The Civic Trust - TrustNews June 09
The Civic Trust went into administration in April blaming the ‘squeeze on local authority spending’ for its downfall, and the loss of a remunerative government contract for administering the national Green Flag award for parks and gardens.
The Civic Trust was the independent nationwide charity dedicated to helping communities make better places in which to live, work and play. The Trust has campaigned for better places for people since 1957 (the same year as our foundation), and was a powerful, definitive and distinctive voice which helped communities to imagine, shape and deliver inspiring places and an enduring future. Probably its greatest achievement was a campaign that led to the creation of Conservation Areas in the 1960s, arresting the widespread demolition of characterful urban areas.
The Civic Trust was the umbrella organisation for many Civic Societies across the country representing people who care passionately about their environment. The Civic Trust was perhaps best known for its Awards and for the Heritage Open Days which it arranged each autumn.
Although the City of Winchester Trust had a great deal of respect for the work of the Civic Trust, it allowed its membership to lapse in recent years because it was felt the high subscription asked did not represent value for money. Ironically discussions had recently been opened with a view to rejoining due to improvements in its service.
We shall be actively involved with other societies in the south in exploring the options for a new, more affordable central organisation.