Steven Sweeney will take on the role. 

A Scottish charity supporting over 13,000 children and young people from armed forces communities has appointed a new chief executive officer.

Steven Sweeney will take on the CEO role with Forces Children Scotland. 

Steven begins his role with the charity, having previously served as CEO at Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire.

Mr Sweeney brings a wealth of third-sector experience and a passion for mission and values to the role. 

With a new strategy on the horizon, Steven looks ahead to how far he feels the charity could go in making Scotland a place where all children and young people from armed forces communities can realise their potential and thrive. 

He said: “As an organisation, we’ve said we want to co-produce a new strategy. So, it’s about speaking with the board, staff, children, young people about how are we going to do that? What’s the methodology? How are we going to approach that? And then get stuck into that. 

“It would be great to get to the summer of 2025, and feel that we’ve made great progress, and so then we can then get on with the good stuff.

“We will reflect on our mission and that it is on point, I certainly don’t get a sense that there is a need for any transformation. Far from it. Just a slight evolution on the next stage of our journey. I don’t view a mission as simply a poster on the wall, a document, or a bit of paper; we’re actually going to try and do it with intention, commitment, and relentlessly.

“ So, three years down the line, we will have a happy, healthy, thriving, and resilient organisation, laser-focused on delivering our mission with intention to best serve children and young people from armed forces communities.”

Harvey Tilley, and Max Young, Forces Children Scotland co-chairs, said: “We are delighted and thrilled that Steven will be joining Forces Children Scotland as the new CEO. At a time of uncertainty and change across the public and voluntary sector, it is fantastic to have someone of Steven’s experience, knowledge and talent leading the organisation into its next successful chapter making a real difference to young people from the Armed Forces community in Scotland and further afield.

“Over the coming months, Steven will be working alongside the Board, Staff Team and key stakeholders to co-produce our new strategy and deliver on various commitments whilst honouring our commitment to young people. We welcome him to the amazing team and wish him the best of luck in the future.”