At our core
Is community development, we work with local people to address the issues that matter to them and the wider local community.
We offer a range of services and activities including training and development, help to find work, health activities, support for families, activities for older people, children and young people, and volunteering opportunities. You can find out more about what we offer on this website or by contacting us directly. We want you to get involved and be part of Making the Difference in your community.
Our Approach
Increase confidence, aspirations, and expectations by delivering a programme of transformational social and economic activity in the Manor and Castle ward that helps individuals and communities engage. That builds the confidence and capacity of local individuals and organisations to access opportunities, jobs, services, training, enterprise, and education.
- To advocate for and influence the delivery of services that are the best quality possible for local people. To ensure that what the Trust offers is complementary and does not displace other services.
- To create and sustain a well-managed, quality, physical environment, in the land and properties that Manor and Castle Development Trust own and manage, which will enhance the well-being of local people.
- MCDT will work with other key partners in the area and make a contribution to achieving the vision for the neighbourhoods
Our History
25+ years of community development
1997 – present day
Manor and Castle Development Trust was a community response to the challenges faced by the neighbourhoods. MCDT was established in September 1997 to manage the delivery of SRB Challenge Fund Round 3 in the Manor and Castle area. SRB 3 involved £16.7 million over 7 years which levered in additional public and private sector investment of over £200m.
The Trust’s holistic and community led approach to community regeneration was so successful the Trust became an accountable body for 7 streams of public money and was asked to manage the SRB 2 scheme. The Trust has managed a successful Neighbourhood Wardens scheme, and is still managing a Sure Start programme and a Healthy Living Network which received a £1m award from the Lottery.
Uniquely the Trust has taken an enabling role towards regeneration and has supported other organisations to deliver activity. The Trust doesn’t take credit for everything that has changed in the Manor area but it has played a role in that process at all levels – through access to funding, supporting the management of projects to directly delivering both capital and revenue projects. The Trust was also involved in a joint venture with Sheffield Wildlife Trust to set up the Green Estates.
The four key drivers for the development of the Trust were:
- To reach the parts that other organisations could not reach through first rung engagement activity.
- To be a catalyst for change in the community.
- To develop and hold assets on behalf of the local community.
- To act as the ‘custodian’ of the vision for the area.
The Trust was (and is) a community led organisation and this has shaped the vision, values, the principles and the practice.
The relationship between the Trust and the three local neighbourhood forums underpins the community led approach of MCDT. The Manor and Castle Development Trust was built on the Forums; they provide the community representation to the Board and are a mechanism for participation and consultation.
Each Forum acts as a voice for local residents and acts as the interface between the residents and the Trust. MCDT provides development support to each of the Forums and a small amount of money which provides small grants to local community groups to run their own activities and some contribution to the administrative costs of the Forums.
The constitution of the Trust is unique in that the three sectors (community, public and private) which form the core partnership have equal representation and status.
Our Values
- Promoting innovation, change and creativity.
- Welcoming diversity, and Equality of Opportunity.
- Empowering and Supporting community action, social justice and fairness. Collaboration and Cooperation.
- Open, honest and transparent.
Our Vision
Proud to live and work as part of the Manor Castle communities.
Purpose
To support community action that brings about positive economic, social, and environmental changes through the development of enterprising solutions
