The Coram group of children’s charities has merged with the Shakespeare Schools Foundation.
The SSF, which was founded in 2000, uses the works of William Shakespeare to help build children’s confidence and cultural capital. It also runs the annual Shakespeare Schools Festival.
The two charities said they had merged to allow for more collaboration and growth in supporting children in cultural activities, and will share infrastructure as part of the agreement.
The merger will be completed on 1 April and the SSF will be rebranded as the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation.
The SSF will sit in Coram’s education division, alongside Coram Beanstalk and Coram Life Education, as the charity continues to absorb smaller, specialist charities, with the charity’s website listing six other Coram group charities.
One person was made redundant from SSF, with 24 staff relocating to the Coram campus in Bloomsbury, central London. Coram employs 399 people.
The SSF had an income of £1.8m in the year to 31 March 2019, with Coram having an income of £22.5m for the same period.
Ruth Brock, chief executive of the SSF, will continue as managing director of the charity post-merger.
Carol Homden, chief executive of Coram, said: “This move will further improve the life chances of the children we support by bringing together Coram’s strong heritage in the arts with the creative strength of the SSF.
“As the largest programme of its kind, this will contribute to realising our vision as a national centre of excellence for children.”
Brock said: “We know that children who have a strong creative and artistic education become happier, more successful, more fulfilled citizens in a better society, and both charities believe all children should have this opportunity.
“We’re ambitious to build the programmes and campaigns to accomplish this and are excited and energised for our joint future.”