Gina Vettese dedicated over 18 years to fight for the rights of Deaf and Disabled people in Merton, and beyond. Gina's departure will be a great loss but we are extremely grateful for the consistency, determination, passion and expertise she invested into our organisation for almost two decades.

In 2007, Gina was a part of the steering group that pushed for the creation of a Centre For Independent Living in Merton. Gina and a number of other local Disabled people (including current trustees Claire, Chris and Sarah), worked with Merton Council to conduct focus groups, collate feedback and identify the pressing needs of Disabled people in Merton. This work led to the creation of Merton CIL in 2008. Gina has been instrumental to the evolution and growth of Merton CIL, its staff, trustees and members too.

In 2023, Gina was awarded The Eric Leppard Lifetime Achievement Award at the Merton Partnership Civic Pride Volunteer Awards, for her longstanding contribution to the borough. See photograph from the event below.

Gina was also a founding member of the Access Champions group and was determined to make our community more accessible for Disabled people. Prior to the formation of the Access Champions, Gina protested for transport to be made more accessible (watch her work with Gatwick Express here) and brought this passion and experience to the group.

On behalf of all at Merton CIL, we would like to thank Gina. We wish her all the best in the future.

A note from Gina

I feel honoured to have served as Co-Chair of Merton CIL. It is something that I never thought that I could or would have been able to do. Being on the board has helped me to grow, build skills, understand my rights as a Disabled person and feel confident to challenge discrimination. I am very proud of what Merton CIL has achieved. We started out with just one member of staff in a tiny room in an industrial estate and look at us now!

I have been a part of Merton CIL from the very beginning. I was a steering group member, trustee, vice-chair and then co-chair.

Merton CIL invested in my leadership journey and supported me to build my skills and confidence whilst on the board. I was sent on Inclusion London’s Leadership Programme led by Alex Hendra, and this was one of the best things to happen to me. It gave me the confidence that I was lacking and helped me find the voice that I needed to be able to speak up on behalf of Disabled people in Merton. I left the programme believing in myself and my ability to lead the board of trustees.

I am very proud to have been a part of the Access Champions group. We used our lived experiences to improve accessibility in Merton. We pushed for a Changing Places toilet in Wimbledon, we are engaging with Merton Council, local businesses and transport providers. We still have lots of work to do but I am sure that our Access Champions will continue to improve accessibility and Disabled people will have less barriers to navigate in our community.

The organisation has been blessed with amazing staff, wonderful trustees and great members and supporters. Thank you to everyone involved! Especially my Co-Chair Amanda, I could not have done this without you.  

I am very sad to be leaving Merton CIL. However, I am delighted to be passing the role of Chair on to Estifanos Habteselassie. I have watched Estifanos grow over the years and I believe that he has the drive, passion and creativity to take Merton CIL forward. Merton CIL is in very safe hands with Estifanos (Chair) and Charlet (CEO) leading together.

Keep working together to push for increased accessibility, inclusion and equity for Disabled people!

Thank you and farewell!

The board have decided to co-opt Estifanos to take over as chair in the run up to our AGM, where Gina will formally stand down. Our members will be asked to vote on electing Estifanos a chair of Merton CIL.