Scotland Versus Arthritis is the organisation that has been created following the merger of Arthritis Research UK and Arthritis Care

Two charities that merged last year have taken on a new name.

Arthritis Research UK and Arthritis Care joined forces last November, and now the revamped organisation will take the name Versus Arthritis.

The charity has pledged to provide high quality services, give information and support to people with the condition, whilst carrying out vital research into arthritis.

The Scottish branch has taken on the name Scotland Versus Arthritis, and the charity’s Scotland director Angela Donaldson-Bruce said she was looking forward to a new chapter.

“I think there was a bit of uneasiness around the merger, in terms of not wanting to rush finding a new name,” she said.

“I think if we had brought in the new name immediately, people might have thought it was some sort of a takeover.

“But what happened was that a process of engagement with key stakeholders to devise a name that is fit for purpose for the charity and what we want to do.”

No jobs have been lost as a result of the merger, and the branding was carried out at a UK level – with M&C Saatchi developing the name, narrative and visual identity at a cost of £278,000. The partnership has allowed research to be expanded in Scotland, with Donaldson-Bruce saying the combination has worked well for both charities.

“We are not doing too much differently in Scotland, and that has been a bonus from the merger for us,” she said.

“I don’t think there was much duplication between the charities when we merged.

“It has added the dimension of arthritis research that was missing beforehand, which builds on the work that we do.”