About DTA in the South West

The Development Trust movement across the South West is a growing and vibrant one; with 36 full and emerging category members and many more communities and partnerships looking to set up a development trust. We also have ten associate members representing individuals, support organisations and local authorities who support the aims of the development trust movement in the south west. The South West DTA office covers Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath & NE Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Dorset, Bournemouth, N Somerset, Somerset, Devon, Plymouth, Torbay, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Through the SW network we aim to share members’ practical skills, experience and offer mutual support. We organise an annual regional conference in the summer and throughout the year members and others meet through sub-regional/county based networks loosely based on Cornwall, Somerset and Area, Devon, Bristol and Wiltshire. However if you’re not in one of these areas or not a member please do get in touch to find out what might be happening near you.

The DTA can help you if you are setting up a development trust, providing advice and information about what a development trust is and how to get going.

SW DTA members, among other things, can take advantage of a ‘DTA healthcheck’, a specially designed quality improvement tool designed for development trusts; and the Skills and Knowledge Exchange Fund to support the costs of visiting and learning from other Development Trusts around the country.

Through annual elections members elect a regional network committee of members who help plan and guide the DTA’s work in the region. The current Chair of the Regional Network Committee is Roger Pipe, General Manager of Millfields Community Economic Development Trust in Plymouth.

We also try to raise the profile of the role of Development Trusts in the South West by working in partnership with other agencies and being an advocate for the movement. The movement is represented on a number of partnership bodies including RISE, Partnership South West, and the South West Strategic Infrastructure Partnership.

If you’d like to know more about any of the activities above or get involved do get in touch!

Development Trusts Association
South West Regional Office
Unit 6, Cranmere Court
Lustleigh Close
Matford Business Park
Exeter EX2 8PW