CCDT Projects
Cirencester Community Development Trust (CCDT) supports and delivers projects that strengthen culture, heritage, community life and the local economy.
Our work focuses on creating opportunities for residents, volunteers, organisations and visitors to engage with Cirencester’s creativity, green spaces and shared history.
Through partnerships, fundraising and community involvement, CCDT helps bring ideas to life — from festivals and awards to heritage improvements and public events. Below is a selection of our current projects, past impacts and hosted initiatives that contribute to a vibrant and inclusive Cirencester.
UK Town of Culture – Digital Celebration
Postcard Application – Greetings from Cirencester
As part of Cirencester’s application for the UK Town of Culture 2028, the bid team were requested to send a postcard.
One Cirencester, celebrates what we do well while boldly seeking to improve what we must – connecting neighbourhoods, nature and people through culture, movement and shared pride. We hope you like our Postcard from Cirencester.
Phoenix Festival
free entry
The Phoenix Festival is a free, volunteer-led community music and arts event held each August in Cirencester’s Abbey Grounds. Supported by CCDT, the festival provides two days of live music, dance and family activities, offering an accessible cultural experience for residents and visitors.
Run entirely by unpaid volunteers, it reflects the strength of local collaboration and the value of community-driven programming.
The festival encourages people of all ages to come together, enjoy Cirencester’s green spaces and celebrate local creativity. CCDT is proud to champion an event that enhances cultural participation and supports the town’s vibrant community spirit.
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From logistics, advice, financial support and much more, the unwavering support of CCDT and their dedication is what helps the festival continue to thrive each and every year!
Paul – Phoenix Festival
Cirencester History Festival
Harnessing the power of history to educate, inspire and bring people together.
Cirencester History Festival is a project of the Cirencester Community Development Trust (CCDT) and is managed by a dedicated Operations Team under delegated authority.
The Festival brings together residents, visitors and history enthusiasts through a programme of talks, walks, film, music and immersive experiences. It offers opportunities to explore global, national and local history, while encouraging multigenerational audiences to connect with the past. By highlighting history’s relevance for the future, the Festival supports CCDT’s wider aim of strengthening Cirencester’s cultural life and community participation.
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The CCDT Board has backed us with generosity, ambition and commitment, and the Festival has flourished under CCDT’s wing.
Jess Yarrow – Festival Director
Cirencester Community Awards
free to enter and attend – to recognise community contribution
Cirencester Community Development Trust is pleased to support the Cirencester Community Awards 2026, delivered in partnership with Cirencester Radio.
The awards recognise the charities, organisations, community groups and individuals who make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of our town.
They highlight the projects that strengthen community life and the people whose dedication supports others. With three organisational categories and two individual honours, the awards encourage participation from across the not-for-profit sector. CCDT is committed to celebrating local achievement, promoting collaboration and shining a light on the individuals and groups who help Cirencester thrive.
Bands in the Park
Runs from July to September (with a May addition!)
Bands in the Park is part of CCDT’s commitment to providing free cultural programming for the community.
Held in Cirencester’s Abbey Grounds, the event offers an afternoon of live music in one of the town’s most welcoming green spaces. Residents and visitors are invited to bring friends, family and a picnic to enjoy performances from local bands in the heart of Cirencester. The programme supports local talent, encourages participation in community life and enhances the town’s cultural offer. As a free and accessible event, Bands in the Park reflects CCDT’s aim to promote creativity, inclusion and shared public enjoyment.
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We celebrate 100 years in 2027 and with new members, it is a privilege to be able to perform in the Abbey Grounds.
John – Conductor, Avening Brass Band
Past Impacts
Hare Trail – to promote creativity & tourism
Launched in autumn 2025, The Hare Trail is a new circular walking route designed to showcase Cirencester’s green spaces, heritage and creativity. Supported by CCDT, the project encourages residents and visitors to explore the town’s natural environment while engaging with its cultural identity. The trail links key locations including the Amphitheatre, Abbey Grounds, St Michael’s Park and Four Acre Field, offering both longer walks and shorter accessible sections. The newly installed hare sculpture by local artist Mike Smith provides a focal point for the route and reflects the collaborative effort behind the project, promoting tourism, community participation and pride in Cirencester’s distinct character.
Past project: Medieval Church Passageway Project
The restoration of the medieval passageway between the Market Place and the churchyard is an example of how CCDT supports community-led heritage projects. Following years of deterioration, local partners formed a steering group to address safety, access and conservation concerns. CCDT assisted the group in coordinating stakeholders, navigating permissions and supporting funding applications to national and local bodies. The project secured significant investment, enabling full restoration, improved lighting, drainage repairs and a new accessible archway. Completed in 2025, the scheme demonstrates how CCDT helps communities protect historic spaces, enhance public safety and strengthen Cirencester’s cultural environment.
Hosted Initiatives
Cotswold Henhouse
Bathurst Projects
Launched in 2025 – ongoing project – Cirencester Waterways – Launch of the Cirencester and Churn Waterways and Environment Partnership — Cirencester Town Council
Together with local partners, volunteers and community groups, CCDT continues to champion projects that enhance Cirencester’s cultural identity, support community wellbeing and promote sustainable tourism. Whether delivering large public events, supporting grassroots initiatives or helping to protect historic spaces, our aim is to ensure Cirencester remains a thriving, welcoming and creative place for all. We look forward to developing new opportunities and working with the community to shape the town’s future.