Helping to make a difference

Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership welcomes new board members

Published:

Gill Mathieson is the board’s most recent recruit

JOINING the board of a not-for-profit organisation brings many rich rewards, even though none of them shows up on your bank balance.

For Mike Scott, putting his 30 years’ experience in local government to good use after early retirement was an obvious next step, and he is now a non-salaried director of SCARF (Save Cash and Reduce Fuel) and Aberdeen Heat and Power Ltd, chairman of the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health and of SCARF Energy Services Aberdeen.

He has also been appointed to the board of Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership (AHP), which provides high-quality affordable housing across the north-east.

Mike, who retired as Aberdeen City Council’s corporate director for community services in 2005 and is now AHP chairman, said: “For me, AHP was an obvious choice and it gives me enormous satisfaction to be able to use my varied public sector experience, especially in housing, in such a positive way.

“I know that what I do makes a difference, and that in turn makes a difference to me.”

The most recent recruit to AHP’s board is Gill Mathieson, who is chief executive of Grampian Credit Union and a former deputy manager of Aberdeen’s Citizens Advice Bureau. She said: “My work at CGU and my time at CAB have made me aware that many people, through no fault of their own, face serious financial challenges.

“Providing affordable housing is one way to alleviate some of their problems, and that’s why I decided to make my skills available to help AHP with its work in the sector.”

For both Mike and Gill being part of a team which is steering an already successful organisation towards new challenges has greatly enriched their lives.

Mike said: “Our contribution to AHP’s continuous improvement helps ensure that our tenants’ needs are met while at the same time providing us with excellent opportunities for our own personal and professional development.”

AHP directors typically devote a day a month to their role and are able to claim some expenses.

For more information about AHP, go to www.a-h-p.org.uk or call Caroline Hunter on 01467 644121.