Charity will extend its support, which includes grant making and the provision of information on grants and benefits
The Edinburgh Trust, part of national poverty charity Turn2us, has bolstered its work in dealing with the cost of living crisis with the appointment of two new leadership roles.
Patrycja Kupiec has been named as head of Edinburgh Trust, while Sandy MacDonald joins as a trustee of Turn2us.
Patrycja joins the charity having previously worked in roles leading on co-design, participatory research, and leadership at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Young Scot, and, most recently, as CEO of YWCA Scotland – The Young Women’s Movement.
Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to his trustee role, having spent more than 20 years in corporate affairs, responsible business, sustainability and marketing.
Throughout this time, he has focused on working within and across sectors to drive social and environmental change, inclusion and wellbeing. Sandy is currently director of public policy and communications for Scottish Financial Enterprise and is the former chair of the Living Wage Scotland leadership group and was an independent commissioner on the Edinburgh Poverty Commission.
The work of the Edinburgh Trust has been a lifeline for many in the city over the last 10 years. Unexpected life events, from bereavement to illness – paired with the economic impact of the pandemic – has meant increasing numbers of people have found it difficult or impossible to cope financially.
This new move by the charity will see it extend its support, which includes grant making and the provision of information on the grants and benefits available to help people maximise their income.
On her appointment, Patrycja said: “I am delighted to be joining Turn2us Edinburgh Trust
to drive an ambitious programme contributing to the End Poverty Edinburgh 2030 action plan. We are committed to shifting power to people and communities in Edinburgh experiencing financial hardship to tackle the causes of financial insecurity.”
Sandy MacDonald added: “I’m delighted to be joining as a trustee of Turn2us and the Edinburgh Trust at such a crucial time. I’m hugely impressed by the thought that has gone into the strategy for Turn2us and its plans for Edinburgh, the strength of the team and their commitment to have a practical impact in people’s lives who are feeling financial hardship now. It is also promising that collaboration with other organisations and stakeholders across the city is at the heart of this piece of work to amplify and extend our positive impact.”
The new appointments come as Turn2us marks its 125th year of tackling poverty. As the charity recognises the legacy left by its founder, Elizabeth Finn, it is embarking upon a period of significance as it seeks to work with others to create systemic change for the 14.5 million of us in the UK who live in poverty, while continuing to reach the most vulnerable through offering practical information and grants.
Thomas Lawson, chief executive at Turn2us, said:“We are delighted to welcome Sandy to our Board of Trustees and Patrycja as head of Edinburgh Trust as we move into an exciting chapter at Turn2us.
“They join us as we mark an important milestone in our history and develop our new five-year strategy, in which we plan to be part of a solution to eradicate poverty in Edinburgh and across the UK. Both Patrycja and Sandy will play a significant role in this work and help ensure all of us can afford the essentials in life and to ultimately thrive.”
Since its inception, the Edinburgh Trust has awarded over 4,000 new grants to people experiencing financial insecurity, as well as providing ongoing financial support to several hundred regular grant recipients.
For more information on the work of the Edinburgh Trust, visit here.
