Grant To Help Merton Community Schemes

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Local Partnership scheme to benefit

The Government has awarded Merton borough a £1.7 million performance reward grant to make improvements to the lives of local people.

The money has been awarded to the Merton Partnership, which brings together public sector organisations, community groups, the voluntary sector and business to address local issues such as improved transport and better facilities for the elderly and the young.

The grant has been awarded in recognition of the work the Merton Partnership has been doing since 2007.

The Partnership has chosen to spend the funding on local projects to bridge the gap between the wealthier west and the less affluent east of the borough. It will develop project ideas over the summer and they will start to become a reality from November 2011.

All projects supported by the grant will contribute towards the priorities set out in the council's Community Plan: Transport, community safety, health, enhancing the lives of older people as well as children and young people. They will help achieve the partnership's vision that by 2019 every Merton resident will have the same opportunities open to them to improve their future prospects and enable them to make a positive contribution to society.

Merton Council Leader Councillor Stephen Alambritis (left) said: "Even though the original amount was going to be £3.2m, the fact we have been awarded £1.7m is still great news for the Merton Partnership.

"It gives us a real opportunity to be an example of best practice when it comes to public sector organisations working in close collaboration with the voluntary and private sectors for the benefit of the community.  We all have expertise to offer, from which our residents can benefit.  We want to be a national example which other councils up and down the country will want to emulate."

August 7, 2011