About Us - Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site

The Jurassic Coast Trust is the independent charity responsible for managing the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

Our vision is that everyone loves, understands and values the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

Our mission is to enable everyone to have the best possible experience of the Jurassic Coast, whether they want to learn, enjoy, work or study.

To achieve our mission and vision, we work towards the following four aims:

How We Are Run Annual Report World Heritage Site Partnership Plan Jurassic Coast Trust Staff Trustees and Patrons Job Vacancies

To protect the Jurassic Coast and its setting.

We do this by understanding and contesting threats to the ongoing natural erosion that occurs along the coastline, and to developments that might have a negative impact on the way the Site is experienced. We also work with fossil collectors, research organisations and museums to enable more of the unique and spectacular fossils rescued World Heritage Site to be conserved, researched and ultimately put on display.

Hooken landslip, visible on the Beer to Branscombe walk. © Steve Belasco - jurassicphotographic.com

To engage with people and organisations

We do this in Dorset, East Devon and elsewhere to improve people and organisations’ experience of this incredible World Heritage Site. Drawing on how the Jurassic Coast is, or might be important to them, we then act to improve their experience so that it makes a meaningful difference to their lives.

Jurassic Coast Ambassador Martin Curtis delivers a talk about the World Heritage Site for a primary school.

To deepen our understanding of, and people’s connections with, the Jurassic Coast

The astonishing Earth Heritage of the Jurassic Coast gives us thousands of stories tell us about the planet, the natural processes that change it and the evolution of species over more than a third of the time of which life has been on Earth. As custodians of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Site, our job is to demonstrate its relevance and significance, and that of World Heritage Status, and facilitate further understanding and knowledge.

Children at Camp Bestival discovering fossils with the Jurassic Coast Trust. © Eddy Pearce

To sustain the organisation financially and demonstrate exemplary governance

We do this through effective and transparent governance and financial management. Successful fundraising enables us to grow financially, allowing us to undertake our mission. Good governance of both the Trust and the World Heritage Site will ensure the implementation of the Management Plan into the future; World Heritage Sites are to be safeguarded for future generations and the Jurassic Coast Trust intends to be around to make that happen.

L to R: Guy Kerr (JCT), Martin Cox (WDLH) & Lucy Culkin (JCT) at Highlands End Holiday Park on the Jurassic Coast.

Supporters

The Jurassic Coast Trust receives some grant funding from Dorset and Devon County Councils, Natural England and the Environment Agency. The remainder of our financial support is generated from charitable giving, including from businesses, and from the sale of publications and other merchandise.

The Trust also currently has a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to support our new role in managing the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

You can help – support us or get involved

To support us in looking after the Jurassic Coast, you can:

Become a Member
Volunteer as an Ambassador
Join us as a Business Partner,
Purchase one of our books or other products from our online shop

Our registered charity number is 1101134. For formal information about the Jurassic Coast Trust, read our Annual Reports. To stay in touch with us and hear our news, sign up to our mailing list using the form at the bottom of this page, or follow the Jurassic Coast on social media.

Our team are based at Mountfield in Bridport. View our contact information for ways of getting in touch. Media organisations please see our Press Office page.

Trustees and Patrons

The Jurassic Coast Trust is run by a Board of Trustees.

We are all passionate about the Jurassic Coast and give our time voluntarily to oversee the running of our charity, to shape its direction, keep it on track and to work with our colleagues and partners towards our shared ambitions.