Since her appointment in August 2012 Claire has led a programme of change that has seen VHS build a reputation as an influential and collaborative platform for Scotland’s voluntary health organisations. Under her leadership VHS has set out to close the health inequalities gap by making it ‘everyone’s business’. VHS is Secretariat to the Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities and publisher of Living in the Gap, the seminal study of the third sector’s contribution to tackling health inequalities.

Claire sits on a wide range of health related groups, including the Scottish Public Health Network Advisory Group, the Drink Wise Age Well Impact and Advisory Board Scotland and the National Group on Volunteering in NHS Scotland. She is one of three third sector representatives on the Scottish Government’s Public Health Reform Oversight Board.

Over 32 years, Claire has carried out a wide range of executive and non-executive roles in Scotland’s third sector. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the charities Voluntary Action Fund and Bridgend Inspiring Growth. Between 2009 and 2012 she was part of the Scottish Government’s Getting it Right for Every Child team, leading their engagement with the third sector.

Kiren joined the VHS team in September 2016 as Policy Engagement Officer. Kiren was previously a Development Officer at the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, prior to this she worked at Citizens Advice Scotland and SCVO in a range of roles involving policy, research and communications. She has significant experience of working in membership-focused organisations and is responsible for ensuring VHS members are engaged and their views represented in relevant policy and consultation areas. Kiren’s focus is on VHS’s key policy priorities, currently health inequalities, health and social care integration, public health and mental health.

Alison has been with VHS from the start, joining us in 2000 and fulfilling a number of roles since then. As our Membership and Administrative Officer, Alison is responsible for the administration of our finances, data and membership systems, as well as the office overall. She also produces and sends out each month’s E-bulletin and is usually the first point of contact for anyone with a membership query.

Lauren joined the VHS team in January 2015 as Programme Engagement Officer. Her role is to develop our programme of consultation events, seminars, workshops and conferences and ensure they are useful, of high quality and engage our members and other stakeholders. Lauren’s role includes establishing new event partners to enable us to extend our reach and capacity. Having previously worked in creating and managing a programme of policy conferences, seminars and award dinners across the UK, Lauren brings over a decade of event management and marketing experience to the VHS team