DTA Campaigns

All our campaigns and policy work is focused on the same goal: That all communities will become places where people feel common ownership and pride, places which allow everyone to achieve their potential, and places which are socially, economically and environmentally prosperous.

In the face of global uncertainties and the economic downturn, the DTA offers a community led solution, which increases the confidence and pride that people feel about their local area, improves relationships between different groups and stimulates local economic activity.

Our manifesto sets out our five pledges:

To help every community set up an effective development trust
To promote community ownership of land and buildings
To grow a culture of community enterprise
To build alliances with partners in all sectors
To demonstrate community impact

And we call on government:

To shift regeneration spend towards community investment
To provide access to assets for community groups
To ensure community trusts are established in all new town developments
To introduce fair contracts
To make the business support system relevant for community enterprise
To introduce a Community Allowance
To create fairness in finance through community reinvestment regulation

Our pledges underpin everything we do in support of the work of our member development trusts across four key areas: Community Assets, Tackling Poverty, Community Diversity and Community Enterprise. To support these activities as part of our work the DTA also cals on more community investment.

You can find out more about these issues, and the DTA's approach below.

Trust in communities: a manifesto from the DTA

DTA Manifesto and a Theory of Change

Find out more about the Development Trusts Association's manifesto pledges and our call on government to support the movement and contribute towards the debate on a 'theory of change' to help us understand the complex interdepndancies that make up our 'commonwealth'.

Community Assets

Through a number of campaigns and initiatives the DTA is encouraging community organisations throughout the country to develop an asset base, so they can become sustainable agencies for community renewal. This includes our contribution to the Quirk review and debates on the Community Asset Programme (formerly the Community Asset Fund), as well as case studies from development trusts that have acquired an asset base.

Community Enterprise

The DTA encourages development trusts and other community organisation to cultivate a community enterprise for long term sustainability. We are involved in a number of initives to promote and support community enterprise activity.

Tackling Poverty

The DTA has launched a national campaign on tackling poverty based on the work and experience of development trusts across the UK. Poverty reduction is a key aspect of the work of development trusts and we will be sharing their stories to inspire and stimulate national policy debates on social exclusion and the ways to tackle poverty at the local level.

Community Diversity

Development trusts work in towns, cities and rural areas across the UK, and are in a unique position to engage with diverse communities. The DTA has been collecting stories about development trusts across the UK finding various ways to include and engage with different groups in their communities. We are seeking more ideas and comments from practitioners.

Investing in Communities

The DTA is working to ensure that communities can access relevant investment. We are working alongside our partners in the sector on the Better Banking Campaign to tackle financial exclusion; towards a Community Reinvestmet Act; supporting communities to access innovative sources of finance including community share and bond issues; and supporting the setup of a Social Investment Wholesale Bank.

Fostering Community Anchors