The Sutton Coldfield Recreational Trust
Charity 503628
Overview
Summary
The Sutton Coldfield Recreational Trust appears to be a place-based steward of shared recreational space rather than a single-sport provider. Its role is distinctive in combining formal sport with social and technical leisure activities, suggesting that the ground functions as a local civic asset with several routes into participation. The evidence indicates a broad public-benefit orientation, though it does not yet show how access is managed, which activities are most significant, or whether the different user groups interact.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sutton Walmley and Minworth
Confidence: low
The Trust's current official site identifies the Roger Smoldon Ground as its Walmley Road ground and the location of its function-room and pitch-hire activity. However, the available evidence does not provide suitable operational evidence for assigning this activity to the ward.
- Sutton Coldfield Recreational Trust official website, homepage
The Trust describes the Walmley Road ground as a centre for the local community; and identifies on-site clubs including Sutton Coldfield RFC, Walmley Tennis Club, Sutton Coldfield Bridge Club and Sutton Coldfield Archery Club. - Sutton Coldfield Recreational Trust official website, Pitch / Ground Hire
The Trust describes its Walmley site as nearly 22 acres, with five full-size rugby pitches and an informal area regularly used for mini and junior rugby and archery, demonstrating direct delivery of recreational-facility provision at this location. - Birmingham City Council, Notice of Poll and List of Polling Stations, Sutton Walmley & Minworth Ward
The Council lists Sutton Coldfield Rugby Club as a polling-station location under Sutton Walmley & Minworth Ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence identifies one active operational site at Walmley Road but does not establish that the Trust directly delivers services from any additional sites in Birmingham.
- The Trust states that its facilities benefit people in Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas, but this indicates a likely wider catchment rather than evidenced delivery locations outside the Walmley site.
- The on-site clubs materially broaden the range of sport and community activity available at the site, but the available evidence does not show that they operate as formal delivery partners of the Trust beyond their use of the ground and facilities.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report, facilities schedule or management report identifying any sites, outreach activity or bookings delivered away from the Walmley Road ground.
- Current agreements or service descriptions clarifying the Trust's relationship with its listed on-site clubs and whether any operate Trust-led programmes beyond the Walmley ground.
- Usage or beneficiary data showing whether the Trust's operational reach is confined mainly to Walmley or serves Sutton Coldfield more broadly.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Other Defined Groups
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A shared local asset with multiple forms of participation
The Trust appears to operate a recreation ground as common infrastructure for varied groups, rather than organising activity around one sporting identity.
Why it matters
This suggests its value may lie in convening otherwise separate recreational communities around a single local place. Understanding the site as infrastructure helps distinguish it from clubs focused on one activity or membership base.
Show evidence
“A recreation ground for the benefit of the inhabitants of Sutton Coldfield in the County of West Midlands.”
Source:Charity Commission“Sports and recreation include rugby, tennis, bridge, football, archery and amateur radio.”
Source:Organisation
Recreation is defined more broadly than physical sport
The inclusion of bridge and amateur radio may indicate that the Trust treats recreation as social, intellectual and technical participation as well as physical activity.
Why it matters
This broadens the likely range of people for whom the Trust could be relevant and may create opportunities for intergenerational or non-athletic participation that are often overlooked in sport-focused local provision.
Show evidence
“Sports and recreation include rugby, tennis, bridge, football, archery and amateur radio.”
Source:Organisation“Provides buildings, facilities and open space.”
Source:Charity Commission
Its public-benefit remit may sit alongside defined user communities
The Trust appears to have a geographically universal purpose while also serving activity-based groups whose access or involvement may differ.
Why it matters
This raises a useful question about whether a broadly held local asset is equally accessible across Sutton Coldfield, or primarily experienced through organised clubs and established recreational networks.
Show evidence
“The inhabitants of Sutton Coldfield in the County of West Midlands.”
Source:Charity Commission“Children/young people, other defined groups and the general public/mankind.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the Trust directly delivers activities, leases space to clubs, or mainly maintains facilities.
- Which communities use the site, who may face barriers to access, and whether children and the general public benefit in practice.
- Whether the listed activities coexist at one site and create active relationships between user groups.
Remaining uncertainties
- Information on governance, site management, bookings, memberships, fees and partner clubs.
- Recent annual reports or usage data showing activities, participant numbers, accessibility and changes over time.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The provision of recreational and sporting facilities for children and adults. Sports and recreation include rugby, tennis, bridge, football, archery, amateur radio.
Charity objects
A RECREATION GROUND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF SUTTON COLDFIELD IN THE COUNTY OF WEST MIDLANDS.