People facing multiple disadvantage experience a combination of problems including homelessness, substance misuse, contact with the criminal justice system and mental ill health. They fall through the gaps between services and systems, making it harder for them to address their problems and lead fulfilling lives.
Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) is the national charity supporting practitioners, policymakers and people with lived experience to transform services and systems for people facing multiple disadvantage.
Formed as a coalition in 2009, we work across sectors, across government, and with more than 50 local areas to improve responses and change lives.
Since January 2025, we operate as a charity with our partners Clinks, Collective Voice, Homeless Link and Mind on our board.
The MEAM Approach helps local areas design and deliver better coordinated services for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. It’s currently being used by partnerships of statutory and voluntary agencies in 42 local areas across England.
MEAM provides a range of support that can help local areas within and outside the MEAM Approach network to improve the lives of people facing multiple disadvantage.
This report explores 15 things that MEAM has learnt from local MEAM Approach areas during 15 years of tackling multiple disadvantage.
DownloadA brief statement of MEAM activities and impact 2023-24.
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