Our Project Board is now complete with representatives from organisations in each of the participating boroughs. We will be introducing the members over the coming weeks starting with Michael and Okela from Merton and Haringey respectively.

Michael Turner – Merton Centre for Independent Living

Merton CIL is a Deaf and Disabled People’s organisation that has been working in the borough since 2008.  They work to address the marginalisation of Deaf and Disabled people to make a real difference in Merton and the wider community through campaigning and policy work.  They provide an advice and advocacy service for Deaf and Disabled people covering issues including disability benefits, housing, adult social care and health services.

Michael joined Merton CIL as Policy and Strategy Manager in 2018 and has a long background in the disability field, working particularly on co-production and involvement issues.

  

Okela Douglas - Founder of Sister System is a passionate and tenacious leader with a unique lens on pathways to empowerment for girls and young women. Okela welcomed the opportunity to be part of the Givings Together board whose work will allow us to together tackle structural discrimination, forging forward to create a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable approach to ensuring those communities who need it most are heard and appropriately supported to fulfil their potential. Together we are!