Two Hertfordshire-based local infrastructure organisations have announced that they will be merging this year.
The Welwyn Hatfield Community and Voluntary Services (WHCVS) and Communities 1st, which both support local voluntary and community groups across Hertfordshire, unveiled the merger last week and will continue to operate under the latter’s name.
While the trustee boards of both organisations had agreed to merge in November, the move could only proceed once it had been approved by members at a general meeting on 19 December.
WHCVS, which most recently recorded an income of £131,000, and Communities 1st, which recently recorded an income of £1.3m, have been working together since 2020, when they joined forces to support the local community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While Communities 1st’s income has remained over £1m since 2022, WHCVS recorded a £33,000 deficit as its income in the year to March 2024 was its lowest in three years while its expenditure was at its highest ever levels.
Aim to boost efficiency
In a joint statement, the organisations said: “We aim to implement the merger as smoothly as possible ensuring we continue to meet all our commitments without any interruption and continue to serve our local communities and make a positive impact.”
The charities said they hope to offer a continuity of the services provided by each organisation and to expand them across more areas, improve efficiency and “help us better meet our users’ needs and provide a wider, more coordinated range of services”.
Further details of the merger are set to be released shortly.
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