisation that controls usable civic space can influence local youth provision indirectly, by enabling multiple groups rather than delivering one programme. This makes its relationships with occupiers, local youth groups and voluntary organisations especially important to understand.
Show evidence
“Makes Grants To Organisations, Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space.”
Source:Charity Commission“Children/young People, Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies.”
Source:Charity Commission“The Building.”
Source:Organisation
There is a possible gap between charitable capacity and currently accessible support
Although grant-making is a stated charitable method, the Foundation is not currently accepting grant applications. This may indicate limited available funds, a strategic pause, or a model in which grants are occasional rather than continuously open.
Why it matters
Potential partners should not assume that registered grant-making translates into immediately available funding. The contrast also raises a useful question: whether the Foundation's most active current contribution is its building, targeted relationships, or another form of support not visible here.
Show evidence
“Makes Grants To Organisations.”
Source:Charity Commission“We are not currently accepting grant applications at this time.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether the Foundation directly delivers youth activities, leases or hosts space for others, or mainly acts as a funder and property steward.
- Which communities, age groups and organisations currently use or benefit from its building and resources.
- Why grant applications are closed and whether alternative partnership routes remain available.
Remaining uncertainties
- Details of current programmes, building users, partner organisations and the number of young people reached.
- Recent annual reports or accounts showing spending on grants, property, activities and community partnerships.
- Information on the grant pause, eligibility, decision-making process and expected reopening arrangements.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
TO HELP AND EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES.
Charity objects
TO HELP AND EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES, SO TO DEVELOP THEIR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL CAPACITIES THAT THEY MAY GROW TO FULL MATURITY AS INDIVIDUALS AND MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND THAT THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE MAY BE IMPROVED, AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN YOUTH CLUBS IN OR NEAR THE CITY AND COUNTY BOROUGH. PREFERENCE TO BE GIVEN TO THE PROVISION OF A YOUTH CLUB IN OR NEAR THE PARISH OF ST. THOMAS AND IMMANUEL.