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New social justice charity announced - 15 November 2007

Three organisations - Novas Group, PATH and Scarman Trust - have announced plans to merge, creating a major new social justice charity, the Novas Scarman Group. The new organisation will have four core activities:

  • Community support services serving the most disadvantaged communities
  • Clusters of social enterprises based in Contemporary Urban Centres
  • Nation-wide programmes of learning and inclusive pathways to work
  • Campaigning and policy advocacy work - "connecting the streets with the corridors of power"

The group will gradually develop an international programme of work.

Novas Founder and joint CEO Michael Wake described the merging of the three charities as "a joining together of shared values in order to facilitate social justice and social cohesion at a time when the gulf between those that have opportunities and those that don't is increasing". Maria Donoghue-Mills, Novas joint CEO added, "Our shared vision is to build on our combined strengths and create an influential and effective catalyst for social justice. This merger represents the achievement of critical mass for the related fields of community development and social enterprise."

Matthew Pike, Founder CEO of The Scarman Trust commented "Since the inner city riots of the early 1980's, many government programmes have failed to change the lives of those that have least access to opportunities. By combining our strengths in community development and social enterprises, the Novas Scarman Group will provide high quality services that will draw on the ideas, creativity and entrepreneurialism of people living on the margins of society. The new group will be a powerhouse of social innovation for social justice."

Notes for Editors

  • The Novas Group was Charity of the Year in 2007 and combines support for vulnerable individuals with major programmes of social enterprise development
  • The Scarman Trust has pioneered support for grassroots social entrepreneurs and recently helped to develop proposals for a new Social Investment Bank - backed by both Gordon Brown and David Cameron
  • PATH supports Black and Minority Ethnic entrants to professions and has recently been given both the RTPI and Civil Service Diversity Award

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