This is the story of what can happen when a community unites behind a common cause. Headingley Development Trust (HDT) didn’t appear out of nowhere—it was built, step by step, by local people who wanted to make our area stronger, fairer, and more sustainable for its residents. What you’ll find in these pages is not just a history of projects, but a celebration of the people who made them possible.
HDT has always been powered by a simple but radical idea: that the people who live in a place should have a say—and a hand—in shaping its future. Nowhere is this clearer than in the story of HEART, where HDT members saved an at-risk local asset and transformed it into a thriving community and arts centre, offering pleasure and support to the full spectrum of local society.
HEART continues to be a visible beacon for Headingley, but what may surprise readers is the diverse and wide-ranging activity HDT has undertaken over its first 20 years—channelling local energy to make a positive difference. From saving buildings to setting up new enterprises, from table tennis to orchards—with a few (free-range) chickens thrown in for good measure.
This history doesn’t just list events—it honours the spirit behind them. It’s about the people who have offered their time, energy, ideas, and care. It’s also a recognition of the hundreds of people who have successfully invested their money with us. One of HDT’s stand-out features is its community share-based financial model. We reinvest funds in local enterprises to support a better local offer in the face of challenging wider market forces. When HDT bought the Headingley Greengrocer business in 2019, it saved a vital community asset, providing an avenue for fresh and locally sourced produce that might otherwise have been lost.
As a set of community-run organisations operating on tight margins, the COVID-19 pandemic challenged HDT like never before. But it also highlighted our ability to adapt and make use of our key asset—our dedicated people. From shifting HEART’s activities online to launching doorstep delivery services through the greengrocer, the organisation responded quickly and creatively. What could have broken us, instead brought focus.
The Headingley you see today is more connected, more resilient, and more community-led— because people made it so. This book is a tribute to them. To everyone who’s helped along the way: thank you. This is your story so far.
And if you’re just discovering it—welcome. We hope it inspires you to join in. We have lots to do in our next 20 years.
Sam Schwab Chair, Headingley Development Trust, September 2025
Buy the book, priced £5, at:
HEART Centre, Bennett Road, Headingley LS6 3HN www.heartcentre.org.uk
The Headingley Greengrocer, 50 North Lane, Headingley LS6 3HU www.theheadingleygreengrocer.co.uk
The Natural Food Store 23 North Lane, Headingley LS6 3HW Facebook: naturalfoodstore.coop
Or at the HDT stall at the Headingley Farmers Market (2nd Saturday in the month at the Rose Garden, North Lane, Headingley LS6 3JJ)
If you would like a copy to be posted to you please contact us at sales@hdtleeds.org.uk where we can arrange to take payment to cover postage and packaging.