Locality was set up in 2011 to support local community organisations across England. Although we are a relatively young organisation, our roots go back over 100 years. Locality was established as a result of a merger between two existing membership organisations which had formed a strong relationship, had a shared vision, and wanted to bring together their activities and memberships to provide a stronger joint platform. These organisations were the British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres (BASSAC) and the Development Trusts Association (DTA). You can read more about the merger and the establishment of Locality here [Story of a merger - IVAR]
Locality’s members come from many different traditions- some were set up by local people as a reaction to public and private sector declines. Some are legacy bodies from Government funded regeneration projects. Some were set up as Development Trusts to focus on economic development led by and for local people. Some were created as a result of social action campaigns to tackle inequality. And some were set up as part of the university settlement movement of the late 19th century. This movement started in London with Oxford and Cambridge colleges establishing “settlements” in poor areas of London. Students and academics lived in these settlement houses to educate and support poor Londoners. From an initial position of privilege and patronage, settlements quickly become champions of social change. They established the British Federation of Residential Settlements in 1920 to campaign for progressive legislation and Government action to alleviate poverty. This organisation is the starting point for a number of organisational mergers and changes that eventually led to the establishment of Locality in 2011.
The settlement movement quickly spread around the UK, across the Atlantic to the US and Canada, and throughout Europe. Today, Locality is proud to play a leading role in the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres which today brings together organisations from around the world who are all committed to the power of local community.
