The Project
Charity 1015436
Overview
Summary
The Project appears to have been a specialist, locally rooted advice organisation using accredited casework to prevent housing crises and improve household income in south Birmingham and Redditch. Its role extended beyond homelessness advice into the financial and welfare issues that can precipitate or prolong housing insecurity. The available evidence also indicates a significant transition: after more than three decades of operation, its advisers and functions are being absorbed into Northfield Community Partnership, potentially preserving expertise while changing the organisation’s independent identity.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Rubery and Rednal
Confidence: medium
Direct evidence identifies The Depot in Rednal as an appointment location. The supplied ward information recognises Rubery and Rednal as a Birmingham ward, but the evidence does not explicitly place the service within that ward. Confidence is reduced because the organisation's website now says it is closing and its team is joining Northfield Community Partnership, so it is unclear whether the Depot remains an active service-delivery site after the transfer.
- The Project website
Lists The Depot in Rednal as its address and describes appointments as taking place through the service. - Charity Commission register: The Project, charity 1015436
Lists The Depot in Rednal as the charity's contact address. - Birmingham City Council ward information
Recognises Rubery and Rednal as a Birmingham ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- The Project website states that, 'From 3 August', The Project is merging with Northfield Community Partnership, its advisers are joining NCP, and The Project is closing down. The notice does not specify a year or confirm whether the transfer and closure were complete as of 4 August 2026.
- It is not clear whether advice still accessed through The Project's referral form and Tuesday/Thursday helpline is being delivered by The Project as an independent charity, by Northfield Community Partnership, or during a short transition period.
- The evidence supports a longstanding South Birmingham/south-west Birmingham operational identity centred on the Depot, rather than a network of independently evidenced Birmingham sites.
- The 2024 trustees' report records a partnership-led service reaching people across all areas of Birmingham, but this does not establish that citywide delivery remained active at the point of the announced merger and closure.
- Northfield Community Partnership has a hub in Northfield, but the merger announcement does not explicitly state that former Project services are now delivered from that hub. Northfield has therefore not been recorded as an operational area for The Project.
Additional evidence needed
- A current statement from Northfield Community Partnership confirming the effective merger date, the legal/service-transfer arrangement, and which former Project services it now operates.
- A current service directory or referral information confirming the locations, eligibility geography and delivery model for housing, welfare-benefits and debt advice previously provided by The Project.
- The Project's next trustees' report, final accounts or Charity Commission update confirming whether the charity has ceased operations, transferred assets or contracts, and retained any service activity.
- Current contract information identifying whether any Birmingham-wide partnership service formerly led by The Project remains live and which organisation now leads it.
Areas of work
- Accommodation/housing
- Disability
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Housing prevention is delivered through financial resilience
The Project appears to treat homelessness prevention as inseparable from welfare entitlement, debt and income maximisation. Its operating model may therefore address the financial pressures behind housing instability, rather than focusing only on accommodation once a crisis occurs.
Why it matters
This clarifies that the organisation’s distinctive contribution is likely preventative, connecting housing advice with the practical financial systems that determine whether people can sustain a home.
Show evidence
“The organisation specialises in Homelessness Prevention, Housing Advice, Welfare Benefits, Debt Support and Wellbeing Advice.”
Source:Organisation“Its objectives include advice relating to housing, welfare benefits, debt and income maximisation.”
Source:Charity Commission
A specialist advice function is moving into a wider community organisation
The announced merger suggests that The Project’s recognised value may lie particularly in its advisers, casework capability and local knowledge, which Northfield Community Partnership is positioned to retain rather than replace.
Why it matters
This is a major change in the local support landscape: continuity of advice may be possible, but referral routes, organisational relationships and service identity may change substantially.
Show evidence
“From 3 August The Project will be merging with Northfield Community Partnership.”
Source:Organisation“Our team of advisers will be joining NCP and The Project will be closing down.”
Source:Organisation
Professional assurance is central to its identity
The Project appears to have positioned itself as a high-assurance advice provider, combining quality accreditation, sector memberships and financial regulation. This may have made it a trusted escalation point for complex cases rather than solely a general community information service.
Why it matters
Understanding this formal infrastructure helps distinguish its role from less specialised local support: the loss or transfer of this capability could affect where complex debt, benefits and housing cases are handled.
Show evidence
“The Project is an Advice Quality Standard accredited information, advice and guidance provider.”
Source:Organisation“It is Financial Conduct Authority regulated and a member of Advice UK, the Institute of Money Advisors and CPAG.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether all services, geographic coverage and eligibility arrangements will continue under Northfield Community Partnership.
- Whether the merger changes the availability of regulated debt advice or housing casework.
- Which local organisations previously referred clients to The Project and how those relationships will transfer.
Remaining uncertainties
- Northfield Community Partnership’s post-merger service offer, referral criteria and staffing arrangements.
- Recent service data showing client locations, presenting issues, outcomes and unmet demand.
- Evidence of partnerships, referral sources and gaps in comparable local advice provision.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The Project is an Advice Quality Standard accredited information, advice and guidance provider. We provide advice and casework relating to homelessness and income maximisation. We are members of Advice UK, the Institute of Money Advisors, CPAG and are Financial Conduct Authority regulated.
Charity objects
The Association’s objectives are to relieve the need of young people who are in housing difficulty and/or homeless and others aged 18 plus who are in housing need, poverty, hardship or distress by providing information, advice and guidance relating to housing, welfare benefits, debt, income maximisation and other means as thought fit which help towards improving the lives of individuals in the West Midlands