From its earliest days, the Trust has had a concern for creating strong communities – the settings within which people can lead fulfilling lives. The Trust has also always had an interest in the kind of public services which support healthy communities, for example, its early support for child welfare and social work as an emerging profession.

City regions will become increasingly important, and there will be a trend towards the integration of urban, suburban and rural interests. Remote communities will be at greater risk. In addition, moves towards cost-reflective pricing will threaten social cohesion.