The Fund for Epilepsy appointed Added Value to advise them on their recent merger with the Epilepsy Research Foundation.

Mike Lancaster, the Fund for Epilepsy's former CEO, is Co-Director of the newly-formed Epilepsy Research UK. He says:

'As two research charities, we both felt it was right to merge so that we could reduce our running costs and raise more funds for research. After a year of informal discussions, the trustees made a formal decision and set a target of six months to complete the process.

'As the Chief Executive, charged with making that happen for the Fund for Epilepsy, I was conscious that there were technical areas where we needed expert support, in areas such as seeking Charity Commission approval and undertaking due diligence. Added Value's consultant was one of the few people I knew who could provide that.

'Added Value provided the reassurance of someone who had been through that process before, and I had confidence in their experience. Their consultant was friendly to work with and always available when needed. She not only gave us that back-up on a professional level, but took on personal involvement too - for example, when it came to other areas where we needed technical expertise, such as TUPE and staff transfer, she was always able to signpost us reliably to other experts who could provide that.

'We successfully completed the merger in our timescale, and even though the formal part is over, I also know that I can go back and ask for support.'

When the Alzheimer's Society undertook a far-reaching change programme to improve its operations and accountability, Added Value provided an interim Director of Services who led a key part of the programme over two years. This included creating a new services directorate, managing staff consultation, recruiting to the new structure and building its senior team.

The Alzheimer's Society is a national charity that provides care and services for people with dementia, their families and carers. It has over 250 local branches in the UK.

Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of the Society, says:

'What I liked first off was that Added Value's consultant could recognise the issues and was sympathetic to our aims and values: I had the sense that she would get stuck in.

'She joined us at a key moment in our restructuring process and the partnership has worked exceptionally well for us. As consultant she did more than identify the issues: she came back with clear proposals and then put them into action with very little guidance needed. Everything was done with careful thought and analysis, based on clear principles and making the case for each stage.

'Added Value has made an extraordinarily wide-ranging contribution. Not only did they map out an effective operational structure and lead an exemplary recruitment process; they did it all with political skill and real determination, absorbing much of the heat that major change inevitably generates.

'It's created a platform from which we'll go forward. We want more and better services for people with dementia - and I'm sure that's what we'll get.'

Following its merger with Lady Hoare Trust, Contact a Family appointed Added Value to undertake a governance review. As a result, this national charity has a newly energised and focused trustee board.

Contact a Family provides advice, information and support for parents of disabled children, reaching 275,000 families in the UK each year.

Chief Executive Francine Bates explains:

'We'd agreed on a governance review as a key component of the merger, and began the process the month after the merger was complete.

'Added Value's consultant worked alongside us to gather information from the trustees and develop the recommendations. He was diligent, hardworking and focused; I was very impressed. It took several months and was a sensitive process, as we needed to reduce the number of trustees. The consultant helped us to achieve this smoothly and to meld our two cultures, with diplomacy and tact throughout.

'The review identified that we had a fantastic group of trustees and that we could engage them and use their skills more. They welcomed this and we now have task groups that involve trustees more closely in strategic decisions.

'We also looked at our procedures for renewing the trustee board and planning ahead for officers standing down. Another consultant helped us recruit a new Chair and board members, and facilitated development days to bring the trustees together. She was delightful to work with and gave us clear advice in a supportive way.

'Added Value's consultants are passionate about their values and completely understand their role. The whole process was very positive for us.'

Added Value has worked with Centrepoint over several years, recently providing an interim Director of HR and Facilities to cover maternity leave and leading on a number of key projects.

Centrepoint is a national charity, providing a range of support services and accommodation for vulnerable and homeless 16 to 25 year olds.

Anthony Lawton, OBE, Chief Executive, says:

'Added Value was able to take on this key role as a result of our long-term relationship; the consultant's knowledge of Centrepoint was very important to us, as was her ability to "beef up" the facilities role.

'We needed to keep delivering the HR function, and at the same time maintain momentum and a process of continuous improvement in our operations. Added Value's consultant kept crucial business support functions not just running but evolving, and contributed to our overall strategic leadership, helping us to chart the future in key areas. She gets the balance right between the supportive, enabling functions of management and the ability to make tough-minded assessments and decisions.

'Added Value is now developing and co-ordinating the work across several major facilities projects. These include a partnership with a housing association to outsource maintenance, and leading on the Foundations for Life programme - the aim is to transform our spaces for the young people we work with.

'Working with us, Added Value has brought a deep knowledge of housing-related support, attention to detail, strong project management - and fun.'

Hestia provides a range of high quality housing, care and support services. Each year Hestia works with hundreds of people across London, including people with mental health needs, people living with HIV and AIDS, offenders, and women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

Hestia used Added Value's executive search and support services when they needed to make key appointments at director level. Chief Executive Pat Ryan explains:

'We'd advertised previously in the national press and used other "bog standard" recruitment agencies, but that hadn't been successful. We didn't appoint and we had a large number of unsuitable applications.

'Added Value's consultant quickly understood what was needed and what we needed. Both times she has been straightforward, and sent forward only people who exactly fitted what the post required. The benefit for me in using their service is that I don't get lots of irrelevant candidates or wasted calls.

'Our current Finance Director and Director of Corporate Services have been recruited for us by Added Value: that's two out of three of our directors. And both appointments have worked out incredibly well.'