Global charities CBM UK and BasicNeeds UK have merged.

CBM is an international Christian disability and development organisation that works to transform the lives of disabled people in the world's poorest communities.

Active across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, CBM treats conditions that lead to blindness or other types of disability and helps people with disabilities participate in their communities.

The charity had income of over £6m in the year to June 2016, according to accounts filed with the regulator.

BasicNeeds was founded in 2000 to improve the lives of people with mental illness and epilepsy via a holistic community-based approach.

The charity has supported more than 700,000 people in 15 countries since its inception, with services including providing access to care, community support, and assistance securing employment.

BasicNeeds had income of more than £1.6m in the year to December 31 2015.

CBM chief executive Kirsty Smith said that most people in low- and middle-income countries have no access to mental health treatment or support, giving rise to shocking levels of suffering and social and economic cost.

“This exciting merger with BasicNeeds will help us expand and develop our mental health work alongside our important programmes supporting people affected by blindness and other types of disability, to help meet this huge and neglected need,” Smith said.

BasicNeeds CEO Adrian Sell said the charity is excited by the potential of the merger to increase its positive impact.

“Through working together we can combine our expertise and resources and become a leading global voice and source of expertise on mental health in development.”

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