What is a Development Trust?
A development trust is a community organisation that helps improve a local area. It’s run by local people and keeps money and benefits in the community. It’s formally set up, which means it can run projects and manage funding.
Why do Development Trusts exist?
Communities often have ideas for improving the place where they live. Some ideas are small; others are bigger. The challenge is that communities often lack the money, structure, or support to act on these ideas.
People might look around their area and think:
‘This could be better’
‘Why isn’t anyone doing something about this?’
‘How do we even begin to change it?’
A development trust is a ‘doing’ organisation that exists to turn those ideas into action. It provides a way for a community to organise itself, attract funding, and run projects that meet its specific needs.
Key characteristics of a Development Trust
To be recognised as a development trust, an organisation should show four key things. It should be:
- Run by local people
- Independent but works well with others
- Earn income to support its work
- Put any surplus back into improving the local area
Typical journey of a Development Trust
Every development trust develops differently and at its own pace. Some start with a single project, others start with a building or a piece of land. This may take months ,or it may take years. Over time, many development trusts grow into anchor organisations for their community.
What can Development Trusts do?
Development trusts run a wide range of activities.
Examples of what a development trust might do are:
- Take on a disused building and turn it into a community hub
- Run a local shop, café or workspace
- Deliver services like childcare, transport or training
- Create jobs and opportunities in the local economy
Development trusts are flexible. If a community sees something that needs to change, a development trust can often help to make it happen.
How is a Development Trust different to a Community Council?
A community council represents local views and raises issues with public bodies, including local authorities, on matters such as planning and licensing.
A development trust takes practical action by running projects, managing buildings or land, and raising money to support local priorities.
In short, community councils speak up for communities, whilst development trusts help communities to get things done.
Who are Development Trusts Association Scotland?
Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTA Scotland) is an independent, members-led organisation that works with development trusts across Scotland.
We support communities of all sizes and types – rural or urban, mainland or island – to set up development trusts.
DTA Scotland is not a regulator. Our goal is to help communities take action to make a real difference locally.
What help can DTA Scotland provide?
DTA Scotland has four main teams, each with a different focus:
- Member Support – provides guidance to our Provisional and Full members and aspiring development trusts
- Central Services Support – manages the day-to-day operations that keeps our network running smoothly
Two of our teams provide guidance and support to all community groups, not just DTA Scotland members:
- Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) – provides support for enquiries about Community Asset Transfers, Community Right to Buy, Churches and facilities management
- Democratic Finance – provides support to community-led organisations to explore and use alternative methods of raising finance and funding
To help you understand how we can work together, the table below shows the support DTA Scotland offers and what you will lead yourselves:
| DTA Scotland does | DTA Scotland does not |
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To learn more about our membership types and what’s on offer, please visit our Membership page.