Merton Compact has struck gold for the second year running.

Merton was awarded gold in the Compact way of working in partnership category at the Compact Annual Meeting Commendations, which took place last November. A total of 28 organisations received awards for 2006, but only four were awarded gold.

This latest success for Merton Compact follows the gold success in 2005 for its implementation of the Compact agreement.

Merton Compact is an agreement between Merton Council, the Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust, Metropolitan Police Service, St Helier University Hospital NHS Trust, Merton Borough Fire Brigade and the voluntary and community sectors, designed to strengthen relationships ensuring all sectors can work together effectively.

The key factors behind the decision to award Merton Compact gold were the quality of ongoing achievements; that Merton Compact achievements were a combination of planned and opportunistic achievements, and that it worked in an innovative way.

Ged Curran, Chief Executive of Merton Council, said:

“I am delighted that Merton Compact has received yet another gold award. It is the only organisation in the country to have achieved this so far and I believe that is testament to the robust partnership approach that underpins Merton Compact”.

Chris Frost, Chief Executive of Merton Voluntary Service Council (MVSC) also expressed her delight at this latest accolade for Merton Compact:

“This is wonderful news and we are delighted that Merton is being recognised nationally as a place where multi-agency partnerships are really working for the benefit of the local community”