The Middle Community
Charity 1195305
Overview
Summary
The Middle Community appears to use practical poverty relief and faith-informed education as mutually reinforcing routes to social cohesion. Its public framing centres Muslim community unity, service and dialogue, while its charitable objects position the work more broadly around interfaith understanding and public benefit across the United Kingdom. The available evidence suggests an organisation seeking to turn religious values into visible civic action, though its delivery scale, local footprint, partnerships and beneficiary experience remain unclear.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Handsworth
Confidence: medium
Direct evidence identifies Handsworth as the location of the organisation's food-relief partnership and a Birmingham unity event. The available evidence supports a neighbourhood-based Birmingham footprint centred on Handsworth, but the most specific delivery evidence is dated November 2024 and no 2025–26 service timetable or update confirms that the food-bank support remains active.
- The Middle Community, "Middle Community & Church of God Handsworth – Food Bank" (official website, 20 November 2024)
The organisation states that it partnered with the Church of God, Seventh Day in Handsworth, which ran a weekly food bank, and that together they doubled the number of food packages distributed each week. - The Middle Community, "Muslim Unity Event – 2024" (official website, December 2024)
The organisation states that its Muslim Unity March in Birmingham began in Handsworth on 14 December 2024. - Birmingham City Council, Handsworth Ward Action Plan
The council's Handsworth ward material provides ward context for the documented Handsworth activity.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence does not establish whether the Handsworth food-bank partnership was still operating after 2024; the organisation's live website retains the project page, but does not provide a current schedule or recent delivery update.
- The Church of God is a material partner extending the organisation's reach in Handsworth, but the evidence does not show that The Middle Community owns, leases or independently operates a physical Birmingham site.
- The 2024 Muslim Unity March evidences an event in Handsworth, but does not demonstrate routine activity across Birmingham. The stated hope for future marches elsewhere in Birmingham and the UK is aspiration rather than evidence of delivery.
- The charity's objects permit poverty relief across the United Kingdom, and its digital Hadi project may have a wider reach, but neither establishes current place-based operations elsewhere in Birmingham.
Additional evidence needed
- A 2025 or 2026 update from The Middle Community or the Church of God confirming whether food-bank support continues.
- A current annual report, impact report or project list identifying all Birmingham delivery locations and the scale or frequency of activity.
- Confirmation of whether the organisation has any Birmingham premises, regular outreach base or additional formal delivery partners.
Areas of work
- Disability
- General Charitable Purposes
- Religious Activities
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- 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
Service delivery appears to be its bridge-building method
The organisation appears to treat food relief not as a separate welfare activity, but as a practical expression of its wider mission to reduce division and build solidarity.
Why it matters
This suggests its role may be relational as well as material: meeting immediate need could create trust and demonstrate shared values across communities.
Show evidence
“Its objects include promoting religious harmony and relieving financial hardship and poverty through food and essential items.”
Source:Charity Commission“It states that it is working together for the common good of all and that food is a right for all.”
Source:Organisation
Its public identity is Muslim-rooted but outward-facing
The organisation appears to draw motivation and audience from Muslim community life while formally pursuing an inclusive, interfaith public-benefit mission.
Why it matters
This may make it a potential connector between Muslim-led civic action, intra-Muslim cohesion and wider interfaith relationships, rather than only a faith service provider.
Show evidence
“Its website refers to building bridges within the Muslim Ummah, challenging misconceptions and serving humanity.”
Source:Organisation“Its objects include educating the public about different religious beliefs and promoting understanding and respect between faiths.”
Source:Charity Commission
Dialogue is positioned as an alternative to sectarian conflict
The organisation appears to see disagreement within communities as something to be managed through listening, education and common-ground building rather than debate.
Why it matters
This distinguishes its approach from organisations focused solely on representation or advocacy; it may have value where trust, misunderstanding or internal division are barriers to collective action.
Show evidence
“It states that it is combatting sectarianism within the community.”
Source:Organisation“It promotes the principle 'Discuss not debate' and says there is much to learn by listening.”
Source:Organisation
- It is unclear whether activities are delivered nationally, locally or primarily online.
- There is no evidence on the scale, frequency or eligibility of food relief.
- No partners, referral routes, communities reached or outcomes are identified.
- The relationship between the Hadi platform and the charity's core delivery is unclear.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent activity reports showing projects, locations, participant numbers and outcomes.
- Information on delivery partners, funding sources and food distribution arrangements.
- Examples of interfaith or anti-sectarian work, including who participates and what changes result.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The Middle Community promotes greater harmony and tolerance in society by educating the public in different religious beliefs with a view to find common ground and promote good relations between persons of different faiths. It also acts for the relief of financial hardship and poverty by providing those in need with food and items which they could not otherwise afford through lack of means.
Charity objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE: 1) THE PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BY: (A) EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IN DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS INCLUDING AN AWARENESS OF THEIR DISTINCTIVE FEATURES AND THEIR COMMON GROUND TO PROMOTE GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN PERSONS OF DIFFERENT FAITHS; (B) PROMOTING KNOWLEDGE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT OF THE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS FAITHS. 2) THE RELIEF OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND POVERTY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY PROVIDING SUCH PERSONS WITH FOOD AND ITEMS WHICH THEY COULD NOT OTHERWISE AFFORD THROUGH LACK OF MEANS. THE CIO IS TO BE ESTABLISHED AND RUN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. NOTHING IN THIS CONSTITUTION SHALL AUTHORISE AN APPLICATION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE CIO FOR THE PURPOSES WHICH ARE NOT CHARITABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH [SECTION 7 OF THE CHARITIES AND TRUSTEE INVESTMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 2005] AND [SECTION 2 OF THE CHARITIES ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2008]