The Living Environment Trust
Charity 1122272
www.thelivingenvironmenttrust.co.uk
Overview
Summary
The Living Environment Trust appears to use environmental restoration as a practical route into wider civic benefit. Rather than treating conservation as a standalone aim, it combines the management of neglected urban places with education, skills development, community participation and accessible experiences. Its role may therefore sit at the intersection of environmental improvement, inclusion and neighbourhood renewal, with particular relevance to places where environmental, social or economic disadvantage overlap.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence: the Charity Commission record, using information current to the annual return for the year ended 31 March 2025 (submitted 22 January 2026), lists Birmingham City among the places where the charity operates. It does not identify any Birmingham ward, neighbourhood, project site or City Centre location.
- Reasonable interpretation: the charity has a regional rather than Birmingham-neighbourhood operational identity, as its declared operating area also includes Coventry City, Solihull, Walsall and Warwickshire; the register describes its area of benefit in practice as the West Midlands and Warwickshire.
- The evidence does not establish where services are currently delivered within Birmingham, whether any Birmingham activity is active rather than retained as a declared operating area, or the scale and frequency of that activity.
- No physical operational site in Birmingham is evidenced. The registered/contact address is in Coventry, and the Charity Commission record states that the charity does not own or lease land or property.
- No current partnership has been evidenced that materially extends the charity's operational reach within Birmingham.
- The reported income for the year ended 31 March 2025 was £0, which increases uncertainty about the extent of current frontline delivery despite Birmingham being listed as an operating area.
Additional evidence needed
- A current service, project or delivery plan naming Birmingham locations, wards or neighbourhoods.
- Recent annual-report narrative, impact report, project monitoring data or contract/grant documentation showing activity in Birmingham.
- Confirmation from the organisation of any current Birmingham delivery sites, land-management locations, canal operations or delivery partners.
Areas of work
- Animals
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- Environment/conservation/heritage
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Environmental work is a platform for wider participation
The Trust appears to use hands-on environmental projects not only to improve places, but also to create training, learning and involvement opportunities for people who may otherwise be excluded.
Why it matters
This suggests its contribution cannot be understood solely through restored land or habitats; its operating model may create social and developmental value through participation in environmental work.
Show evidence
“The objects include providing young people, disadvantaged individuals and community groups with training, retraining and practical experience through projects benefiting the environment.”
Source:Charity Commission“The principal activity concerns environmental management of neglected inner city sites alongside education and community engagement programmes.”
Source:Organisation
The Trust focuses on the boundary between urban neglect and nature
Its distinctive concern appears to be not simply protecting existing natural assets, but improving damaged or overlooked places where built and natural environments meet.
Why it matters
This may position the Trust as a potential partner in regeneration, public-space improvement and environmental justice, rather than only in conventional conservation activity.
Show evidence
“The objects include improving the interrelationship and coexistence of built and natural environments.”
Source:Charity Commission“The objects include restoring or improving neglected land and water features, particularly in areas of perceived environmental, social or economic deprivation.”
Source:Charity Commission
The narrow boat may extend its reach beyond fixed sites
Operating a narrow boat may give the Trust a mobile, experiential way to engage varied community groups with waterways and environmental issues.
Why it matters
This could represent an unusual engagement asset: one that connects environmental education, access and community experience beyond land-based restoration projects.
Show evidence
“The Trust operates a narrow boat providing experiences to a variety of community groups.”
Source:Organisation“The objects include owning, managing and maintaining land, rivers, streams, ponds and other water features.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which neighbourhoods, sites and community groups the Trust currently works with are not specified.
- There is no evidence about the scale, frequency or outcomes of its restoration, training or boat-based activities.
- Current partnerships with local authorities, schools, charities or environmental bodies are unknown.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent project information showing locations, participants, activities and environmental or social outcomes.
- Evidence of referral routes, delivery partners and the communities using the narrow boat and site-based programmes.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The principal activity of the company concerns the environmental management of neglected inner city sites as a means of delivering a range of associated education and community engagement programmes. The Trust also operates a narrow boat providing experiences to a variety of community groups and operations.
Charity objects
I) TO PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THE CONSERVATION PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; II) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE CONSERVATION PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; III) TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INCLUDING YOUNG PERSONS AND DISADVANTAGES INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO BENEFIT FROM TRAINING OR RE-TRAINING IN AND FROM HAVING THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF INVOLVEMENT IN PROJECTS INTENDED TO BENEFIT THE CONSERVATION OF AND THE PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; IV) FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND IN PARTICULAR IN AREAS OF PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION TO OWN LEASE PROVIDE PROTECT MAINTAIN OR MANAGE ANY LAND OR ANY RIVER STREAM POND OR OTHER WATER FEATURE (TOGETHER "WATER FEATURES") AND/OR ANY OTHER FACILITIES INTENDED TO FURTHER THE CONSERVATION PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT; AND V) FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC TO SEEK OUT AND TO DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES TO PROCURE IMPROVEMENT TO THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AND TO ENHANCE THE C0-EXISTENCE OF THE BUILT AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS AND IN PARTICULAR TO SEEK OUT AND TO DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE AND/OR RESTORE AREAS OF LAND AND/OR WATER FEATURES WHICH ARE OR HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED OR ARE OTHERWISE IN NEED OF RESTORATION AND/OR IMPROVEMENT.