We are delighted to announce that The National Lottery Community Fund has agreed to support the MEAM Approach network for 2024-2027, including intensive partnership development support for ten new areas to join the network.
The MEAM Approach network is a supportive and collaborative community of local areas across England that are transforming services, systems and policy for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. The network is currently comprised of partnerships of statutory and voluntary agencies in 42 local areas, which are committed to local work and to sharing their learning along the way.
MEAM believes strongly in continual learning from our work. Within this new round of funding, we will be restructuring MEAM Approach network membership according to learning from the last two years, to widen our support offer for local areas and increase the reach of the MEAM Approach network.
In April, we will launch two levels of membership:
- MEAM Approach Network Membership: open to local partnerships of statutory and voluntary agencies actively working on transforming services and systems for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. Partnerships will continue to have access to a wide range of opportunities to engage with other network members, such as regular learning events, a free training programme, our online community platform and more.
- MEAM Approach Supporters: open to individuals and organisations committed to work on multiple disadvantage and systems change (but perhaps without a local partnership to pursue the work currently). Supporters will receive regular updates on MEAM Approach work and discounts on training and consultancy, as well as limited access to our community platform.
This change will ensure a vibrant and committed group of local partnerships, while also allowing more people and local areas to benefit from connections to the MEAM Approach network.
During April we will be working with existing members to implement the new membership model, and opening our Supporter membership. We will also be announcing details of how new areas can apply for one of the ten new intensive support places.
We encourage all local areas with an interest in multiple disadvantage to join us for the National Multiple Disadvantage Summit on 22 May in London.
