After more than five dynamic and fruitful years at Re-engage, Meryl Davies, CEO, has been offered the opportunity to lead a large London-based charity working with older people and is moving on in September.

In her time with Re-engage, Meryl introduced a fresh approach to the charity and put in place initiatives such as the Time Together magazine for our older people and the Re-engage Matters news to volunteers which are mainstays of our work now. Her approach saw us develop new projects such as Call Companions and Activity Groups and partnerships with other charities. She also oversaw our mergers with Community Christmas and Age Concern Crosby.

Meryl has built and inspired a dynamic team all of whom are utterly dedicated to our work and the older people we support. Working with her team and the board of trustees, Meryl developed and delivered the highly successful REACH strategy which at its core focused on reducing loneliness in older people, empowering volunteers, amplifying older voices, challenging ageism, and harnessing technology. The robustness of this approach saw Re-engage cope well through the pandemic, adopting new ways of working and putting in place important changes that will help us to reach even more older people in the coming years, with the support of our dedicated volunteers.

Meryl said, “It has been a huge privilege to lead Re-engage. I have had the opportunity to meet inspirational older people and incredible volunteers. And I have worked with a dedicated and caring staff team. I have learned so much in my time with the charity and been on an exhilarating journey with you all.”

Re-engage’ s chair of the trustees, Jonathan Upton, said, "We're all incredibly sad to hear that Meryl is leaving but wish to thank her for her hard work and also congratulate her on her new and exciting opportunity. During Meryl’s time as CEO, she has led and inspired an excellent team through a period of change and profound challenge. Whilst dealing with a pandemic which threatened the core of what we do, and the health of the people we exist to support, Meryl and her team put in place new technologies which allow us to serve more people and bring new guests and volunteers on board more quickly and securely, as well as rolling out programmes offering fitness classes and call companion services, all focussed on alleviating loneliness for some of the most vulnerable in society. Meryl has enhanced the capabilities of the charity as a vital social support for those in need, and a touchstone for policy makers looking to understand the challenges our guests face, and the solutions which work best. 

"The trustees are committed to continue to develop and grow Re-engage. We'll be working closely with the leadership team to find a new CEO."