GLCS and Twenty10 to merge

Members of the Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service of NSW (GLCS) will meet on July 16 to consider a merger with long term partner and GLBTI youth organisation Twenty10.

The two groups already share the same building in Newtown’s Bedford Street and GLCS co-president Tim Errington said the proposed merger was an opportunity to build on the best of what both organisations already did through sharing resources, experience. He hoped that the merger would allow the services to adapt and grow to better serve the community in a long term sustainable way.

“We are privileged to have a large number of dedicated volunteers who work very hard and are very passionate and committed to supporting our communities through GLCS services,” Errington said.

Peter Trebilco, a 78er and one of GLCS’s first telephone counsellors said he supported the merger.
“I look forward to changing this great service so that we can do even better than we have so far,” Trebilco said.

Twenty10 is also looking forward to the growth opportunities that the venture would provide.
Twenty10 board co-chair, Dr Sean Gallagher said he was enthusiastic about the opportunities that the merger would open up for young people.

“Young people will benefit greatly from the extension to services that we will be able to provide by working closely with the volunteers and staff of the GLCS,” Gallagher said.

“We are excited that we have reached a point in time where both of our agencies can look to a shared future.”
Following GLCS’s approval Twenty10 will then hold a special general meeting on July 20 to approve the merger and make associated changes to its constitution.

The new merged organisation will continue to operate as GLCS and Twenty10 and carry on their existing telephone counselling and youth work.

The organisations have also identified some new services they can provide together at little cost and will be looking for further opportunities to expand shared services in future.

The Board of the new merged organisation will be made up of members of both existing Boards.