LGEC originated as the Lancashire Churches Development Education Group in the autumn of 1980, with input from Christian Aid and the Fishergate Baptist Church. The premises were rooms above a shop on Fishergate, open for 2 hours a day from 5-7pm.

The purpose in those days was to raise awareness in schools of development issues and developing countries, in order to increase support for the work of agencies such as Christian Aid and Oxfam. In 1983, Lancashire Development Education Group (as the organisation was then known) moved to offices at the back of the One Village shop on Fox Street; rent was paid in kind by providing volunteers to staff the shop.

Avenham was the next move, in 1986 all Greek pillars and crumbling stone! It was part of Lancashire Polytechnic (now the University) Arts Centre, and we worked out of one large room housing offices, library, and meeting room! LDEG employed 10 part-time and temporary workers on the Government Manpower Services Commission (MSC) scheme. As well as schools workers, administrative and library staff, LDEG employed a minority ethnic worker, a black history worker, and a community worker.

Also in 1986, we obtained funding through the European Union for a full-time project worker, Judith Brennan, on the Co-operatives, Alternative Trading and Employment (CATE) project. This project examined alternative ways of working in developing countries, especially Nicaragua and Brazil, and lessons we could apply here in the UK at a time of high unemployment. This led to our first publication, 'What's the Alternative?' in 1989/90.

In 1990, we moved to offices on St. Peter's Square. We remained until 2010, when we moved to our new premises on Ribblesdale Place just off of Winckley Square. Over the last 20 years, we have extended our sources of funding and expanded our community and schools work. We also changed our name to Lancashire Global Education Centre (LGEC) and became a limited company.

In October 2010, LGEC celebrated its 30th anniversary with a party for friends, volunteers, and staff. Photos from the celebration are below.