On 1 December the Board of Trustees of Civic Trust Cymru announced the closure of the organisation ‘with immediate effect’ due to ‘irresolvable issues with an inherited pension deficit’, news met with considerable sadness and concern by partner bodies such as the IHBC, which also voiced hopes for a replacement body in the near future.
IHBC Chair James Caird said: ‘The IHBC is saddened to hear of the untimely demise of Civic Trust Cymru, a valued partner in Wales. Having only recently celebrated their 50 years (previously as Civic Trust for Wales) of contributing to the civic movement in Wales, the loss of their voice at a time of the greatest change in both the legislative and policy landscape in Wales will be acutely missed across the sector.’
‘We can only hope a replacement emerges in the near future that links local civic groups to the national picture and IHBC remains ready to support any such initiative working with the Wales Heritage Group of national amenity and civic bodies to ensure its success.’
Civic Trust Cymru writes:
It is with immense regret that the Board of Trustees of Civic Trust Cymru announces the closure of the organisation with immediate effect. This decision has been forced upon the Trustees because of an inherited pension deficit from the Civic Trust for Wales from which Civic Trust Cymru evolved in 2015. Every effort has been made to resolve this issue but no solution has been found and therefore we have appointed Grant Thornton to act as administrators.
In over fifty years of the Civic Trust we are very proud to have had a lasting impact upon sense of place, civic pride and the built and historic environment of Wales. In that time, we have achieved a great many things, including:
- Working with, and supporting, a network of talented and enthusiastic civic societies across Wales;
- Championing the development of characterisation as a place management tool, including developing a characterisation manual and toolkit and supporting societies to undertake characterisation studies of their place;
- producing regular issues of the highly regarded magazine/journal ‘About Wales’;
- Being a key influence in the development, promotion, and management of conservation areas in Wales;
- Running numerous conferences highlighting the best and worst of heritage, planning and built environment practice across Wales;
- Founding and servicing as Secretariat of the Wales Heritage Group;
- Instituting European Heritage Days in Wales, later rebranded as Open Doors, developed by Civic Trust for Wales into a very successful and popular annual event;
- Being a partner in the original ‘Civic Trust Awards’
- Undertaking a very successful project in Rhondda Valley with Rhondda Civic Society and many local schools entitled ‘Our Valley’s Heritage’, which also included the restoration of the iconic ‘Lady with the Lamp’.
Our contribution to Wales has been most recently documented in our publication ‘Pride in Place‘, Civic Trust Cymru Impact Report 2010-16’.
The Board wish to thank all our many supporters, past Trustees, staff, volunteers, civic societies and fellow heritage organisations for their contributions, past and present.
With our closure, all contact details for Civic Trust Cymru cease to exist, so should any former colleagues or civic societies have any questions please use: Prideinplacewales@gmail.com.
Creditors should contact Grant Thornton, 11-13 Penhill Road, Cardiff, CF11 9UP.Tel: 029 2023 5591.
