Introducing Minehead and Coast Development Trust (MCDT)
Reg. Charity No. 114443 - Company Reg. No. 07322858
Summary
In seeking to establish a robust, well-constituted and governed social enterprise to take forward projects in Minehead and along its coastline, MCDT has brought together the structure and functions of two existing organisations, MDT and MCCT.
Minehead Development Trust (MDT) was established in 2008 out of a collaborative project to save the old hospital for community use. It is a registered charity limited by guarantee enabling it to act as an accountable body for professional project delivery.
MDT has operated the Minehead Information Centre Ltd (MIC) since May 2012. MIC now operates out of the Beach Hotel Cafe, a shared space partnership with YMCA Dulverton Group and Minehead Museum. This successful pilot project, now in its 6th year, created a heritage hub focused on the historic seafront Beach Hotel and the heritage West Somerset Railway.
Minehead Coastal Community Team (MCCT) was established in 2015 by the local authority in response to funding opportunities for coastal communities. Following a successful bid to the first round of the Funding, an economic plan, launched in January 2016, was produced to inform the identification of regeneration projects for the town. Elements of the plan were developed to enhance the seafront area – Minehead’s Enterprising Esplanade, published in March 2016 - to raise the quality of the visitor offer in the town and is in its final delivery phase through Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT). MCCT had no constitutional function or legal framework with which to employ personnel or build capacity to bring capital projects to fruition, relying on local authority delivery mechanisms. MDT has a proven legal governance framework and a record of success in bid development and project delivery; however, its capacity needs to grow to deliver significantly beyond the function of MIC.