Kevin Fullarton, Chair of the Board of Trustees
I have been a practitioner and manager in Social Care for thirty years after starting a career in industry. A family connection with the Royal Scottish National Hospital led to an interest in learning disability and I was involved with developing services which offered people the life they deserved when the hospital closed.
.Carolyn Craig, Chief Executive
I have worked in Social Care for the past forty years. I trained as a Social Worker but have always worked in the voluntary sector. Whilst working for one of the large Scottish providers I was responsible for setting up supported living services for people leaving a long-stay institution for people with learning disabilities and for people with severe and enduring mental ill-health and a forensic history. Since 2014 I have been the Chief Executive of New Directions West Lothian and was initially tasked with introducing transformative change. This post has enabled me to be much more connected with the communities of West Lothian. I have a particular interest in trauma in women who have a learning disability. In my spare time I write (bad) poetry.
Linda Peddie, Trustee
Since graduating I have worked primarily within the Health and Social Care Sector. I started my career as a research assistant in the NHS then moved into the field of Social Work, where I was employed for over 35 years as a Social Worker with an Occupational Charity and two Local Authorities, in both hospital and community settings. In more recent years my interest has taken me into Workforce Development and I am currently a Work-Based Assessor at West Lothian College involved in the delivery of Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Social Services and Healthcare.
Gillian Harmer, Trustee
I live locally in Murieston and my daughter is supported by the organisation. I help my husband to run his own business and , in my spare time, I walk our two dogs. I enjoy Board Meetings because they are something just for me and I enjoy coming along to social events run by New Directions.
Maree Rolfe, Team Leader
I joined New Directions as a Support Worker almost five years ago. For many years I was a Personal Assistant for a young man with a disability as this fitted well with having two young children. Before that I was a music teacher and worked in residential care for troubled young people. I became Team Leader in early 2023 and have learned so much already