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 Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
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
A company limited by guarantee (CLG) is a type of company where the liability of members in the event the company is wound up is limited to a (typically very small) amount listed in the company's articles or constitution. Most have no share ca ...
, a
community interest company, or an
industrial and provident society. 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 letter (message), letters and parcel (package), parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post o ...
*developing
play park and recreational facilities
*managing a
housing development
*developing
renewable energy
Renewable energy (also called green energy) is energy made from renewable resource, renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human lifetime, human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind pow ...
projects such as
wind farm
A wind farm, also called a wind park or wind power plant, is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small number of turbines to several hundred wind turbines covering an exten ...
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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