Thomas Darbey Wilkes
Charity 245148
Overview
Summary
Thomas Darbey Wilkes appears to be a grant-making charity whose practical civic role may be to resource voluntary organisations within a religious network rather than to deliver services directly. The linked organisational evidence suggests a close association with the United Reformed Church West Midlands Synod: a regional body connecting more than 90 churches through encouragement, resources, events and training. Its potential value may therefore lie in strengthening the capacity and relationships of local faith-based organisations.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Yardley East
Confidence: medium
Direct evidence places the charity's registered address at Digbeth-in-the-Field URC, Moat Lane, Yardley, B26 1TW. The address is also the current West Midlands Synod Office, whose telephone number and finance email match those in the charity record. Birmingham City Council identifies Digbeth-in-the-Field URC, Moat Lane, B26 1TW as a venue in Yardley East ward. This supports an administrative presence in Yardley East, but does not by itself demonstrate that Thomas Darbey Wilkes delivers services there.
- Supplied Charity Commission record for Thomas Darbey Wilkes (charity 245148)
The charity's registered address is Synod Office, Digbeth-in-the-Field URC, Moat Lane, Yardley, Birmingham B26 1TW; its listed activity is making grants to organisations. - URC West Midlands Synod, Our Team / Contact information
The West Midlands Synod Office is at Digbeth-in-the-Field URC, Moat Lane, Yardley, Birmingham B26 1TW, using telephone number 0121 783 1177; the Synod site identifies this as its office. - Birmingham City Council, list of polling stations for the May 2026 election
Digbeth in the Field United Reformed Church Room, Moat Lane, B26 1TW is listed within Yardley East ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- There is no direct current evidence that Thomas Darbey Wilkes delivers services, makes grants, or supports beneficiary organisations in Yardley East or elsewhere in Birmingham.
- The shared Synod Office address, telephone number and finance email show an administrative connection with the West Midlands Synod, but do not establish that the charity itself has a physical operational site beyond a correspondence or administrative base.
- Although the West Midlands Synod has a regional church-support role, no evidence reviewed identifies Thomas Darbey Wilkes as funding Synod-wide activity or grants across the Synod area.
- The supplied 2024 financial record reports both income and expenditure of £0, so there is no evidence of current grant activity from that reporting year.
Additional evidence needed
- The charity's governing document and latest trustees' annual report or accounts, including any grant schedule, to identify present beneficiaries and the places in which grants are used.
- A current statement from the trustees or the West Midlands Synod clarifying whether the Moat Lane address is solely administrative and whether the charity is actively making grants.
- Details of any current grant programmes, awards or partner organisations, including delivery locations within Birmingham.
Areas of work
- General Charitable Purposes
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
How they help
- Makes Grants To Organisations
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A likely capacity-builder rather than a frontline provider
The charity appears to operate indirectly, using grants to support other charitable or voluntary bodies rather than working directly with individual beneficiaries.
Why it matters
This changes how its local influence should be understood: its impact may be dispersed across recipient organisations and may be larger or less visible than its own public profile suggests.
Show evidence
“Who the charity helps: Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies.”
Source:Charity Commission“How the charity helps: Makes Grants To Organisations.”
Source:Charity Commission
Religious purpose may be the route through which wider civic support is organised
Its religious activities may not be separate from its charitable role; they may provide the network, trust and institutional setting through which grants and support reach voluntary organisations.
Why it matters
This suggests that understanding the charity requires looking beyond its own activity to the congregations, voluntary groups and regional relationships around it.
Show evidence
“What the charity does: General Charitable Purposes, Religious Activities.”
Source:Charity Commission“This website seeks to enable the relationships between local Churches and offer access to the encouragement and support that is shared across the region.”
Source:Organisation“There are over 90 churches that belong within the West Midlands Synod.”
Source:Organisation
The organisation may hold under-recognised convening potential
Association with a regional church network, alongside events, training and shared resources, may position the organisation to connect otherwise separate local groups and circulate practical knowledge.
Why it matters
Its most distinctive contribution may be relational infrastructure: helping smaller organisations access peers, safeguarding support, training and collaboration opportunities.
Show evidence
“We have a number of events and training sessions.”
Source:Organisation“We offer access to the encouragement and support that is shared across the region.”
Source:Organisation“About Us We have over 90 Churches!”
Source:Organisation
- The evidence does not confirm the legal, operational or financial relationship between Thomas Darbey Wilkes and West Midlands Synod.
- There is no information on grant size, frequency, criteria, recipients, geography or outcomes.
- It is unclear whether grants are limited to United Reformed Church-linked bodies or available more broadly.
Remaining uncertainties
- The charity's governing document, annual return and accounts, especially details of grants made and recipient organisations.
- A confirmed organisational description explaining its relationship to West Midlands Synod and how funding decisions are made.