CASTLEHILL HOUSING
TRUST BOARD
The Trust is governed by a Board, who meet at least every quarter. We are delighted to have a board which delivers a balanced approach to issues and has a wide range of experience and knowledge. Overall strategic control sits with Castlehill Housing Association but the Trust operates and delivers its services to meet the needs of our clients and care partners.
Chief Executive of CHA and Director of CHT Board - David Lappin
David was appointed to his current role as Chief Executive in 2010 following his role as Director of Housing Services. His main responsibilities are leading the Senior Management Team and ensuring good governance of the Castlehill Group and supporting the Management Committee. He plays a lead role in strategic business planning and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.
David serves as a Director on the Board of Castlehill Housing Trust to ensure continuity amongst the Castlehill Group Structure and to support the growth and development of our supported accommodation. David is a Director of Castlehill Solutions Limited and of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Director of CHT Board and Director of Housing Services CHA – Mhorag Ewen
Mhorag's main responsibilities include providing and overseeing the front-line Housing Management, Housing Support and Care & Repair services to approx. 2000 tenants within Castlehill, Castlehill Housing Trust and Castlehill Solutions. key to this role is ensuring all policies required are in place, reviewed regularly and adhered to so that the services are delivered professionally and ensure compliance.
Mhorag has worked in housing for 25 years, including work in local authorities and housing associations. She has a degree in Public Policy & Management, a postgraduate diploma in housing, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Director of CHT Board – Paul King
Paul King joined the Castlehill Housing Trust Board in 2018. Paul has worked within the local community for many years and his work with individuals experiencing a wide range of complex needs, gives him, first-hand experience of the key role good quality housing can have on an individual’s quality of life.
A qualified practitioner in health and social care for adults, he has provided support in various environments including Community Housing support, HMOs and residential and specialised units. Paul is also a member of Castlehill Housing Association’s Management Committee and feels he can use this experience to improve Castlehill Housing Trust’s services and help encourage strategic decisions that have real benefit for all. Paul is committed to helping Castlehill Housing Trust maintain its commitment to provide good quality accommodation.
Director of CHT Board - Jennifer Stewart
Jennifer has several years’ experience within the Housing Service of Aberdeenshire Council and has been employed as Particular Needs Officer since 2014, joining the Management Board of GCCCT in that year.
Jennifer’s job role involves enabling people with an identified need to have access to appropriate affordable housing and support to allow them to sustain and improve their health to live as independently as possible. She is therefore particularly interested and invested in the work of Castlehill Housing Trust in their provision of suitable housing and Support for Clients’.
Director of CHT Board - Becky Ewen
Becky Ewen has worked with Trust for many years in a financial capacity. When her responsibilities changed to other parts of the business, she wanted to find some way to remain connected to the Trust as she believes wholeheartedly in the ethos.
Becky looks forward to bringing her financial expertise to the Board and expanding her knowledge of how the Trust works in her new role. Joining the board helps her remain involved. She looks forward to helping the Trust continue to develop appropriate housing to enable people to live as independently as possible for as long as possible.
Director of CHT Board - Val Culley
Val has worked in social care for over 30 years, mainly supporting adults and children with learning disabilities, associated physical disabilities and autism in the voluntary sector. Val started her career as a volunteer, before becoming a Support Worker and achieving the position of Senior Regional Manager. Before taking early retirement in 2020, her last post was Head of Quality & Compliance, where she worked closely with the Care Inspectorate, Aberdeen City & Shire Social Work Departments, Housing and their Contracts & Commissioners. During this time Val also maintained strong ties with those who were supported and re-created a self-advocacy group, who campaigned for a stronger voice in their communities and in various aspects of their lives. This included housing where many people wanted to live independently and have their own tenancies. Val is committed to supporting Castlehill Housing Trust in developing appropriate housing for those who need it.
Director of CHT Board - Claire Reid
I have been an occupational therapist for almost 30 years, for the majority of my career I have been working in community settings traditionally housing & social work, for three different local authorities in Scotland. My current role is Occupational Therapy Team Manager for Aberdeenshire
Health & Social Care Partnership, with clinical responsibility for housing occupational therapy. My job involves supporting the team to provide occupational therapy. We know that living independently for longer improves quality of life, homes need to support daily occupations and occupational therapy can help with suitable adaptations to help people live as independently as possible and contribute to the design of accessible housing. I am passionate about barrier free housing and am a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Housing.
Joining the Castlehill Housing Trust board will stretch my knowledge and experience and I am looking forwards to working with the different people and supporting the work of the Trust.
Director of CHT Board - Nicola Shand
Nicola has worked as part of the Homehunt team for the last 13 years, providing advice and assistance to applicants and outside organisations, processing and assessing applications and assisting housing officers with their allocations. Nicola is looking forward to bringing her knowledge and experience to the Castlehill Housing Trust and assisting them in providing suitable housing to their clients.
Director of CHT Board - Taru Kilskinen
Director of CHT Board - Karen Wood
I have worked in health and social care for 20 years delivering frontline support to people with additional needs in their local communities across Aberdeenshire and City. I joined the board in 2021 to get more insight into the partnerships that I currently work with to achieve the same goals, ensuring people can live as independently as possible and in suitable accommodation despite their disability. Being on the board has given me an insight into how decisions are made and what the trust can offer.