Development trusts are organisations operating in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
that are:
*community based, owned and led
*engaged in the economic, environmental and social regeneration of a defined area or community
*independent but seek to work in partnership with other private, voluntary, and public sector organisations
*self-sufficient or aiming for self-sufficiency, and not for private profit.
There is no set form of legal structure, and a development trust may be registered as a
company limited by guarantee
In British, Australian, Bermudian, Hong Kong and Irish company law (and previously New Zealand), a company limited by guarantee (CLG) is a type of corporation used primarily (but not exclusively) for non-profit organisations that require legal pe ...
, a
community interest company
A community interest company (CIC, colloquially pronounced "kick") is a type of company introduced by the United Kingdom government in 2005 under the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004, designed for social ente ...
, or an
industrial and provident society
An industrial and provident society (IPS) is a body corporate registered for carrying on any industries, businesses, or trades specified in or authorised by its rules.
The members of a society benefit from the protection of limited liability ...
. Many register as charities.
The activities undertaken by development trusts are various and include:
*running the local shop and
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...
*developing
play park
A playground, playpark, or play area is a place designed to provide an environment for children that facilitates play, typically outdoors. While a playground is usually designed for children, some are designed for other age groups, or people ...
and recreational facilities
*managing a
housing development
A housing estate (or sometimes housing complex or housing development) is a group of homes and other buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country.
Popular throughout the United States ...
*developing
renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy ...
projects such as
wind farm
A wind farm or wind park, also called a wind power station or wind power plant, is a group of wind turbines in the same location used Wind power, to produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small number of turbines to several hundre ...
s
*setting up training programmes.
They are informed by a belief that community regeneration that is achieved through community-owned enterprise is the way to build strong and sustainable communities.
There are over 500 development trusts throughout the UK. The Development Trusts Association (DTA) was formed in 1993 to coordinate them in England. The mission of the DTA was “to bring about a successful development trust in every community that wants one”.
In January 2011 the DTA announced that they were merging with the British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres and that a new joint organisation for England would be called Locality.
A new organisation for Northern Ireland was also established, joining the existing sister organisations in Wales and Development Trusts Association Scotland.
"Steve Wyler to Lead Locality"
DTA. Retrieved 19 Feb 2011.
References
External links
LocalityDTA ScotlandDTA WalesKyle of Sutherland Development Trust
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