Dignity in Dying, an organisation campaigning for greater and choice and control for terminally ill people, has appointed Ally Thomson as its first director for Scotland. Ally will also be working across sister charity, Compassion in Dying, which works to promote end-of-life rights and choices for all. Ally, who most recently worked at the British Red Cross heading up communications and advocacy for devolved nations, has a track record of advancing human rights and campaigning for change in the fields of poverty, patient choice, women’s rights, independent living and asylum/refugee issues. Previous roles have included the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

A Scottish charity chief has been appointed chair of a UK-wide sight loss organisation. Graham Findlay, chief executive of North East Sensory Services (NESS), has taken over as chairman of Visionary, a membership organisation for independent charities who support blind and partially sighted people. NESS, which has offices in Aberdeen, Dundee and Elgin, supports over 6,000 blind and deaf people in the north-east. Visionary acts as a collective voice for local organisations, providing practical services for people with sight loss, and promoting joint working, sharing and learning among members, as well as representing members on a national stage.

Sue Ryder has appointed Lisa Glenday as its community fundraiser. Lisa will be working on the charity’s two year capital appeal which will see the expansion of Scotland’s only specialist neurological centre at Dee View Court, Aberdeen. Lisa brings more than five years of community fundraising experience to the team, with previous roles at MND Scotland and Action for Children.