The Harborne Parish Lands Charity

Charity 219031

www.hplc.org.uk

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

The Harborne Parish Lands Charity appears to be a long-established, place-rooted local welfare institution rather than a single-purpose housing provider or grant-maker. Its role combines supported sheltered accommodation for older or disabled people with grants to individuals and organisations facing need. Its unusually specific area of benefit, based on historic ecclesiastical parishes across Harborne, Smethwick, Bearwood and parts of Quinton, suggests that its local identity and reach are shaped by inherited geography as much as present-day administrative boundaries.

See observations

Operational geography

No operational geography is currently available for this organisation.

Areas of work

Source:Charity Commission
  • Accommodation/housing
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

Who they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Children/young People
  • Elderly/old People
  • People With Disabilities
  • The General Public/mankind

How they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Makes Grants To Individuals
  • 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

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

  • A hybrid local safety-net model

    The available evidence suggests that the charity addresses hardship through two different routes: long-term housing and more flexible grant support. This may allow it to respond both to sustained vulnerability among residents and to wider or shorter-term needs in the local area.

    Why it matters

    This helps distinguish the charity from organisations focused solely on housing or emergency grants. Its potential value may lie in connecting stable accommodation, personal support and locally targeted financial assistance.

    Show evidence

    • “It provides grants and sheltered accommodation for older people.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “It provides grants to individuals and organisations and housing with support for 100 elderly or disabled people.”

      Source:Charity Commission

  • Its geography follows a historic community footprint

    Its area of benefit appears to be defined by former parish relationships rather than a single modern neighbourhood or local-authority boundary. This may create a distinctive bridge between Harborne and parts of Smethwick, Bearwood and Quinton.

    Why it matters

    Understanding this footprint is important when identifying potential partners and beneficiaries: the charity may connect communities that are often treated separately in current civic planning.

    Show evidence

    • “We work in Harborne, Smethwick and parts of Bearwood and Quinton.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The area of benefit is defined as specified ecclesiastical parishes in Harborne, Smethwick and Quinton.”

      Source:Charity Commission

  • Housing provision is embedded in a regulated charitable structure

    The charity appears to combine local charitable discretion with formal social-housing accountability. Its membership of sector bodies may indicate that its almshouse heritage is supported by contemporary housing governance.

    Why it matters

    This suggests the organisation may be a durable local asset with responsibilities and capabilities beyond informal community support, while also potentially facing the constraints of regulated housing provision.

    Show evidence

    • “We are registered with the Regulator of Social Housing as a Social Landlord.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “A member of the Almshouse Association.”

      Source:Organisation

    Remaining uncertainties

  • How grants are allocated, including their scale, priorities and whether they complement housing provision.
  • Whether the 100 supported homes meet current local demand or have waiting-list pressures.
  • Which local organisations receive grants or work in partnership with the charity.

    Additional evidence needed

  • Recent annual reports, accounts and grant-award records.
  • Information on housing residents, support arrangements, demand and waiting lists.
  • A list of funded organisations and documented local partnerships.
Charity Commission profile
Source:Charity Commission

Activities

THE CHARITY WORKS WITHIN THE ANCIENT PARISH OF HARBORNE (HARBORNE & SMETHWICK AND PARTS OF QUINTON AND BEARWOOD). IT PROVIDES GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS WHICH SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THE AREA AND ALSO PROVIDES HOUSING WITH SUPPORT FOR 100 ELDELY OR DISABLED PEOPLE

Charity objects

THE PROVISION OF ALMSHOUSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF POOR PERSONS RESIDENT IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ALMSPEOPLE OF THE CHARITY OR ANY OF THEM IN SUCH MANNER AS THE TRUSTEES THINK FIT FROM TIME TO TIME. FOR RELIEVING EITHER GENERALLY OR INDIVIDUALLY PERSONS WHO ARE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED, HARDSHIP OR DISTRESS. FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE SCHEME OF 21 MAY 1979. THE AREA OF BENEFIT SHALL MEAN THE AREA OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISHES OF ST. BONIFACE QUINTON ROAD WEST, BIRMINGHAM, ST. FAITH AND ST. LAURENCE, HARBORNE, ST. JOHN, HARBORNE, ST. PETER, HARBORNE, ST. ALBANS, SMETHWICK, ST. CHAD, SMETHWICK, ST. MARY, SMETHWICK, ST. MATTHEW, SMETHWICK, ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, SMETHWICK, ST. STEPHENS, SMETHWICK AND ST. PAUL, WEST SMETHWICK.