About Us
All about Bfriends
Bfriends, Friends of Birmingham Children's Trust, is the connected charity of Birmingham Children's Trust — designed by children in care and care leavers in Birmingham.
What is Bfriends?
The connected charity of Birmingham Children's Trust
Bfriends, Friends of Birmingham Children's Trust, is the connected charity of Birmingham Children's Trust. Bfriends was established in November 2021 as an independent charity, developed and designed by children in care and care leavers in Birmingham alongside local partners and Trust staff.
Bfriends is registered with the Charity Commission as charity number 1196813.
View our record on the Charity Commission registerRegistered Charity
1196813
Established November 2021 · Independent charity working in partnership with Birmingham Children's Trust
What We Do
Understanding the changing needs of young people
Bfriends works alongside Birmingham Children's Trust to gain a close understanding of the ongoing and changing needs of children in care and care-experienced young people, helping them access the same opportunities and experiences as their peers.
Sport and wellbeing programmes
Employment opportunities
Support with moving into independent living
Important life-changing events
Equal access to opportunities and experiences
Young People's Voices
Giving voice to children in care is at the heart of the charity
Bfriends was designed with children in care and care leavers in Birmingham, alongside local partners and Trust staff. Lived experience sits at the centre of the charity and continues to shape its work — including through Bfriends' first ever co-chair, Abba Loughran, who grew up in care in Birmingham and is an ambassador for children in care, care leavers, and children known to the Trust.
Friendship is at the heart of all we do — the golden thread that binds us together.
Creating and sustaining friendships for those in care and care leavers is Bfriends' guiding priority. Bfriends operates in partnership with city partners, businesses, other charities, and the community — all working as one team with a shared vision.
Who is Birmingham Children's Trust?
Making a positive difference for children and families in Birmingham
Birmingham Children's Trust exists to make a positive difference for children, young people and families in Birmingham. It was previously known as Children's Services and was run by Birmingham City Council. It became a children's trust in April 2018.
The Trust is owned by, but independent from, Birmingham City Council.
Ofsted Rating
‘Good’
Birmingham Children's Trust was rated as delivering a ‘Good’ service by Ofsted in April 2023.
Read the news releaseWhat Is Corporate Parenting?
Being the best parent we can be
A collective responsibility
Children in care and care-experienced young people are a collective responsibility across our city, not the job of any single organisation.
Being the best parent possible
Corporate parenting means making sure children and young people are safe, loved, happy, healthy, and supported to achieve their potential.
Corporate parenting means that children in care and care-experienced young people are our collective responsibility as a city. It is a team effort across Birmingham to support the achievements and success of our children and young people.
Want to be part of the next chapter?
Explore how Bfriends puts friendship into action, meet the trustees who guide the charity, or find your own way to get involved.