Warwickshire Wheelchair Basketball Academy
Charity 1104145
Overview
Summary
Warwickshire Wheelchair Basketball Academy appears to use wheelchair basketball as more than a sporting activity: it is a practical route into participation, social connection and, where appropriate, integration between disabled and able-bodied people across the West Midlands. Its public-facing identity as The Bears Wheelchair Basketball Club suggests a club-based delivery model, combining disability-focused charitable purpose with a broader inclusive community-sport offer. The available evidence establishes intent clearly, but gives little visibility of scale, partnerships or outcomes.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence: the Charity Commission records Birmingham City among the local-authority areas in which the charity operates, alongside Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire. This supports a regional operational footprint rather than a neighbourhood, district or Birmingham-only identity.
- Direct evidence: the organisation's current contact page identifies North Solihull Sports Centre in Chelmsley Wood as its contact venue. Solihull Council identifies this as a Solihull facility in Chelmsley Wood, so it is not evidence of a physical operational site within a Birmingham ward.
- Reasonable interpretation: the charity appears to deliver wheelchair-basketball activity from a principal venue in Solihull while drawing or supporting participants across the wider West Midlands, including Birmingham. Its stated activity is therefore regional rather than based in a single Birmingham neighbourhood.
- No current official source located identifies a Birmingham-based session venue, project venue, physical site, or named Birmingham ward. Birmingham City-wide reporting alone cannot be reliably translated into a specific Birmingham ward or place.
- British Wheelchair Basketball competition information confirms that Bears teams compete in national leagues, but this is not sufficient evidence that the charity delivers regular beneficiary services in every competition location.
Additional evidence needed
- A current timetable or venue list from Bears WBC identifying the locations of weekly coaching, Cubs, development or community sessions.
- The charity's latest trustees' annual report or annual return narrative specifying where Birmingham activity was delivered during the most recent reporting year.
- Confirmation from the organisation of whether it currently operates any sessions, outreach projects or partnerships at Birmingham venues, with the relevant ward or recognised place.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Disability
Who they help
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Sport appears to be the organisation's mechanism for inclusion
The organisation appears to treat wheelchair basketball as a means of reducing exclusion, rather than as an end in itself. Its charitable purpose links access to sport with bringing disabled and able-bodied people together.
Why it matters
This positions the organisation within both disability support and community cohesion. Potential partners may therefore include inclusion, health, education and community organisations, not only sports clubs.
Show evidence
“The charity relieves disabled people by bringing them into contact with wheelchair basketball and other sports and leisure activities.”
Source:Charity Commission“It will work where appropriate for the integration of disabled and able-bodied people through sporting and leisure activities.”
Source:Charity Commission
The organisation may offer a broader participation pathway than its name implies
Although wheelchair basketball is central, the objects refer to other sports and leisure activities. This may indicate flexibility to engage people whose interests, confidence or access needs do not fit a single competitive sport.
Why it matters
A broader pathway could make the organisation a useful entry point for disabled residents who are not yet ready or able to join a formal basketball programme.
Show evidence
“The charity brings disabled people into contact with wheelchair basketball and other sports and leisure activities.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its purposes include disability and amateur sport.”
Source:Charity Commission
There is a possible distinction between charitable identity and public-facing club identity
The charity is named Warwickshire Wheelchair Basketball Academy, while the website identifies The Bears Wheelchair Basketball Club. This may indicate that the charity operates through, supports or has evolved into a recognisable club brand.
Why it matters
Understanding this relationship would clarify how people encounter the organisation, where decisions are made, and whether its charitable work extends beyond club membership.
Show evidence
“The website identifies itself as The Bears Wheelchair Basketball Club.”
Source:Organisation“The website states Registered Charity No: 1104145.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether activities are delivered directly by the charity, through The Bears club, or through both.
- Who participates, how many people are reached, and whether able-bodied and disabled participants take part together.
- Whether the organisation provides facilities itself or mainly uses shared venues.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or activity updates showing programmes, participant numbers, locations and outcomes.
- Information explaining the relationship between Warwickshire Wheelchair Basketball Academy and The Bears Wheelchair Basketball Club.
- Evidence of local partnerships, referral routes and accessibility arrangements.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The relief of disabled people resident in and around the West Midlands area by bringing such people into contact with the sport of wheelchair basketball and other sports and leisure activities. lt will also work were appropriate for the intergration of all disabled people and able-bodied people through sporting and leisure activities.
Charity objects
THE RELIEF OF DISABLED PEOPLE RESIDENT IN AND AROUND THE WEST MIDLANDS AREA BY BRINGING SUCH PEOPLE INTO CONTACT WITH THE SPORT OF WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL AND OTHER SPORTS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES. IT WILL ALSO WORK WHERE APPROPRIATE FO THE INTEGRATION OF ALL DISABLED AND ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE THROUGH SPORTING AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES