Latest News

Disabled people call for better ‘incLOOsion’ in Morden Leisure Centre

18 June 2018

Merton CIL are surprised and disappointed to discover that Merton Council have removed the planned 'Changing Places' accessible facility from the new-build Morden Leisure Centre.

Merton CIL’s excellence is recognised after being re-awarded the Advice Quality Standard

08 June 2018

We are pleased to announce that Merton CIL was recently re-awarded the Advice Quality Standard (AQS)

Merton CIL’s Response to National Planning Policy Framework

15 May 2018

We are pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation[1]. We are an organisation run and controlled by Deaf and Disabled people, delivering services within The London Borough of Merton. We are a pan-Disability organisation championing the rights of people across the full spectrum of disabilities. We take the view that that society creates barriers that 'disable' people with impairments from participating fully and on an equal basis with others, for example, by creating and perpetuating physical, information and attitudinal barriers. These barriers must be removed in order to support the independence and inclusion of Deaf and Disabled people, and the National Planning Policy Framework has a role to play in that.

Independence of Merton CIL upheld in Compact Complaint

10 May 2018

Merton CIL welcomes the findings of the Compact Board which has upheld our right to raise issues at Scrutiny. This outcome reaffirms the independent position of Merton CIL, and of our colleagues in the wider voluntary sector. It reinforces our right to raise issues of concern with Merton Council, regardless of any funding arrangements in place.

Press release: Disabled people's lives are not a cost to be cut

20 April 2018

Merton CIL recently submitted evidence to the Long term funding of adult social care inquiry by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee. The inquiry is being held ahead of a planned green paper on social care. We have made similar submissions to Government inquiries before, and here at Merton CIL we felt a bit frustrated to be responding to the same questions over and over again. So this time round, we told the inquiry that they were asking the wrong questions. We said that there needed to be a better understanding of Disabled people using social care, as well as older people. We said that the inquiry should look more broadly about how to support people to live independently, rather than focusing just on social care.

CIL Matters Newsletter- Access and Inclusion Issue - Spring Edition

11 April 2018

Welcome to the 'Access and Inclusion Issue' of CIL Matters. We are so proud to present this newsletter which has a record number of contributions from you, our members and supporters, thank you! The theme for this edition is “Access and Inclusion” and it is jam-packed with news and views, and we could have said so much more. We've covered access to elections, access to information, access to justice, health, benefits and decision-making. And of course access to travel and getting out and about and using local services.

PRESS RELEASE: Insult to Democracy - More Cuts to Merton Council Budget without Consultation!

23 February 2018

As Merton Council prepares to set their budget for the year, local Deaf and Disabled people are angry at not being consulted on plans to cut another £2.2 million from the adult social care budget. This includes cuts to support to live independently, and changes to support to get out and about. Worryingly, the budget also includes plans to increase Council income through charges for social care for Disabled people and older people.