Following its Annual General Meeting, Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) has confirmed a number of changes to its board of trustees.
Elaine Farquharson-Black will step down from her role as chair of AFCCT, with trustees Emma Stephen and Neil Hendry also leaving their roles on the board.
Elaine Farquharson-Black was appointed to the role of chair in August 2023 and led the Trust as it celebrated its 10 year anniversary last year. Under her tenure, AFCCT supported almost 10,000 individuals in our local communities through a range of targeted programmes aimed at tackling child poverty, reducing social isolation and improving mental wellbeing.
Emma Stephen has been with the Trust for four years and is stepping down to create more space for work and family. She remains a committed supporter of the work of AFCCT.
Meanwhile, Neil Hendry leaves having finished his maximum third term as a trustee. He will remain as an ambassador working to provide support and guidance around educational programmes.
Matt Nicol will assume the role of interim chair, with Jim Buchan acting as interim vice chair. The Trust will add new trustees to its board in the coming months and will also be conducting a series of workshops with the Club, aimed at harnessing the strengths of both organisations, to create an ambitious blueprint for the charity’s future.
Matt Nicol, interim AFCCT chair, said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the outstanding contributions of Elaine, Emma and Neil to the success of the Aberdeen FC Community Trust. They have all played key roles, both as influential board members and active volunteers, and had a significant positive impact on our community programmes.
“Having recently celebrated the Trust’s 10 year anniversary it is an appropriate time to consider how we build on the remarkable success of the organisation to date. I look forward to working with my fellow Trustees, the Trust’s hard-working and committed staff and volunteers, and Aberdeen Football Club, as we shape, in partnership, an ambitious strategy for the next ten years and beyond.
“This means continuing to provide support and opportunity to change lives for the better and delivering transformational and positive outcomes for those most disadvantaged in our local communities.”
Liz Bowie, chief executive of AFCCT, added: “As three trustees step down from the AFCCT board, I want to express my sincere thanks for everything Elaine, Emma and Neil have done to support our mission to provide support and opportunity to change lives for the better. In the last twelve months all three have provided expertise and guidance as we introduced several new initiatives, including Picnic at Pittodrie and the hugely successful Community Hub, where 60 people a week meet at Pittodrie as we work to tackle food poverty and social isolation.
“Elaine Farquharson-Black has provided strong leadership to the Trust during the preparation and delivery of our 10th Anniversary year. She has guided staff, volunteers and Trustees alike ensuring that the needs of the community are at the heart of the Trust’s programming. With her strong connections across the North-east she has helped to widen the Trust’s networks and cultivate new relationships. I want to thank Elaine for her constant energy and enthusiasm as AFCCT moves forward into our next decade.”
Mrs Bowie confirmed the Trust is seeking to appoint a new chair as the Trust takes this opportunity to review its strategic ambitions.
She continued: “I thank Matt and Jim for agreeing to step into their interim roles and look forward to working alongside them as we shape the next 10 years of the Trust. These changes will provide us with the chance to refresh our objectives and initiate positive changes as an organisation, but we remain committed to impacting communities across the North-east, extending our outreach into new key areas and inspiring people of all ages to reach their potential.”