Public appointment: Members reappointed to Community Justice Scotland Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans today announced the reappointments of Pauline Aylesbury, Linda Bendle, Linda De Caestecker and Glenys Watt as Members of the Community Justice Scotland Board.

Members

Pauline Aylesbury is a professional communicator and a senior civil servant who is currently Deputy Director for Marketing, Insight, Brand Scotland and Internal Communications at the Scottish Government within the Communications Directorate. Pauline’s areas of expertise include audience research, evidence-led communication strategy, behaviour change and public information marketing as a lever for positive societal change and nation branding to promote Scotland’s reputation to international audiences. A fellow of the Marketing Society, Pauline’s leadership and work has been recognised by a number of industry awards including Inspirational Marketing Leader, Marketing Star of the Year, Creative Client of the Year, Marketing Team of the Year, IPA Effectiveness and Scottish Public Service Communications Awards. Pauline’s work includes communications activity to empower and enable behaviour that help reduce health inequalities and contributes to the prevention and eradication of discrimination, hate crime and gender-based violence.

Linda Bendle is Head of Business Development & Operations at Heavy Sound, a community interest company which re-engages disengaged, disadvantaged young people through music, biking, sports and mentoring projects, as well as mentoring adults involved in the criminal justice system. Linda is Chair of Families Outside, and is on the advisory board of Recovery Coaching Scotland and the Shelter Scotland Committee. Linda has over 20 years experience in housing and property matters, having previously been the Managing Director of a large letting agency. Linda joined Community Justice Scotland as a family member of someone who has been affected by mental health, addiction, prison and homelessness. She has informed views on the problems with custodial sentences, and how release and reintegration into the community can be improved, with the ultimate aim of preventing and reducing offending. She believes in the power of positive relationships, creating meaningful purpose, and never giving up on people.

Linda De Caestecker was Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde until her retirement in 2022. She continues to work as a public health doctor in the Why Not Trust and is a trustee of Glasgow City Mission. She is currently an external adviser to the Scottish Government on maternity services in Moray.

Glenys Watt brings wide-ranging experience from her role as a founding Director of Blake Stevenson Ltd providing social and economic research and consultancy to a wide range of public and third sector bodies over a period of thirty years in Scotland, other parts of the UK and further afield. She brings particular expertise around strategic planning and measuring outcomes. She has chaired several charities including With Kids in Glasgow and The Restoration Trust based in London both concerned in different ways with mental health, wellbeing and trauma. Glenys has a particular interest in support and prevention in the earliest years of life in order to see better health, education and economic outcomes and a reduction in offending.

Reappointment

Pauline Aylesbury, Linda Bendle and Glenys Watt reappointments will be for two years and will run from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2025.

Linda De Caestecker’s reappointment will be for three years and will run from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2026.

These reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

These reappointments are part-time and attracts a remuneration of £235 for a time commitment of 20 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Pauline Aylesbury, Linda Bendle, Linda De Caestecker and Glenys Watt do not hold any other public 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.   

Pauline Aylesbury, Linda Bendle, Linda De Caestecker and Glenys Watt have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Community Justice Scotland works to change the conversation about justice. They believe that smart justice based on the best evidence of what works will prevent offending, repair lives and improve communities. They want Scotland to be the safest country in the world.

Community justice is where people who have broken the law are held to account and supported to reconnect and contribute to their communities.

Where it is safe to do so, people who commit certain crimes receive community-based sentences. This can include treatment for underlying issues such as drug or alcohol addiction, unpaid work, fines and compensation or restrictions of liberty such as electronic tagging and curfews.

The evidence shows community justice can help people stop breaking the law again leading to fewer victims and safer communities.