The new Barnsley Civic Trust was born in the autumn of 2006. The Town Centre Communities Partnership, represented by Phyllis Barnes (steering group treasurer) and Cath Wilkinson, helped to get the new Barnsley Civic Trust off the ground by organising the first meeting and arranging start-up funding.

Civic trusts are grassroots, non-political voluntary organisations which seek to engage communities in the development of their communities and public spaces. There are more than 800 Civic Trusts and Societies in the UK.

Still, lots of people think that civic trusts are all about preserving old buildings and not much else. Things are changing though – the civic trust movement is looking to the future, realising its strength, and playing a big part in some very modern ideas about “community”.

The new Barnsley Civic Trust’s brief will be much wider than conservation alone; it wants to strengthen and promote the renaissance of the whole town, get more local people behind the regeneration of Barnsley, and involve them in what is going on.

We are a modern movement which aims to:

• be an informed and constructive voice on civic issues.
• promote the best design in all new development.
• champion the conservation of Barnsley’s heritage and character.
• initiate practical projects which engage businesses, the community and voluntary groups.
• be a proactive and exciting movement which gets things done.

To find out more information and get in touch with the Barnsley Civic Trust see our contact page section.  Download our latest Information Leaflet 2010