North Smethwick Development Trust has its roots in housing regeneration when in 1988 a group of local residents successfully challenged a Compulsory Purchase Order on older, local housing.

Mike Swain and Amin Chowdhury meeting Prince Charles in 1995

Led by the Rev Janet Full James residents secured funding to employ a community development worker who worked with local people and Sandwell Council to manage the grant aided renovation of local homes that had previously been earmarked for demolition.

By 1992 the resident group formalised as a Company Limited by Guarantee and Charity under the name of North Smethwick Housing Development Trust.

Following the success of the previous housing development project, the Trust began work in 1997 on the Albion Estate Regeneration Project, which saw the renovation of 160 council and privately owned properties. This development programme was completed in 2001 and totalled more than £3,500.000 of investment in local housing.

Those early days of local people in action did not diminish and over time the Trust became more active in the running of the local community centre in Smethwick which was owned and managed by Sandwell MBC.

Eventually in 2007, the Trust took the decision to assume management responsibility of the Brasshouse Community Centre focussing more on supporting local people with the emphasis on community engagement and community development. To this end, The Trust removed Housing from its title and formally changed its name to North Smethwick Development Trust.

NSDT now delivers a variety of activities and services that include a combination of social enterprises and community projects and services.

Since 2007, activities at the centre have increased significantly. The Trust continues to grow, building on its earlier successes as it strives to meet its overall aims and responding to local need developing projects and partnerships with local organisations, schools, the local children’s centre and with our statutory partners.