The Olive Circle Foundation
Charity 1162344
Overview
Summary
The Olive Circle Foundation appears to be a broadly constituted charitable fund whose role is primarily to direct financial support toward people and smaller voluntary organisations facing hardship. Its unusually wide objects give trustees substantial discretion, while its stated activity suggests a practical focus on improving quality of life where sickness, illness or poverty create pressure. The organisation may therefore function less as a specialist provider and more as a flexible resource within the local charitable ecosystem, though its geographic reach, grant-making approach and actual priorities remain unclear.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission register lists Birmingham City among the charity's areas of operation, but does not identify any Birmingham ward, recognised place, delivery venue, project or beneficiary location.
- The available official operational information is not current enough to establish present-day delivery geography: the register's latest financial data is for the year ended 31 December 2016 and later annual returns and accounts are recorded as overdue.
- The charity's Cannock address is outside Birmingham and should not be treated as a Birmingham operational site.
- The register states that the charity does not own or lease land or property. This reduces evidence for a permanent physical site, but does not rule out delivery through partner or hired venues.
- No current evidence was found of Birmingham partnerships that materially extend the charity's operational reach.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report, trustees' report or Charity Commission filing identifying recent Birmingham activity and locations.
- A functioning official website, current project information or social-media updates evidencing where support has recently been delivered.
- Confirmation from the charity or named delivery partners of any current Birmingham venues, wards or neighbourhoods served.
- Evidence showing whether Birmingham activity is direct delivery, grant-making to local groups, or occasional support to individual beneficiaries.
Areas of work
- Animals
- General Charitable Purposes
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Other Charitable Activities
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A flexible funding-oriented role
The foundation appears to operate as a flexible source of charitable support rather than around a narrowly defined issue or beneficiary group. Its stated support for individuals, community groups and small charities suggests it may connect personal hardship with the capacity of local voluntary organisations.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the organisation from charities focused on delivering one service. Its potential value may lie in responding to needs that fall between specialist services or are too small, urgent or varied for more restricted funders.
Show evidence
“To provide support for people, community groups, small charities that require financial help to improve their quality of life through sickness, illness or poverty.”
Source:Organisation“Other Charitable Activities”
Source:Charity Commission
Broad discretion may enable responsiveness
The objects give trustees scope to choose among any exclusively charitable purposes, which may allow the foundation to adapt its support as needs emerge rather than being bound to a single cause.
Why it matters
This flexibility could make the foundation a useful potential partner where unmet needs do not align neatly with conventional funding categories. It also means its practical priorities cannot be inferred from its legal objects alone.
Show evidence
“TO FURTHER SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AS ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINE.”
Source:Charity Commission
A wide beneficiary remit, with unclear prioritisation
The foundation identifies children, older people, disabled people, the general public and other voluntary bodies as beneficiaries. This may indicate an inclusive approach, but the evidence does not reveal whether any group receives particular attention or whether these categories reflect occasional rather than regular support.
Why it matters
Understanding who is actually prioritised is essential for identifying overlooked communities, complementary organisations and realistic collaboration opportunities.
Show evidence
“Children/young People, Elderly/old People, People With Disabilities, Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies, The General Public/mankind”
Source:Charity Commission“General Charitable Purposes, The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty, Animals”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether support is provided through grants, direct assistance, partnerships or another mechanism.
- Which places, communities or types of need receive support in practice.
- How the stated animal-related purpose relates to its focus on sickness, illness and poverty.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent grant lists or accounts showing recipients, amounts, locations and purposes.
- Trustee reports, application criteria or case studies explaining decision-making and outcomes.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
To provide support for people, community groups, small charities that require financial help to improve their quality of life through sickness, illness or poverty.
Charity objects
TO FURTHER SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AS ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINE.