The Sustainable Communities Trust was established in June 2008
The aims of the Trust are:
- to provide an online forum for discussion of the issues involved in achieving the sustainability of local communities
- to share information on successful 'sustainable community' initiatives; whether economic, social or environmental
- to ensure successful implementation of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 in the UK
Bringing people together
The Sustainable Communities Forum is an online space where everyone interested in the issues of sustainability in the UK can meet, take part in the discussion, suggest ideas, and ask questions. By bringing people together in this way, it is hoped that we will get a good debate going around the issues involved, and that disparate communities will be able to connect to and inspire one another with ideas and advice. The Forum is also the place to discuss the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 which will take effect from October 2008.
Sharing ideas and initiatives
There are already a great number of successful projects around the UK. If you are involved in one, please use the contact form to let us know about it so that we can feature the initiative on our best practice pages. Sharing ideas, including what obstacles may have been encountered along the way, is an important part of ensuring that local communities know what is possible. Finding out what has been successfully implemented in other parts of the country, and how best to go about this, helps to empower those setting up similar projects.
Utilising the power of Government
In October 2008, the Government will invite Local Authorities to submit proposals on how best to promote the sustainability of their local communities. The Sustainable Communities Act is is an exciting piece of legislation which for the first time will allow a co-operative method of decision making, empowering citizens and councils to be what the sponsors of the Sustainable Communities Bill campaign described as "experts on their own problems and the solutions to them".
The Sustainable Communities Trust will provide up-to-date information and online discussion on this process, and will be liaising with Local Works to ensure successful implementation of the Sustainable Communities Act at community and Local Authority level.