Merton Citizens
WHO ARE WE?
We are Merton Citizens, a local alliance part of South London Citizens made up of 15 local member organisations from across the borough, including schools, religious institutions and non-profit organisations that work together towards a common purpose.
We are working on four key priorities affecting our local communities – mental health, housing, the real Living Wage, and welcoming refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.
Check out the Merton Citizens member institutions on this map.
Since our founding in 2018, we have:
- Campaigned for local authorities to shift £1.85m of their budget towards mental health services, particularly for children and adolescents
- Resettled refugee families through the Community Sponsorship scheme and campaigned for the council to join the Lift the Ban Coalition
- Made Merton Council commit to becoming an accredited Living Wage employer
- Worked with Merton Council on an empathy-first training to be delivered by YMCA residents with experience of homelessness
Find out more about our current work and achievements in our most recent newsletter or signup to hear more about Merton Citizens.
WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?
Based on listening to communities from across Merton, we have democratically elected the following priorities:
- Housing – Affordable, good-quality housing is a priority for us, and we have been organising to improve housing standards as well as provide more affordable and social housing in the borough. More recently, we have also focused on improving the relationship between the council and those in housing need.
- Mental Health – Born out of the stories of students at Wimbledon College and St Mark’s Academy, Merton Citizens fostered a relationship with South West London St George’s mental health trusts that grew into a South London-wide initiative, South London Listens. Today, we focus on equipping local mental health champions and institutions to listen and take action around mental health.
- Welcome – Our focus is on ensuring Merton is a welcoming place to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, primarily by pushing the council to become a Borough of Sanctuary.
- Living Wage – We are holding the council to account on their commitment to become an accredited Living Wage employer, and hope to work with them to encourage other local businesses to do the same.
To learn more about the changes we are organising for in the borough, check out our 2022 manifesto.
WANT TO JOIN OUR ALLIANCE?
We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them and we're always looking for new members to join us! Please get in touch with your local organiser: vitoria.russo-gaino@citizensuk.org.
You can learn more about the benefits of becoming a Citizens UK member.
KEEP IN TOUCH
South London news, stories and updates
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South London Schools Declare a Housing Emergency Outside City HallOn the 4th of June, over 100 primary school students, teachers and parents came together outside City Hall to present a report outlining the housing crisis and its effect on education to Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing.
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Lewisham GPs Declare Housing a Health Emergency25 GPs across Lewisham have signed an open letter declaring housing as an urgent health issue. It outlines how "poor housing in Lewisham is directly impacting on the health of our residents." They are calling for the new Mayor, Brenda Dacres, and relevant Cabinet leads to meet with Lewisham Citizens to work on this issue within 30 days of their election.
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Lewisham Headteachers Declare a Housing Emergency11 Headteachers from Lewisham schools have signed an open letter declaring housing an urgent issue that is having a “detrimental impact on the education of our children”.
Read more