MERTON CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

Registered charity 1152825 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as MERTON CIL, MCIL

Home visiting advice and advocacy service Disability Hate Crime Prevention ServiceDebates and eventsCraftivism and Chat GroupResponding to consultations and reviews, and representing the voice of Merton's disabled people.

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Latest income

£354k

Latest spending

£409k

Registered

2013

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £54,971 for the year ended March 31, 2025, reducing its total reserves from £289,382 to £234,411. The trustees maintain a reserves policy to hold at least three months of running costs, with unrestricted funds standing at £143,890. The charity continues to rely on grant applications and fundraising to fund its activities, with trustees expressing confidence that these grants will remain available.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: at least 3 month’s running costs (held: £234k)

“Merton CIL will hold unrestricted funds to meet at least 3 month’s running costs and aims to hold 4 months running costs by the end of 2025.” — page 7

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Corporate structure

Registered company of the charity Companies House 07645926

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

City Bridge Foundation — “Merton CIL Awarded City Bridge Foundation Grant to Strengthen Access to Justice” (source page)

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

WONG, Eekeen — director, appointed 14/11/2024on trustee list
HELLARD, Kirstin — director, appointed 30/11/2023on trustee list
BEGLIN, Daniel — director, appointed 30/11/2023on trustee list
BULL, Chris — director, appointed 03/12/2021not on trustee list
OLAJIDE, Raheema Marina — director, appointed 25/10/2018on trustee list
HABTESELLASIE, Estifanos Zeray — director, appointed 30/10/2017on trustee list
BENJAMIN, Claire Marie — director, appointed 24/05/2011on trustee list
HENLEY, Sarah Margaret — director, appointed 24/05/2011on trustee list

Official officers record.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

CLAIRE BENJAMIN
Christopher Bull
Daniel Beglin
Eekeen Wong
Estifanos Habtesellasie
Kirstin Hellard
Raheema Marina Olajide
SARAH HENLEY

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Merton

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£354k	£409k
31/03/2024	£468k	£316k
31/03/2023	£335k	£327k
31/03/2022	£344k	£362k
31/03/2021	£373k	£353k

Common questions

Is MERTON CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £54,971 for the year ended March 31, 2025, reducing its total reserves from £289,382 to £234,411. The trustees maintain a reserves policy to hold at least three months of running costs, with unrestricted funds standing at £143,890. The charity continues to rely on grant applications and fundraising to fund its activities, with trustees expressing confidence that these grants will remain available. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds MERTON CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING?

Funders whose own accounts filings name MERTON CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING as a grant recipient include THE THREE GUINEAS TRUST, TRUST FOR LONDON, MERTON VOLUNTARY SERVICE COUNCIL, THE INMAN CHARITY, BARCHESTER HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE THREE GUINEAS TRUST	FY2024	£126k	Towards employing an advocate to support Disabled people to navigate barriers to accessing goods and services to promote inclusion and independence.
TRUST FOR LONDON	FY2023	£71k	This funding is to support work improving local social care policies
MERTON VOLUNTARY SERVICE COUNCIL	FY2023	£10k
MERTON VOLUNTARY SERVICE COUNCIL	FY2024	£10k
THE INMAN CHARITY	FY2022	£5k	Social - Physically and Mentally Disabled
MERTON VOLUNTARY SERVICE COUNCIL	FY2022	£2k
BARCHESTER HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION	FY2021	£2k	Disability Sports Coach

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	29/01/2025	£492k	Strategic Change for Sustainability
City Bridge Foundation	08/03/2021	£247k	Grant to Merton Centre for Independent Living (Merton CIL)
The National Lottery Community Fund	23/01/2015	£487k	Passport to Independence