West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre
Charity 1091956
Overview
Summary
West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre appears to be a long-standing, place-based community anchor organisation: rooted in African Caribbean experience while serving a broader Sandwell public. Its role extends beyond delivering activities to combining care, cultural connection, advocacy, community research and practical infrastructure. The available evidence suggests that trust, continuity and relationships across generations are central assets, enabling the Centre to connect residents with health, civic and institutional partners.
Operational geography
Coverage: District
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- No current evidence identifies delivery within any of the supplied Birmingham wards or the City Centre. The organisation's only evidenced physical base is in West Bromwich, Sandwell, outside Birmingham.
- A current website page confirms that domiciliary care remains an offered service, but does not state its active geographical catchment. A memorial-page account says a former home-care worker supported people in Sandwell and Birmingham; this is insufficient to establish current Birmingham delivery or to assign activity to a Birmingham ward.
- The Sapphire hospital-befriending initiative is jointly delivered with Agewell across older people's wards in the Sandwell and City Hospitals Trust. The available page does not identify the presently active hospital wards or sites, so it cannot reliably evidence an operational area within a supplied Birmingham ward.
- Partnerships with Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and the MMUH Community Ambassadors Initiative extend the organisation's health-information networks across the Trust's communities, but the available evidence describes community engagement rather than a distinct Birmingham service location.
Additional evidence needed
- A current service-area statement, commissioning contract, referral criteria or anonymised area-level delivery data for ACRC Care to confirm whether domiciliary care is currently delivered in Birmingham and, if so, in which wards.
- Current Sapphire Service staffing or delivery information identifying the hospital wards and sites where WBACRC personnel or volunteers operate.
- A current annual report or impact report separating activity, service users and outreach by Sandwell and Birmingham locations.
- Confirmation from WBACRC of any regular Birmingham-based venues, outreach sessions or partner-hosted services.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Disability
- Economic/community Development/employment
- Education/training
- Environment/conservation/heritage
- General Charitable Purposes
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
- Other Charitable Purposes
- Overseas Aid/famine Relief
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Other Charitable Activities
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
- Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A culturally rooted organisation with a broad civic role
The Centre appears to use an African Caribbean community identity as a foundation for serving both that community and the wider locality. Its cultural role is not separate from welfare work; it may help make health, care and advice services more accessible and trusted.
Why it matters
This helps explain why the organisation may hold influence disproportionate to a conventional service provider: it combines practical support with belonging, representation and cultural legitimacy.
Show evidence
“Its objects promote the benefit of African Caribbean inhabitants of Sandwell while bringing residents, local authorities and voluntary organisations together.”
Source:Charity Commission“The Centre describes services including day opportunities, home care, hospital befriending, carers support and dementia support.”
Source:Organisation“It held Windrush celebrations, Black History activities and a 40th-anniversary exhibition.”
Source:Organisation
Trust appears to be a strategic capability, not just a value
The Centre appears to act as a trusted intermediary between African Caribbean residents and health, research and public-sector systems, particularly where confidence in institutions may be fragile.
Why it matters
This suggests its distinctive contribution may include improving the reach and credibility of external health initiatives, rather than only delivering its own services.
Show evidence
“The Centre completed the community research project "Black, Covid and In Lockdown: In our own words".”
Source:Organisation“A NIHR evaluation included a case study of Deska Howe and recommended investment in Black and BME-led trusted voice organisations.”
Source:Organisation“It shared a Prostate Cancer Research workshop on health and trust in Black British communities.”
Source:Organisation
Continuity across generations may be an organisational asset
Long staff and trustee service, former-worker reunions and activities for young people and older people suggest the Centre may preserve local memory while renewing participation across generations.
Why it matters
This may make the Centre an important source of relationship continuity in Sandwell, while also raising questions about succession and how newer voices shape its future.
Show evidence
“The 2025 anniversary included a reunion of former employees and volunteers.”
Source:Organisation“Two staff members marked 30 and 25 years of involvement in 2023.”
Source:Organisation“Its stated activities include youth activities and day care services.”
Source:Organisation
- The scale, funding mix and geographic reach of each service are not available.
- There is no outcome evidence showing which services create the greatest benefit or reach underserved residents.
- It is unclear how the Centre balances African Caribbean-led representation with its stated wider-community role.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports, accounts and service-user numbers by programme.
- Evidence of referral pathways, formal partnerships and outcomes from health, care and research activity.
- Beneficiary and community feedback, including from younger residents and people not currently using the Centre.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Provision of Health and Social Care Services Educational support Employment support Catering Information advice and guidance Facilities hire Health Promotion, Youth Activities Cultural Awareness Entertainment
Charity objects
TO PROMOTE THE BENEFIT OF THE AFRICAN CARIBBEAN INHABITANTS OF SANDWELL AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE OR OF POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR OTHER OPINIONS, BY ASSOCIATION TOGETHER THE SAID INHABITANTS AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, VOLUNTARY AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS IN A COMMON EFFORT TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND TO PROVIDE FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION AND LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR THE SAID INHABITANTS..