Winning Scotland names new chief executive
Winning Scotland, a young people’s charity, has appointed Zahra Hedges as its new chief executive.
Hedges has more than 15 years’ leadership and management experience and was most recently a senior policy advisor for the Scottish government, supporting all 32 local authorities to roll out a community based mental health and wellbeing service for children, young people and families.
Prior to that, she worked for Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS). Until last year she was vice chair of Social Enterprise Scotland and now sits on the board of SACRO as well as mentoring with Pilotlight and MCR Pathways.
She said: “I am delighted to be joining Winning Scotland at this pivotal time. We know that building resilience and confidence in our children and young people will be crucial not only in helping them to navigate the uncertain times ahead, but also in raising aspirations and attainment levels more generally.”
Education charity appoints new chief executive
Education charity, nasen (the National Association for Special Educational Needs) has hired Annamarie Hassall as its new chief executive.
She will join the charity at the end of September from the National Children’s Bureau where she is strategic director.
In 2011, Hassall received an MBE for her work with children and families, including her work with children and young people with SEND.
Hassall said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed to nasen as their new CEO. I am excited to have the opportunity to play a key role within this leading charity in the education and SEND sector, driving the organisation forward, and building on the success of outgoing CEO, professor Adam Boddison.
“I am deeply passionate about tackling the barriers in accessing high-quality education, and committed to ensuring that teachers, educators and practitioners have the skills and resources they require to enable inclusion, providing specialist support where needed.”
Boddison, nasen’s outgoing CEO, is taking up a new role as CEO of the Association for Project Management.
Cardboard Citizens appoints artistic director and joint chief executive
Chris Sonnex will become artistic director and joint chief executive of Cardboard Citizens next month.
The arts for social justice charity is celebrating its 30th anniversary and Sonnex will succeed the founding artistic director and joint CEO Adrian Jackson.
Sonnex has worked in theatre since 2012. Between 2018 and 2020 he was artistic director of the Bunker Theatre. In 2015 he travelled regularly to Calais as an associate artist with Good Chance, where he helped set up the only theatre in “The Jungle” camp at the height of Europe’s refugee crisis.
He said: “This time has been difficult for many - not least for the arts, its institutions and freelancers - but also for the people who hold onto art engagement as a lifeline. Those people - often among the most at risk in our society - who see engagement in theatre as a space to feel safe, protected, and entertained.
“Theatre has a duty to champion, to support, and to defend - to stand up for those in society that need it. That's what Cardboard Citizens does - theatre for social justice, with homelessness and housing instability at its epicentre - and I'm so grateful and excited to join this incredible community.
“I want to make sure that Cardboard Citizens is there for the people – championing, supporting and defending - and of course, making amazing art with representation at its heart. I look forward to getting started.”
Centrepoint hires strategy director
Adam Pemberton joined homelessness charity Centrepoint earlier this month as director of strategy and performance.
He will oversee the delivery of its new strategy, which focuses on prevention and partnership working.
He joined from Barnardo’s where he was corporate director and previously worked for the civil service.
New trustee for Heart of England Community Foundation
Heart of England Community Foundation, based in the Midlands, has appointed Alethea Fuller, to its board.
With over 20 years in the public sector, the charity hopes Fuller is currently as deputy chief executive for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
Fuller said: “I have always admired the work and ambition of Heart of England in our region. The support they have given to communities throughout the pandemic has been phenomenal.
“My passion, some 20 years on from when I began my career in the public sector, continues to be helping communities thrive, so I couldn’t be happier to join the foundation on its journey.
“I hope that with my expertise, including, managing large scale multi-agency projects, writing and overseeing multimillion pound funding bids and commissioning partners to carry out the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner, I can help the foundation with its ambition to support one million lives this year.
“I can’t wait to start.”
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