Registered Charity No. 1182504 · CIO CE016850
A home from home
A home from home
on Chesterton Road
Warm meals, English classes, youth arts, digital help and advice — Smart Citizens Charitable Foundation has been a community centre where every neighbour belongs, since 2019.
Serving children & young people, elders, people with disabilities and families across Balsall Heath, Sparkbrook & Sparkhill.
1,000+
hot meals shared from our community kitchen this year
Who we are
Rooted in Chesterton Road,
Rooted in Chesterton Road,
open to everyone
Smart Citizens Charitable Foundation runs the Smart Citizens Community Centre in Birmingham B12 — a safe, friendly space where families learn, eat, celebrate and find support together, whatever they're facing. Our doors are open to children and young people, elders, people with disabilities and families from every background. Sessions run in the languages our community actually speaks, led by people who live here too.
- A dedicated community building with training rooms, an IT suite, kitchen and wellbeing facilities
- Free and low-cost services: meals, classes, advice, activities and celebrations
- Part of Birmingham's Warm Welcome network of winter spaces
- Run by 5 trustees and a growing team of local volunteers — no trustee is paid
What we do
Seven doors into one community
Every programme started with a neighbour asking for help. Here's what happens inside our centre each week.
Food & welcome
Community meals & food support
Freshly cooked hot meals prepared in our kitchen and shared with families, elders and anyone going through a hard week — plus food parcels when times are tight.
Learning
ESOL & adult learning
Friendly English classes for adults building confidence in reading, writing and everyday conversation — with childcare-friendly sessions so parents can learn too.
Youth & arts
Youth clubs & creative workshops
Henna design, drawing, crafts and skills sessions where young people express their culture, make friends and stay busy in the holidays.
Digital inclusion
Free SIMs, data & IT help
Free National Databank SIM cards, help getting online, and drop-in support with phones, forms and digital services for those cut off by data poverty.
Health
Wellbeing & fitness
Culturally sensitive fitness and wellbeing sessions — including women-only exercise, health check-ups and gentle activity for elders.
Advice
Advice, advocacy & information
One-to-one help in your own language with housing, benefits, health appointments, letters and forms — plus signposting to trusted local services.
Winter & beyond
A Warm Welcome Space for Birmingham
We're proud to be part of Birmingham City Council's Warm Welcome network — free, heated, friendly spaces where anyone can come in from the cold for a hot drink, a meal and good company. No referral needed. Just come in.
Find our opening times
Free · Warm ·
Everyone welcome
Everyone welcome
Faith & cultural celebrations
Eid Milad-un-Nabi 2026
Our sisters gathered at the centre to mark the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awal together — Milad gatherings, dua, and a shared table, exactly the kind of celebration that makes Chesterton Road feel like home. Read about the significance of the day ↗
Our impact
Small centre, big footprint
What our community achieved together this year — with almost every pound raised going straight back into local services.
6
community programmes running every single week
1,000+
hot meals cooked and shared this year
5
volunteer trustees — none receive any payment
4+
registered volunteers, plus dozens of session helpers
Community voices
What our neighbours say
"My daughters look forward to the workshops all week. It's the only place nearby where they can be creative, be themselves, and I know they're safe."
S
Shabana, Parent, Balsall Heath"I came for the English class and stayed for everything else. The teachers are patient and I've finally got the confidence to speak at my GP appointments myself."
N
Nasreen, ESOL learner"The free SIM card meant I could call my family and sort my appointments. It sounds small but it changed my whole situation."
D
Delroy, Digital inclusion drop-in
Get involved
Three ways to stand with us
Volunteer
Cook, teach, translate, welcome people at the door or help with events. A few hours a month makes a real difference — no experience needed, full support given.
Join the teamDonate
Every pound helps keep the kettle on, the kitchen cooking and the classes free. As a registered charity, we can claim Gift Aid on eligible donations.
Give todayPartner with us
We work with councils, funders, schools and local organisations. If your organisation shares our values, let's build something for the community together.
Start a conversation
Contact us
Come and say salaam
Drop in, call or write — our multilingual team will get back to you in the language you're most comfortable with.
- Visit us
- Smart Citizens Community Centre
52 Chesterton Road, Birmingham B12 8HE - info@smartcitizenscharitablefoundation.org.uk
- Phone
- 0121 000 0000
- Opening hours
- Monday – Saturday · 9:30am – 5:30pm
Warm Welcome sessions run through winter