Disabled Persons Housing Service (Fife) has announced that David Birrell has taken up post as the independent living project administrator with its Self Directed Support Options Fife Service. David is based at DPHS(Fife) 339 High Street, Kirkcaldy and will be the first point of contact for a new dedicated team within SDS Options Fife providing information, advice and support to assist disabled people, their families and carers to gain skills and confidence in employing their own supports for independent living. David will be booking appointments to meet the Independent Living Officer, arranging training sessions and providing a link with the SDS Volunteer project, all to assist individuals eligible for SDS to gain skills and confidence to employ their own care/support or personal assistants.

Older people’s charity Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) has appointed a new chief executive. Catherine Johnstone will take over the role from David McCullough who moves on after more than five years at the helm. Johnstone is the former chief executive of the Samaritans where she notably moved the issue of suicide and its prevention up the national agenda. She also forged a series of prominent partnerships and delivered an effective five year strategy which increased the charity’s impact. Johnstone was awarded a CBE in 2016 for her services to suicide prevention and has been a trustee at RVS January this year.

Kathryn Welch has been appointed interim director of Voluntary Arts Scotland, taking up the role for nine months. Kathryn will join Voluntary Arts on secondment from her role as development manager at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling. She will lead the experienced team based in the Creative Exchange in Leith for the next nine months while Jemma Neville undertakes a sabbatical. Kathryn is currently a Clore Social Leadership Fellow and will also continue to lead the Stirling Soup community events.