High Trees Community Development Trust

High Trees Community Development Trust is a community anchor organisation based in Lambeth, South London. In 1995, the library on St Martin's Estate closed after 33 years serving the local community; a group of residents came together to keep the building in community use, and High Trees was founded in 1998. Its mission is to reduce inequality and create stronger, fairer and more connected communities.

What makes High Trees distinctive is its dual approach: responding directly to the immediate needs of individuals and families through free, high-quality services - education and skills training, employment and welfare support, children, youth and family services, and activities that build wellbeing, civic participation and social cohesion - while also working to improve the systems and structures that consistently don't work for those who need them most. Alongside this delivery, High Trees strengthens Lambeth's voluntary and community sector through partnerships, capacity building support and community-led research.