Merton Unity Network was established in December 1994. The Network represents a "collective voice" for Merton's Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) organisations and communities - their views, experiences and support needs. 

 

Merton Unity Network (MUN), as a member of Merton (local strategic) Partnership, works collaboratively with a wide range of partners to provide infrastructural and sustainable development support to Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voluntary and community organisations (VCOs).  These organisations represents approximately one-third of Merton’s diverse communities who are located mainly in the most ‘deprived’ areas (concentrated in the east) of the local borough.  As an umbrella organisation, MUN provides a "collective voice" for BAME VCOs and their communities through a very effective BME Forum and peer support network structure which promotes cross-cultural understanding, civic engagement and greater cohesion between diverse communities.  MUN also provides culturally appropriate support tailored to the needs of BAME VCOs where gaps are identified; to enable groups to maximise and sustain meaningful and positive service impact.  Merton's refreshed BAME Strategic Plan (2010-13) is evidence of MUN’s and the BME Forum’s continual drive to identify needs, address inequalities and enable fair access to joined-up public services which benefits all and ultimately help in reducing the gap between the most deprived east and the most affluent west of the borough.  MUN’s ability to also deliver is evidenced by the recognition it has received through funding for the infrastructural development of the BAME sector, for example, from Big Lottery BASIS, Capacity Builders ChangeUp sub-regional and local programmes and other related partnership work.

 

Merton Unity Network vision is: 

Valuing diversity and working in partnership to strengthen the bonds of humanity and encourage greater participation in all aspect of community life.

The Network aims to: 

 

Work in partnership with all sectors at the local level to promote a culturally diverse community and teral well being of Merton's BAME communities.

 

Bring BAME groups together to pool resources and to take part in all aspect of community life.

 

Assist BAME groups' development - by promoting, supporting, protecting, preserving good public health, education, training, and enabling access to funding and other services;

 

Respond to specific requests of BAME groups, particularly in relation to research.

 

Merton Unity Network focuses on the 'bigger, more strategic' issues and explores how these are likely to impact upon member organisations and how they can respond. 

The Network understands the complex and continuously changing environment of the voluntary sector, hence its commitment to work in partnership with the statutory, voluntary and business sectors to tackle the issues to do with the development and sustainability of BAME Groups. The Network places emphasis on reducing isolation and exclusion of BAME groups in the London Borough of Merton.

 

The Network facilitates debates about government proposals or policies and brings BAME organisations together to explore possible responses on both strategic and organisational level.  The Network also assists its member groups to develop their capacity and to effectively identify and respond to the needs of their service users and to represent those needs at the highest level.

 

The services the Network provides include:

1. Merton’s BME Forum:  bringing groups together to explore the horizon, the impact of issues and policy decisions and respond accordingly.
2. DRIP - A peer support & resource “drop-in” service: with access as and when required to a range of resources, e.g. library, research and information and ICT – signposting groups where necessary; the pooling and sharing of resources to ensure the development and sustain- ability of groups.
3. Advocacy:  facilitating the representation of the individual, or a collective voice for BAME groups, to resolve issues, reduce the feeling of isolation, and improve community development and engagement
4. Capacity building:  helping/empowering groups through one-to-one training, to develop themselves, to identify, articulate, regularly evaluate, and respond to the needs of their organisations and beneficiaries.
5. Marketing and promotion:  showcasing the services and contributions made by BAME groups
6. Strategic planning and development: enabling Merton’s BAME sector to continually strive for excellence through effective partnership working.

Merton Unity Network is managed by an Executive Committee, which is made up of representation from Merton's BAME organisations.