About New Roots
New Roots is a Birmingham-based registered charity with over three decades of experience connected to housing, stability, and community support. Since our founding, the organisation has evolved in response to changing needs, learning, and reflection, always guided by our charitable objectives and commitment to acting responsibly.
Today, New Roots focuses on partnership, governance, and contributing to better systems around accommodation and community wellbeing.
Our Origins
Responding to need at a local level
New Roots was founded in 1990 in response to gaps in housing and support for adults experiencing instability. At that time, many individuals faced limited access to secure accommodation and few opportunities to rebuild their lives.
In 1996, New Roots became a registered charity, formalising its role and commitment to working in this space. The organisation grew during the 1990s and developed services aimed at offering not just housing, but stability, dignity, and support tailored to individual circumstances.
Change and Reflection
Like many long-standing organisations, New Roots has experienced periods of change. Over time, the Board undertook a process of reflection and restructuring to ensure the charity continued to act in line with its values, responsibilities, and charitable purpose.
As a result of this process, New Roots no longer delivers direct frontline support. This decision was taken deliberately and responsibly, recognising where the organisation could add the most value and where other providers were better placed to deliver services directly.
Our Role Today
Today, New Roots works toward its charitable objectives by supporting partnership-based approaches to accommodation and community support. Rather than delivering services directly, the organisation focuses on:
- Working alongside trusted partners
- Supporting collaborative approaches to housing-related challenges
- Contributing insight, learning, and perspective shaped by experience
- Helping explore how systems around accommodation and community support can work better
This approach allows New Roots to remain purposeful, proportionate, and aligned with its values.
Governance and Accountability
Board-led, transparent, and accountable
New Roots is governed by a Board of Trustees who provide oversight, strategic direction, and accountability. The Board is responsible for ensuring the charity operates in line with its objectives, complies with regulatory requirements, and makes decisions that reflect the organisation’s values.
Good governance is central to how New Roots operates and underpins all of its current and future activity.
