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It gives me great pleasure to present Merton
Voluntary Service Council’s Annual Review
2015. MVSC has experienced significant
organisational changes over the last twelve to
eighteen months. The sad passing of Chris
Frost in November 2013, our founding Chief
Executive, the merger with Volunteer Centre
Merton led by Ian Beever, Interim Chief
Executive, and the appointment of our new
Chief Executive, Khadiru Mahdi.
Chris’s passing was a shock to us all and left a
huge void. We express our sincere gratitude to
our members, partners and the community for
their support. Part of her legacy was MVSC’s
Transforming Local Infrastructure (TLI) project,
funded by the Cabinet Office and managed by
Big Lottery. This was a project that epitomised
her leadership.
TLI not only built on MVSC’s years of successes
but also championed organisational transformation,
including establishing Merton Means Business, in
partnership with Merton Chamber of Commerce,
and the merger with Volunteer Centre Merton.
Both of these added to Chris’s huge legacy in
strengthening Merton's Voluntary and Community
Sector for the benefit of local residents.
During this period of change, MVSC remained
stable and continued to deliver a range of services
to the local voluntary and community sector, thanks
to the dedication of our staff and volunteers.
My thanks to fellow trustees for their support and
guidance which has kept MVSC on an even keel.
We would like to give a special thanks to Phillip
Barrow, Anthony Gubbins and Ian Petherbridge
from Volunteer Centre Merton Board who served
as observers on the MVSC Board after the merger
and contributed their expertise, guidance and
wisdom.
Our governance and strategic reviews in late
2014-15 reaffirmed and refreshed our governance
arrangements and provides us with clear objectives
and priorities for 2015-18.
We would also like to thank our strategic partners
and funders, including the London Borough of
Merton, Public Health and Circle Housing Merton
Priory for their support. We look forward to ongoing
productive working relationships in the years
ahead.
Lola Barrett
Chair
“MVSC brings to our
attention information
and services that are
important for local
Voluntary and
Community Sector
organisations. The
service MVSC
provides enables us
to focus our energy
on providing quality
services to the
community.”
Carers Support Merton