Community Matters members vote for continued merger talks
At Community Matters AGM on Saturday, members voted overwhelmingly for the organisation to continue talks with NAVCA about merger. An AGM resolution asked members to show their confidence in the idea by voting for the two organisations to keep talking and do the detailed due diligence work that will be needed prior to any decision about merger. Members expressed a keen interest in any merged organisation being ambitious in its reach and its remit and in embodying the values of community action and engagement and88% voted for Trustees to take this forward.
Speaking after the AGM, Community Matters Vice Chair, Alan Lloydsaid “Our members really engaged with this question and we had a helpful discussion about vision, values and the services that are most important to them. Members spoke with real passion about what Community Matters means to them and it became very clear to me that we must get this right for them and the thousands of community organisations around the country who need a voice and the right kind of practical support.”
NAVCA Chief Executive, Joe Irvin addressed the AGM about what these talks mean for NAVCA, its members and the wider sector and why they believe that Community Matters is the right partner. He then had a brief wait in the lobby while members debated the issue. Speaking afterwards Joe said “I’m really encouraged by the commitment of Community Matters members to this process and am keen to continue our dialogue with my own members about their aspirations and what I believe are shared interests and concerns”.
NAVCA’s AGM is on 14 November and will debate the same resolution. If members vote the same way then Trustees will begin the detailed work that will enable more formal proposals to be brought back to Extraordinary General Meetings in the new year.
(Source: navca.org.uk)
