Board Appoints New Chairman
01 July 2009
James R. G. Wright CBE DL has been appointed as the new chair of Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland, Chief Executive David Manion announced today.
Mr. Wright, who served as a trustee of Age Concern Scotland from 2002 until its merger with Help the Aged in Scotland on April 1st this year and subsequently continued with the merged charity, takes over from outgoing Chairman Harry Cathcart with immediate effect. The appointment is for three years.
David Manion said, "James Wright becomes chair during a tremendously challenging time for Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland and the charity sector as a whole. Our merger took a lot of time and effort and it is our aim to speedily get back to what we do best, working to reduce the challenges for those facing serious and multiple disadvantages as they grow older.
"James brings a wealth of experience in this regard. Whilst Vice Chancellor of Newcastle University between 1992 and 2000, he fostered the development of one of the UK's leading centres on the health and welfare of older people.
"He has also served on many public bodies including the Cambridge District Health Authority and the Northern and Yorkshire regional Health Authority and was a trustee of Age Concern England from 2001 to 2005 and again from 2006 to 2009 and the charity's Chairman between 2002 and 2005
"I would further like to thank Harry Cathcart, as Scottish Trustee of Help the Aged at UK level and that charity's Treasurer, and former Age Concern Scotland Chairperson Marjory D'Arcy, for their contributions to ensuring the two charities in Scotland successfully merged."
James Wright CBE DL said: "This is an interesting time to become Chair of Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland. Charities across the globe are facing the very real challenges of the credit crisis and the impact of declining revenues.
"We must adapt and consolidate to respond to those new realities, listening to our stakeholders and carrying out a comprehensive review of all our activities, both in terms of service delivery, community development and policy, research and influencing.
"My first priority is to ensure that we have a truly national charity, recognised as the authoritative voice on older people's issues in Scotland, which is right and ready for these testing times."
Click here to dowload a copy of James' biography.