This week Ben Beck, Chair of Voluntary Action Lewisham (VAL) and METRO Charity's Company Secretary Jonathan McClelland signed an agreement that marks the culmination of a robust process that sees our two charities merge.
From 1 April, the new METRO VAL will continue VAL’s Young Londoners' Fund work, and deliver on strategic equalities - which includes supporting a regular Local Equalities Forum.
METRO VAL will also continue to manage the Mulberry Centre in Lewisham, providing a vital community space to local organisations and people in the voluntary, community and faith sectors. It will also work with local people and communities to supplement METRO Charity's offer of crucial frontline services related to sexual and reproductive health, mental health, hate crime, youth services and HIV support and prevention.
Gwen Bryan, METRO Charity's Chair, said, “We are really delighted to be able to take this merger forward, which will enable us to strengthen equalities work across Lewisham, with a range of partners.
“METRO is well aware of the incredible 52 year history of VAL in Lewisham, and honoured that VAL has decided to join the METRO family of services.”
Ben Beck, Chair of VAL, said, "VAL is really pleased to have found a new home within the METRO family, and excited at the new strategic focus on equalities. This will enable METRO VAL to continue to serve the people of Lewisham, but now from within the stronger base that METRO provides."
METRO VAL will merge into METRO's Community Domain, extending our working with the voluntary, community and faith sector that we deliver in Greenwich under METRO GAVS.
The merge formally comes into effect from Wednesday 1st April 2020.