About us – RCET Team

Our Trustees

Mr Malcolm Noble

Chairman

Malcolm has been Chairman of the RCET since November 2011 He also chairs the RCET led Service Children Support Group (SCSG) and is the author of the history of the Trust’s first 200 years.

Peebles born, Malcolm was a London headmaster for 19 years and became Chairman of the Royal Society of Arts in the East of England in 2012. He lives just outside Chelmsford in Essex, where he chairs several organisations.

Mrs Catriona Butler

Deputy Chairman

Catriona is from Edinburgh and studied law at Pembroke College Cambridge. For the last 23 years, Catriona has been a member of a set of chambers in London where her practice divides between divorce and employment law. At home, Catriona spends most of her time trying to keep up with her teenage children and enjoying good books, bad pop music and swimming.

Mrs Dorothy Strickland

Director

Dorothy was born and educated in Glasgow. She joined RCET in 2012 and is Chair of the Grants Programme. Dorothy has 25 years experience as a volunteer in the charitable sector and is currently with Hope and Homes for Children in Wiltshire. She is married with a son, two stepchildren and four grandchildren.

Mr James Robertson

Honorary Treasurer

James was brought up in Edinburgh and educated at The Edinburgh Academy, and at Trinity College Cambridge, where he read English and Anglo-Saxon.

James is a Chartered Accountant (England & Wales) and a member of the Insolvency Practitioners Association. Most of his professional career was spent in insolvency practice in London. He is retired. Although he lives in London, James still has family in Edinburgh.

Mr Gary Gray

Director

Gary is the former Deputy Chief Executive at Erskine and is currently at Poppyscotland. Before entering the voluntary sector, Gary had a varied career in the Royal Air Force and served for nearly 24 years. He has been a Trustee of the Trust since 2014.

Ms Valerie Peay

Director

Our Team

Nina Collins

Youth Participation Manager

Nina is RCET’s Youth Participation Manager and will be responsible for developing a Scotland-wide Armed Forces Children and Young People’s Participation Project. She is passionate about empowering children and young people to shape services which meet their needs. Nina has a SVQ in Community Development Work and a Diploma in Leadership and Management. Prior to joining the team Nina worked with Fife Young Carers, initially as the Development Worker and subsequently as their Manager.

Phone: 0131 240 2224

Email Nina

Colin Flinn

Chief Executive Officer

Colin began his social work career in 1980 with Lothian Regional Council before working with Barnardo’s, then NCH as their Children’s Rights Officer. In 1994, he became Assistant Director of Children’s Services then subsequently Acting Depute Director with NCH Scotland before becoming their Head of Fundraising and Marketing (Scotland and Northern Ireland) prior to moving to Poppyscotland. Colin joined RCET in June 2016.

Phone: +44 (0)131 240 2224

Email Colin

Sarah Rogers

Policy and Research Officer

Sarah is passionate about children’s rights and supporting all children and young people in reaching their potential. She studied at the University of Edinburgh where she obtained an Honours degree in Law and an MSc and PhD in Social Policy. Her PhD explored child well-being in non-resident father households. Prior to joining RCET as the charity’s first Policy and Research Officer, Sarah worked with Enquire, the additional support for learning advice service at Children in Scotland.

Phone: +44 (0)131 240 2224

Email Sarah

Moira Leslie

Education Manager, Scotland

Moira manages the RCET Education Programme. For 22 years she was Head Teacher of Raigmore Primary School, Inverness which has many children from Armed Forces families. Much of her career has been dedicated to supporting these youngsters, particularly during transitions and when family members are away on deployment. She is passionate about health and wellbeing – in particular, emotional literacy – and its importance in helping children and young people achieve their potential in life.

Phone: +44 (0)131 240 2224

Email Moira

Carolyn MacLeod

National Transitions Officer (Seconded to ADES)

Since 2012, Carolyn has been seconded to the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland. Her role is to work with Scottish local authorities, schools, children’s services partners and the Armed Forces Services to ensure best practice in supporting the education of Service Children.

Carolyn has taught at all levels of education during her 35+ years as a teacher in Canada, USA, England and Scotland.

Phone: +44 (0)131 240 2224

Email Carolyn

Stephanie Ferrier

Office Manager and PA

Stephanie comes from an Army family and attended Scotland’s only MOD school, the Queen Victoria School in Dunblane.

Being married to an Army Medic, Stephanie spent three years in Germany and worked for SSAFA, a close partner of RCET. Stephanie is the Office Manager/PA and is passionate about supporting military families.

Phone: +44 (0)131 240 2224

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Grants officer, Karen Stock at the 2017 Practitioner's Conference

Karen Stock

Children and Family Support Co-ordinator

Karen’s role is to support children, young people and their families, both with financial assistance and any other wider support that our clients may need.

Karen has spent most of her working life serving in the Royal Navy and on retirement, she embarked on a second career working predominantly in the charity sector for organisations who support the Armed Forces community with their education, employment and support needs.

Phone: +44 (0)131 240 2224

Email Karen

Matthew Middler

Fundraising Development Manager

Matthew has worked with various community organisations and charities. He raised vital funds for the Highland Hospice and CHILDREN 1ST before joining RCET in 2014 as the charity’s first full-time fundraiser. Matthew is an active member of the Institute of Fundraising, a Trustee of a mental health charity and a mentor to first-time fundraisers. He is also a keen Crossfit athlete and practices mindfulness meditation.

Phone: +44 (0)131 240 2224

Email Matthew