Community Anchors

Development trusts are community anchor organisations - up and down the country they are are making extraordinary differences to people’s lives. They sit in the heart of their communities. They know their communities inside out and from this knowledge they devise tailored activities, services and support. They offer anything from vocational training for young people living in inner city areas to volunteer taxi services for isolated older people in rural villages. Local people from the community manage and run these organisations, and very often work or volunteer in them as well.

The Development Trusts Association (DTA) is dedicated to supporting our members and their valuable work at neighbourhood level. Alongside our partners Bassac (British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres) and Community Matters, we have formed the Community Alliance, a partnership organisation dedicated to strengthening the community sector by working in together towards a community anchor in every community.

The Community Alliance was formed because DTA, Bassac and Community Matters believe that working in partnership is powerful. Together we can provide more services and a stronger voice for our members.

Communitybuilders programme
The DTA and our Community Alliance partners are supporting the delivery of Communitybuilders alongside investment manager Social Investment Business (formerly Futurebuilders England and Adventure Capital Fund). The programme aims to support the activities of community anchor organisations.