Две благотворительные организации для людей с инвалидностью в Девоне объединяются для укрепления финансовой устойчивости

Two disability charities in Devon have announced plans to merge in an effort to strengthen their long-term financial resilience. Disability Together and Disability Focus in southwest England are expected to join forces at the end of September, the charities said. The former charity, a larger organisation with total income of £2.34m in the year to March 2025, will absorb Disability Focus, which took in £603,000 in the same period. Disability Focus has run operating deficits for the past four years, of £65,900 in 2024-25, and expressed concern over the financial viability of some of its services in its 2024-25 accounts. “Demand for our appointeeship services remains high but as we are currently at capacity we are having to maintain a waiting list,” the report reads. “There are concerns regarding the long-term ability of the organisation to continue to fund this work in light of the shortfall in the level of fees the organisation can charge compared to the true cost of providing these services.” On the merger, Janet Stackhouse, Disability Focus chief executive, said: “Joining a larger organisation means we can safeguard and grow the service we provide, while giving our staff and the people we support real confidence in the future.” Meanwhile, Disability Together has reported operating surpluses for the past two years and seen a steady rise in its total income from £1.84m in 2020-21 to £2.34m most recently. Its income from government contracts has also risen from £1.12m in the former year to £1.88m in 2024-25. On the merger, Stephanie Lewis, Disability Together chief executive, said: “By joining forces with Disability Focus, we’ll be able to offer a wider range of support, share expertise, and build a stronger, more sustainable charity for the long term.” The charities said that a further update would be provided once the merger has been completed. “There will be no immediate changes to how people access support, and both charities will continue to operate as usual during the transition period,” they added. In March, the Good Merger Index recorded the highest number of charities joining forces in England and Wales over its 12-year history.