Our Story

Lyme Regis Development Trust (LRDT) is a well established local community charity which was formed in 1998 following the UK Government Planning for Real Community consultation.

We have a rich history of fundraising for local projects including raising funds to refurbish the local malthouse, and substantial investment in expanding and refurbishing the old St Michael's School (see also below).

 A significant milestone in our history was in 2011 the Trust bought the former Lyme Regis Boys Club with a £60,000 grant from the Dorset County Council Youth Service through the Woodroffe School extended schools programme. The Trust carried out consultation and building work to transform it into a modern youth club. Consultation involved a part time worker talking to more than a thousand people through public meetings, questionnaires and individual consultation, over a period of four months. The name for the centre, The Hub, was selected by a panel of young people from a list of 89 suggestions made by participants. The consultation process generated a list of preferred uses and contacts with many people wanting to support the centre through volunteering or fund raising. In the first couple of months the Hub raised £20,000 through local fund raising.

 

The Hub was selected by the Big Lottery’s Jubilee People’s Millions to be one of six regional finalists in a television contest to win £60,000 which the Trust would spend on providing disabled access to the building. Young people took on the responsibility to mobilise young people to generate support through Facebook and Twitter. This included a flashmob publicity event that broke the world record at the time for the most people singing a song in the round, with 410 people participating, and widespread regional media coverage.
 

We still own and manage the HUB which provides a home for numerous community activities including the Youth Club and various sporting clubs.

We also own St Michaels Business Centre which provides highly in demand business space to the local area, in a beautiful, much-loved old school building. It has attracted a diverse range of trades from Accountants through to Artisan workshops.

The Trust is a company limited by guarantee (with a wholly owned subsidiary property arm) and whilst we provide services, we will increasingly be an enabler through the judicious use of our built assets and our knowledge. We work independently of other agencies, in delivering community projects for Lyme Regis and the surrounding area.

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If you would like any further information regarding LRDT please use the link below.