Merton’s innovative partnership working shortlisted for national awards.
Merton has been shortlisted for three Compact Awards in the categories of local partnership, leadership and innovation.
Compact Awards showcase outstanding government and voluntary working across the country. Winners are selected from groups, individuals, organisations and activities which highlight and demonstrate the best of Compact working.
Merton has been recognised in the national Compact Awards every year since 2005, highlighting the continued strengthening of the relationship between the public, business and voluntary sectors in the borough.
This year Merton has been shortlisted in the following categories:
Local Compact Partnership Award category – Merton Partnership
– Awarded to a group or partnership that has shown continued outstanding commitment to the Compact, with demonstrable ongoing outcomes and improvements delivered and communicated for the communities in which they work.
Leadership Award category – Chris Frost, Chief Executive of Merton Voluntary Service Council
– Awarded to the person or group showing outstanding leadership which has directly led to consistent championing and support for the Compact. This may be through a formal leadership role or through recognisable leadership behaviour, and should reflect where consistent support for the Compact has improved local partnerships.
Innovation category – Youth Transformation project
– Awarded to the group or project which has developed a new ongoing approach to improving or supporting Compact working, particularly those demonstrating creative solutions to difficult situations.
The Compact Awards will take place on Wednesday 7 November 2012 and will be presented by Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society.
Leader of Merton Council and chair of Merton Partnership Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: ‘It is great to be recognised again for the outstanding work we have achieved from working in partnership with people from different sectors of the borough. By working together we can continue to improve the quality of life for residents in Merton.”
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For media enquiries please contact Councillor Stephen Alambritis, Leader of Merton Council, on 07958139498.
Notes to editors:
– Those attending the Compact Awards include Councillor Stephen Alambritis, Leader of Merton Council and Chair of the Merton Partnership, Councillor Edith Macauley, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement & Equalities and Chair of the Compact Board, and Chris Frost, Chief Executive of Merton Voluntary Service Council.
– Compact Voice is the voice of the voluntary sector on the Compact – an agreement between the sector and the Government to ensure better working together. We provide training and resources, and represent the sector’s concerns to the government.
– The Merton Compact is a partnership agreement between local public bodies, the business community and the voluntary and community sector to improve their relationships and provide a framework within which the sectors can understand what to expect from each other. The Merton Compact aims to achieve a ‘Compact way of working’ by helping us communicate better with each other, understand and respect each other’s views and work together more effectively to support the people of Merton.
– Merton Partnership (the Local Strategic Partnership) co-ordinates the delivery of services and other activities in the borough to improve the quality of life and physical environment experienced by Merton residents and visitors to the borough. It brings together organisations that provide services or are involved in public life in the borough, working together in partnership to achieve our vision of Merton as ‘a great place to live and call home, where citizens are also neighbours and take responsibility for improving their own lives and neighbourhoods.