The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has appointed Jordan Ogg as digital and social media officer. Jordan joins SCVO from the Royal Society of Edinburgh where he was public relations officer. Previously he held communications roles at the National Galleries of Scotland and Shetland Islands Council. He began his career as a researcher and content assistant at BBC Radio Shetland. He remains the features editor for online magazine The Island Review. Jordan replaces Julia Morrison who is now campaign marketing and social media manager at Alzheimer Scotland.

Samaritans has appointed Paul McDonald as executive director of communications, taking over from interim director Sophie Borromeo. Paul, joins from Action for Children where he was director of communications. He previously worked at Diabetes UK and RNIB, as well as Kings College, London, and King’s Health Partners. Paul joins Samaritans as the charity begins work to deliver its new strategy for 2015 to 2021. En​titled Working Together to Reduce Suicide, the strategy will emphasise improving and developing Samaritans’ service, increasing its influence and reaching more people in need of support, including those most at risk and vulnerable groups.

The National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) has re-elected Hamish Elvidge (left) and elected Brian Dow as co-chairs. Hamish and Brian join Joe Ferns, executive director of policy, research and development at Samaritans’ who holds the third co-chair role and hosts the NSPA secretariat. Hamish has been involved in the NSPA from the outset and is also chair of the Hamish Elvidge Trust which was formed after his son Matthew took his own life. Brian is the director of external affairs at Rethink Mental illness. The co-chairs lead a steering group of 12 with overall responsibility for the NSPA.