Meet the Board of Trustees at the Association for Real Change

Chair: David Sargent, Real Life Options Group

 

David is the Group CEO for Real Life Options, a UK charity providing support for autistic people, people with learning disabilities and older people. David is passionate about supporting vulnerable people to live their lives in communities with dignity and choice. David’s extensive leadership experience is within social care, youth work and social entrepreneurship, working within national, regional, and local contexts. Previously, David worked for the YMCA, Connexions, MHA Care Group, RV estates management and Rand Water. David has over 33 years of leadership experience including 19 years in four CEO’s roles. As a qualified researcher his doctoral research focussed on the application of organisational values within contemporary inclusive environments. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, holds a first degree, a master’s degree in management and a national diploma in commercial horticulture. He is experienced in developing innovative models of service delivery, utilising the strength of collaboration. He believes that charitable organisations should achieve meaningful social impact through economically viable business models, but always with people at the centre.

Treasurer: Andrew Sleigh

 

Having had a successful career as a finance and strategic director in private companies, Plc’s and Not for profit environments, in more recent years Andrew has been the Chief Financial Officer for a leading national social care charity and more latterly moved into a portfolio career, supporting a wide range of clients adding real value from his financial and management experience.

Appointed as Trustee in 2020, we are pleased that Andrew will bring not just a strength in finance and compliance but a passion for our purpose and delivery of our objectives.

Fiona McCabe, Positive Futures

Fiona is Chief Executive of Threshold, a charity supporting people with severe mental illness. Prior to this she worked at Director or Chief Executive level in both local and UK wide pan disability charities. Fiona is a board member of a local social enterprise supporting development of leaders in the civic sector and is an IOD Certified Director. She is passionate about social inclusion, equality and the power of the community and voluntary sector to enable positive change.

 

Lynnette Linton

 

I joined the Board of ARC as a Trustee in December 2020 and this has helped other Trustees to think about ways to make things better for people with additional support needs on the Board.

I have been involved with ARC for over 15 years in a number of different ways including being the Chair for the National Involvement Network for ARC Scotland for four years.

I have given presentations and delivered training to organisations about the Charter for Involvement.

I am an Associate Trainer for ARC Scotland and am a Lived Experience Advisory Panel Member on the Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill for the Scottish Government.

I have additional support to live my life the way I want it, and have the confidence to speak up and help others to have their voice heard which is very important to do.

Zoe Robertson

 

I am currently the Head of Adult Social Work and Social Care and the Strategic Lead for Commissioning and Policy/Strategic Planning at Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

I have worked for Perth and Kinross HSCP for 16 years and in Health and Social Care for 26 years, having originally trained as a Mental Health nurse.  I am a passionate Commissioning manager, particularly focussed on co production, relationships are key to me, meeting new people and exploring new ideas and new ways of working are what I enjoy most.

No matter what position I have held within Health and Social Care I have always been driven by my passion for people, ensuring that we all have the same rights and therefore opportunities in life, thus enabling those who come across unnecessary barriers, to be supported, to live to their fullest potential.

Angie Ferguson, Perth Autism Support

 

Angie is the founder and Chief Executive of Perth Autism Support, a charity based in Tayside and supporting children, young people and their families across Perth & Kinross and Dundee City, supporting over 1200 families.

Involved in a wide range of local Third Sector activities, Angie is also a Board Member for a local employability charity, supporting individuals from a range of backgrounds in to employment.

Angie is passionate about equity, inclusion and providing spaces and opportunities for individuals to be able to fulfil their life potential.  As the parent of an autistic young adult, Angie works both locally and nationally to influence education, social care, policy and businesses to make change as an ally of the autistic community.

Marcus Isherwood

 

Marcus was appointed as a Trustee on the ARC Board in September 2023. He is the Managing Director of Creative Media, a marketing agency based in Northern Ireland, which he founded in 2000. Marcus has been a Board member of Omagh Enterprise Centre since 2017, and was appointed their Chair in 2020. He was previously President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2007/08.

Marcus is husband to Sandra and is dad to Scott and Emma. He is a keen runner and food enthusiast.