The Cudworth and West Green Community Partnership is a registered charity, as it has been for many years. Being a charity allows us to carry out the work we do for the residents of Cudworth and West Green and also allows us to seek funding from a whole variety of funders from the Big Lottery to private trusts.

In 2005 the directors of the Partnership decided that they would like to become a Development Trust, this in no way changes what the organisation does or what underpins it, in fact quite the opposite; becoming a Development Trust has strengthened the aims and objectives of the Partnership and has allowed us to refocus on what needs to be done to ensure that the charity continues to thrive and prosper.

The Development Trust Association (DTA) believes that real sustainable development lies at the heart of supporting community activity. Development Trusts come in all shapes and sizes and vary enormously in the scope and scale of their activities, but they all make things happen from managed workspace, recycling, environmental improvements, management of public space, advice and debt counselling, childcare, volunteering, job training, youth work... you name it and a Development Trust is probably doing it.

Now that the Cudworth and West Green Community Partnership is a Development Trust there are 4 common principles that we revolve around, which are:-

• We are engaged in the economic, environmental, and social regeneration of a defined area or community of identity.
• We are independent and aiming for self-sufficiency, and not for private profit.
• We are community based, owned and managed
• We are actively involved in partnerships and alliances.