Alistair steps up in new role at charity

A Paisley- based charity has appointed a new boss after its previous CEO retired.

Alistair Haw is taking over at the Scottish Huntington’s Association following the retirement of John Eden, who spent 11 years in the post.

Alistair - who has been with the charity for five years in the role of National Care Framework lead - has been at the forefront of moves to improve the lives of those impacted by Huntington’s disease (HD).

Working closely with families and health and social care professionals, he led the development of the world’s first National Care Framework for Huntington’s Disease which has been implemented by NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships throughout the country.

He takes up his new role as the HD community continues the search for novel therapies and treatments for families impacted by the disease.

Alistair said: “It has been an honour to have worked for SHA for the past five years - meeting and working with HD families, seeking to understand the challenges they face and fighting for solutions, both with them and on their behalf.

“I am hugely grateful to the board for putting its faith in me to lead the charity and look forward to working with it, our amazing staff, and inspirational HD family members and supporters as we move forward together to ensure everyone in our community has access to the specialised care and support they need.”

Catherine Martin, chair of the board of trustees at Scottish Huntington’s Association, said: “During a full external recruitment process, the board was greatly excited by the vision Alistair set out for the future of the charity, and we look forward to working with him and all staff and supporters on this in the years ahead.”

Scottish Huntington’s Association, which was established by Renfrewshire families and is still based in Paisley, is the only charity in Scotland exclusively dedicated to supporting the HD community via a network of HD specialists, youth advisors and a financial wellbeing officers.

HD has complex symptoms, including mental illness and declining control over movement and thinking processes.

Over time, the incurable disease can rob people of the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink, make rational decisions and care for themselves.

Children of a parent with HD has a 50 per cent risk of inheriting the condition.

I am grateful to the board for putting its faith in me