Wednesday 5 June 2024

The Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) today confirmed that its Chief Executive, Charlie McMillian, has announced that he plans to move on from the organisation later this year.  Having joined SCLD five years ago and led the Commission and its staff group through a hugely successful programme of change, which places the voices of people with learning disabilities at its centre, Charlie is now ready to handover the reigns to a new Chief Executive who will lead SCLD into its next exciting chapter.

Commenting on his announcement, Charlie said: “My role as Chief Executive has been a pleasure to fulfil and it has been the highpoint of my career to date despite, or perhaps because of, the many ongoing challenges and changes people with learning disabilities  have faced and are facing in society today.  I have benefited greatly from the support I have received from the Board  of Trustees, the staff team at SCLD, colleagues across the Scottish Government, individual human rights defenders and stakeholders whom we are lucky enough to have as allies.  I believe it is the quality of these partnerships that makes us stand out in the Scottish charity sector. I am passionately committed to advocating for the societal changes people with learning disabilities need to have their human rights respected, protected and fulfilled.  My support will never diminish until this is achieved.”

Eddie McConnell, Chair of the Board of Trustees at SCLD said today: “We all owe Charlie a huge debt of gratitude for his leadership of SCLD through a set of very challenging years.  He has transformed the organisation, positioned the many voices of people with learning disabilities at the very heart of our work, and he is a valued and much respected voice in the sector and across Government.  His relentless pursuit to assert and secure the human rights of our fellow citizens with a learning disability has been the hallmark of his time with SCLD.  It will be hard to let him go but we wish Charlie every success in his next chapter.”

Charlie’s final day with SCLD will be Thursday 5^th September 2024. SCLD will shortly announce its plans to recruit a new Chief Executive to lead the organisation into and through the next exciting phase, working tirelessly for people with learning disabilities. For further info please contact Kelly Kolatowicz, Head of Business Development Kelly.K@scld.co.uk or 0141 248 3733