Growth snapshot: Doncaster West Development Trust

This fast growing northern social enterprise provides education and training on employment and money issues especially for those with substance misuse issues. It’s training centre also acts as a beautiful conference venue which helps the trust supplement its contract and grant income.

Marisa Graziano, a woman who discovered the ideals of the co-operative movement early in life after a trip to Peruvian shanty towns, became the driving force of the Doncaster West Development Trust while working as a local authority officer in the early 90s. She was approached be a group of local activists who were dismayed by the fact a local building had been abandoned and turned into a drug den. They argued that surely something more constructive could be done with the space.

The venture was started with just the support of a few administration staff but it now takes a variety of government contracts for education, training and money management issues and is also funded by Business Link to deliver social enterprise mentoring. By March 2011 the trust will have provided support to some 5000 people as well as helping set up numerous local businesses.

Graziano offers two secrets to success.

She says: ‘You always have to stay one step ahead of the curve by constantly looking for grants and contracts – plan for five years in advance – even if this has been made difficult by the uncertainty around government cuts.’

She also says: ‘Having the right team is imperative to the success of your organisation. You can’t do it alone. You need to have the right skill set to support your initiatives and they have to be paid properly for their efforts.’

Although Doncaster West Development Trust is growing quickly into a sizeable organisation this local institution, which started with street cleaning, recycling initiatives in schools and community festivals, promises to keep a ‘grass roots’ mindset. It will also continue to work with a variety of partners on bigger initiatives.

Asked to pick the greatest achievement of her work Graziano says she can’t pick just one.

‘Doncaster West Development Trust is more about the little things that add up to make a big difference.’

www.dwdt.org.uk

Interview by Liban Aingal