Founded in 1899, Birmingham Settlement is the one
of the oldest charities in the city. It forms part of a movement of social reform activists outraged by the
plight of the poor in the 19th century. Originally
Birmingham Settlement’s work concentrated on
providing support to women and families in the
seriously deprived area of St Mary’s, now known as
Newtown.
Birmingham Settlement has always been at the
forefront of pioneering innovation, developing a
nationally recognised reputation for excellence. In
1907, it opened the first kindergarten in Birmingham,
which was followed shortly after by a Happy Hour Out
of School Club. Yet, as time has passed we have built
services that support all individuals and communities,
not just women and families. In the 1970s the
Settlement’s Money Advice programme received
national recognition when its key principles for Money
Advice were adopted as the industry standard.
Today, Birmingham Settlement continues to deliver responsive programmes that remain true
to the original ethos of the organisation. Currently we support the community with:
• Older people’s services
• Children’s Services
• Money Advice
• Building cohesion
• Digital Inclusion
• Volunteering Opportunities
• Development support for voluntary and community organisations.