Public appointment: Chair and Members appointed to the Board of Independent Living Fund Scotland

The Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd MSP today announced the appointment of Anne-Marie Monaghan as Chair and Mrs Alison Nicolson and Ms Stephanie Hayle as Members of the Board of Independent Living Scotland.

Chair

Anne-Marie Monaghan has worked in a variety of jobs and in consultancy across social work and social care for 43 years. She has substantial experience and skills in both operational and strategic roles and worked in senior management positions in the local authority. She has also worked as a freelance consultant across the third sector and more recently was engaged by Social Security Scotland as a subject matter expert in social care; and with the Scottish Association for Social Work as an independent advisor on the National Care Service developments. Anne-Marie is an effective leader and, drawing on her own experience as a disabled woman, is a strong advocate for self-directed support having been instrumental in its development since leading one of the Scottish Government’s original test sites. For the last 4 years she has been a Board Member of ILF and sits as a non-executive member on the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board, as well as being their disability champion.

Members

Alison Nicolson is a Senior Leader and qualified accountant with extensive experience in strategic and functional leadership and a strong focus on delivery within the financial services sector. Alison qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG and went on to hold a variety of leadership roles within Corporate and Commercial Banking and Workplace Pensions for Lloyds Banking Group. She is a strong believer in the transformative power of individuals and their collective potential; and is passionate about making a difference through volunteering, particularly supporting people with disabilities. Alison led her own business, manufacturing and selling extra protective iPad covers for those with additional needs; and has held office positions at various disability charities including Chair of Finance committee for adult service provider.

Stephanie Hayle joins the ILF with a background in accessibility and working with young people. She is currently a Trustee at the Migraine Trust and was previously a Director and Trustee at the University of York Student’s Union and on the advisory committee for Student Minds, where she specialised in student physical and mental health. Stephanie has been a UK delegate to the World Universities Network and worked closely with local and national government bodies on improving support for both young and disabled people, running campaigns addressing housing, transport, and financial insecurity. She has also worked in fundraising for small charities addressing lesser-known medical conditions and is currently undertaking her further Master's degree at the University of Edinburgh Law School after previously studying at York.

Appointments

The Chair appointment is for four years, from 16 October 2023 to 15 October 2027.

Both Member appointments are for four years, from 16 October 2023 to 15 October 2027.

Both the Chair and Member appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The Chair appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £225 per day for a time commitment of up to 24 days per year.

The member appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £190 per day for a time commitment of up to 12 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Ms Monaghan is a non-executive member of Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board, for which she receives a daily rate of £173.66 for a time commitment of two days per week.

Mrs Nicolson and Ms Hayle do not hold any other ministerial appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.  

Ms Monaghan, Mrs Nicolson and Ms Hayle have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland is a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB), governed by a Board of Directors, appointed by and accountable to Scottish Ministers. ILF Scotland operates as a discretionary fund providing financial awards to approx. 4,500 disabled people in Scotland and Northern Ireland to help them live independently. This funding enables individuals to pay for support so that they can live with control, choice and dignity in their homes and within their local communities. This includes the 2015 Fund, which provides a regular 4-weekly independent living payment and the Transition Fund for 16-25 year-olds, providing grants, for up to one year, to support young disabled people