The Gap (Midlands)

Charity 1127347

www.thegap-midlands.org

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

The Gap (Midlands) appears to operate as a relationship-based youth infrastructure organisation in Sutton Coldfield: creating accessible spaces between home and education, then connecting these to school-based mentoring and street outreach. Its distinctive role is not simply providing activities, but maintaining trusted contact across the settings where young people may become isolated or disengage. The available evidence suggests it combines informal belonging, early support and routes towards education, employment and adult responsibility.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sutton Trinity

Confidence: low

The organisation has a clearly identified, regularly open delivery site on Trinity Hill, and identifies Sutton Coldfield town centre as the focus of both its drop-in provision and detached youth work. The available evidence does not independently establish the ward assignment.

  • The Gap (Midlands), The Venue page
    The Venue is described as the organisation's major point of contact with young people and is open three afternoons each week at Trinity Hill, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.
  • The Gap (Midlands), Projects page
    Out There! is described as detached street youth work in and around Sutton Coldfield Town Centre.
  • The Gap (Midlands), Partnerships page
    Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church continues to provide its Trinity Hill town-centre building for The Venue.
Sutton Four Oaks

Confidence: high

The Gap states that its HeadSpace schools and colleges service currently works with Arthur Terry School, which is located in this ward.

  • The Gap (Midlands), Partnerships page
    Arthur Terry School is listed among the schools and colleges where the HeadSpace project currently works.
  • Birmingham City Council, The Arthur Terry School directory entry
    The Arthur Terry School is listed in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, with ward recorded as Sutton Four Oaks.
Sutton Reddicap

Confidence: high

The Gap identifies Fairfax as a current HeadSpace partner, and the school is located in Sutton Reddicap ward.

  • The Gap (Midlands), Partnerships page
    Fairfax School is listed among the schools and colleges where the HeadSpace project currently works.
  • Birmingham City Council, Fairfax directory entry
    Fairfax is listed in Sutton Coldfield, with ward recorded as Sutton Reddicap.
Stockland Green

Confidence: low

The Gap identifies Riverside Vocational College as a current HeadSpace partner. The available evidence does not independently establish the ward assignment. This is a secondary, partnership-enabled delivery area rather than evidence of a general local service base.

  • The Gap (Midlands), Partnerships page
    Riverside Vocational College is listed among the schools and colleges where the HeadSpace project currently works.
Remaining uncertainties
  • The evidence strongly supports a Sutton Coldfield-centred operational identity, but does not quantify the volume, frequency or duration of HeadSpace delivery at each named school or college.
  • Out There! is said to operate in Sutton Coldfield town centre and surrounding areas, but the organisation does not define the boundaries of those surrounding areas; no additional wards should therefore be inferred from that wording.
  • The Gap also lists Walsall Studio School as a current HeadSpace partner, indicating some operational reach beyond Birmingham, but the available evidence does not show that this is substantial enough to make the organisation region-wide in character.
  • Banners Gate Community Church is the registered office and provides office and storage space. It should not be treated as a public delivery site on the available evidence.
Additional evidence needed
  • A current HeadSpace delivery schedule or annual report identifying the schools and colleges visited, delivery frequency and type of support.
  • A current locality list for Out There! detached youth work.
  • Monitoring data showing the relative scale of activity at The Venue, in Sutton Coldfield schools and colleges, and at outlying partner sites.

Areas of work

Source:Charity Commission
  • Arts/culture/heritage/science
  • Education/training
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • Recreation
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

Who they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Children/young People

How they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides Human Resources

Discoveries involving this organisation

The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.

Observations

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

  • It works across the gaps between institutions

    The organisation appears designed to maintain contact with young people across school, public spaces and an informal drop-in setting, rather than relying on a single referral route or service location.

    Why it matters

    This helps explain its potential role as connective civic infrastructure: it may identify needs that are less visible within schools or formal support systems and sustain support when young people move between settings.

    Show evidence

    • “The Gap describes itself as stepping into the space between school and home, which it calls a third space.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “HeadSpace delivers assemblies, workshops and one-to-one mentoring in schools and colleges.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “OutThere provides detached street youth work in Sutton Coldfield town centre and surrounding areas.”

      Source:Organisation

  • Belonging appears to be the operating mechanism, not an incidental benefit

    The activities and testimonials suggest that informal social connection and trusted adult relationships are central mechanisms through which The Gap seeks to improve wellbeing, behaviour and future prospects.

    Why it matters

    This distinguishes the organisation from a conventional activity provider. Its value may lie particularly in reaching young people whose needs are relational, emotional or emerging before they meet thresholds for specialist services.

    Show evidence

    • “The Venue offers an informal drop-in centre and safe space for 12-18 year olds after school or college.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The organisation reports reducing isolation for up to 20 teenagers per day at The Venue through positive relationships and group activities.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “Testimonials describe The Venue as a safe space and mentors as providing non-judgemental support.”

      Source:Organisation

  • Its stated mission is broad, but its visible delivery is locally concentrated

    Although its charitable objects permit work across the UK or world, the available evidence indicates a strongly place-based model centred on Sutton Coldfield and nearby schools, colleges and public spaces.

    Why it matters

    This suggests its local knowledge and repeated presence may be important assets. It also raises a useful question about whether the organisation intends to deepen this locality-based role or develop a wider reach.

    Show evidence

    • “The charity's objects refer to Sutton Coldfield and such other parts of the United Kingdom or world as trustees think fit.”

      Source:Charity Commission

    • “The Gap was established to support teenagers and young people in Sutton Coldfield.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The Venue is located in the heart of Sutton Coldfield.”

      Source:Organisation

    Remaining uncertainties

  • There is no independent evidence of reach, demographic profile, referral pathways or outcomes.
  • It is unclear how The Gap coordinates with schools, statutory youth services, mental-health services or other local organisations.
  • The balance between faith-based practice and universally accessible delivery is not described.

    Additional evidence needed

  • Annual impact data showing participation, repeat engagement, outcomes and unmet demand by project.
  • Information on referral, partnership and safeguarding arrangements with local schools, health, social care and youth-sector organisations.
Charity Commission profile
Source:Charity Commission

Activities

The charity exists to engage with, identify needs of, and invest in the lives of marginalised young people in Sutton Coldfield and the surrounding areas. The charity offers activities, mentoring, training and support for the benefit of, and personal, social, economic and spiritual development of the young people it serves.

Charity objects

THE CHARITY'S OBJECTS ("THE OBJECTS") ARE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF BELIEFS APPEARING IN THE SCHEDULE HERETO, IN SUTTON COLDFIELD AND IN SUCH OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR THE WORLD AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT, PARTICULARLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY OFFERING AND DEMONSTRATING TO MARGINALISED YOUNG PEOPLE (NORMALLY BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 AND 25 YEARS) THE ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES OR SITUATIONS, SO AS TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE AND DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE ADULTS AND TO FULFIL SUCH OTHER PURPOSES WHICH ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES AND ARE CONNECTED WITH THE CHARITABLE WORK OF THE CHARITY.