Welsh health charities agree merger

Welsh mental health charity Hafal and carers' charity Crossroads Mid & West Wales (CMWW) are to merge, forming one organisation, next year. 

The two charities already work closely together and propose to merge formally on April 1, 2017. Hafal is a member-led mental health charity providing recovery-focused services for mental health service users and carers across all 22 counties of Wales. CMWW is a well-established charity that provides services for carers and service users in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys. The merger will involve transfer of CMWW assets, services and staff into Hafal.

Alun Thomas, Hafal's chief executive, said: “We are very excited about the merger and the benefits it will bring to both organisations. 

“Following detailed discussion and analysis we concluded that by joining together both organisations can improve and expand their services to clients and secure our future in the coming years. Both organisations are already successful but together we can benefit by creating a larger organisation fulfilling a wider mission across Wales. We expect staff levels to increase along with our budget.” 

Roger Gant, chief executive of CMWW, added: “The key benefit is that the two charities’ missions and activities complement rather than duplicate each other: together we can broaden our mission in a measured way and deliver a unique range of services across Wales.

“We will of course look to our members and clients – and to our staff group – to help us develop the unified organisation, and to continue to deliver excellent services.”