The Feast Youth Project
Charity 1146574
Overview
Summary
The Feast Youth Project appears to occupy a distinctive civic role as a youth-centred interfaith bridge-builder: it works not primarily by representing a single community, but by creating structured opportunities for teenagers from different faiths, cultures and backgrounds to form relationships and discuss difference. Its model combines direct work with young people and capacity-building for adults who influence them, with activity concentrated in a small number of diverse urban areas.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East
Confidence: low
Direct current evidence identifies Sparkbrook as The Feast's West Midlands contact location and national-office base. However, the evidence does not establish activity within the named ward.
- The Feast website, Contact Us / Locations page
The site describes Birmingham as The Feast's base and largest centre of activity, with trustees and administration, finance, resources and communications functions located there; it identifies Sparkbrook as the West Midlands contact location. - Charity Commission register, The Feast Youth Project (charity 1146574)
The register states that the charity's national office is in Sparkbrook, Birmingham.
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence supports a current operational base in Sparkbrook, but does not identify the Birmingham schools, faith groups or venues currently used for delivery. It is therefore not possible to evidence additional named Birmingham wards.
- The Feast's website says its schools work now reaches across the West Midlands, while the Charity Commission records Birmingham City as an operational area. This reasonably indicates a footprint extending beyond its Sparkbrook base, but does not demonstrate delivery in every Birmingham ward or establish a specifically citywide pattern within Birmingham.
- The organisation's operational identity is not fundamentally neighbourhood-based: Birmingham is described as its largest centre of activity, but it also has active listed operations in Luton and Tower Hamlets and describes training and resources with wider reach. The evidence supports national-scale operations overall, while the intensity and current geography of Birmingham delivery remain unclear.
- The available evidence refers to local colleagues, faith leaders, volunteers, schools and local advisory groups, but does not name current Birmingham delivery partners or show which partnerships materially determine particular Birmingham locations.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual or impact report listing Birmingham schools, youth groups, encounter venues or delivery locations.
- A current West Midlands programme plan or events record distinguishing Birmingham delivery from work elsewhere in the West Midlands.
- Confirmation from The Feast of the current schools, faith-community and venue partners through which its Birmingham work is delivered.
Areas of work
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- Children/young People
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Its core intervention is relationship-building across difference
The available evidence suggests that The Feast treats friendship, dialogue and confidence in personal identity as linked conditions for social cohesion. Rather than framing young people as passive recipients of tolerance education, it appears to position them as active peacemakers.
Why it matters
This explains why encounters, residentials and school activity are central: the organisation's likely value lies in changing relationships between groups, not only increasing knowledge about faith.
Show evidence
“The Feast brings together teenagers from different faiths and cultures to build friendships, explore faith and change lives.”
Source:Organisation“It encourages young people to build meaningful friendships with people who are different from themselves and discuss beliefs and challenging issues honestly and respectfully.”
Source:Organisation
It combines frontline delivery with a multiplier model
The Feast appears to extend its influence beyond its own events by equipping volunteers, youth workers and others working with young people. This may allow its interfaith practice to travel into schools, church youth groups and other existing settings.
Why it matters
Understanding this dual role is important because the organisation may be both a service provider and a specialist resource for institutions that lack confidence or tools for interfaith youth work.
Show evidence
“The charity provides support and training to those who work with and amongst young people.”
Source:Charity Commission“Resources have been developed by members of The Feast team to help bring together people from different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds.”
Source:Organisation“The Feast works in schools and with church youth groups.”
Source:Organisation
Its faith-based identity is both a focus and a possible bridge
The charity's objects give particular emphasis to Christian and Muslim young people and Christian principles, while its current public activity describes work involving Sikh, Roma and wider belief or social backgrounds. This may indicate an operating model that began with a specific interfaith relationship but is capable of convening broader local diversity.
Why it matters
This tension is useful for understanding where The Feast may have unusual credibility: it can address faith seriously rather than treating it as incidental, while potentially connecting communities that are often approached separately.
Show evidence
“The objects particularly concern Christian and Muslim young people and promoting religious harmony consistent with Christian principles.”
Source:Charity Commission“A Luton project brought together teenagers from Muslim, Sikh and Christian faiths, as well as teenagers from the Roma Community.”
Source:Organisation“The Feast brings together young people from different faith, belief, ethnic and social backgrounds.”
Source:Organisation
- There is no evidence of the scale, frequency or outcomes of activities in Birmingham, Luton or Tower Hamlets.
- It is unclear which schools, faith organisations and community partners provide referral routes, venues or delivery capacity.
- There is insufficient evidence about whether relationships formed through activities persist beyond individual events.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or impact evaluation showing participant numbers, demographic reach, repeat engagement and measured outcomes.
- Information on local partners, school relationships, volunteer structure and the relative scale of direct delivery versus training.
- Accounts of young people's experiences, including whether the programme reaches those with limited prior contact across faith or cultural difference.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The Feast runs a variety of events bringing together young people from different faith, belief, ethnic and social backgrounds. This includes schools work, residentials, youth encounters and work with church youth groups. Our National Office is located in Sparkbrook, Birmingham and our activities are mainly in Birmingham, Luton and Tower Hamlets in London.
Charity objects
1) THE COMPANY'S OBJECTS ARE TO PROMOTE GOOD CITIZENSHIP FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OR THE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT IN PARTICULAR AMONGST CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM YOUNG PEOPLE BY:- A) PROMOTING RELIGIOUS HARMONY CONSISTENT WITH CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES THROUGH THE RAISING OF AWARENESS OF DISTINCTIVE FEATURES AND COMMON GROUND PRESENT IN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS HELD AMONGST SUCH YOUNG PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS; B) PROMOTING KNOWLEDGE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT OF THE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS FAITHS THROUGH FACILITATING FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AMONGST SUCH YOUNG PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS, IN PARTICULAR WITHIN SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND C) PROVIDING SUPPORT AND TRAINING TO THOSE WHO WORK WITH AND AMONGST SUCH YOUNG PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, TO BETTER ENABLE THEM TO PROMOTE COHESION AND MUTUAL RESPECT AMONGST SUCH YOUNG PEOPLE.