NDTL is an independent charity committed to providing opportunities for excellence in education and training. Its vision is to provide “Excellence in Training and Development” and to this end excellence is reflected in its day to day conduct. It strives to promote and organisation in which everyone, staff, students and customers feel involved, supported, valued and satisfied. Apprentices and students are the foundation of the company and in dealing with each person the organisation strives to provide the opportunity to make choices.I was "parachuted in" by the Charity Commission following the resignation of all members of the previous Board...we seek to ensure the continuation of the work of the charity - a tough but worthwhile challenge.

This is the most important thing that I have ever done!The St Mirren Project's original aims: to challenge the loneliness and isolation that can be a feature of the lives of older people; to promote self-esteem; to build confidence that older people have a meaningful contribution to make to the community; and to promote better health and well-being. The project has moved forward since its origins in the St Mirren Football Club. On returning to N Ireland in 2013 following the death of my brother, I sought to establish, initially with the Marie Curie organisation, a group for people who had been bereaved though long term life ending illnesses. Marie Curie opted out of - indeed that never really became fully involved with - the group's activities after a year. However, members of the group though that the work they were doing was so important that they continued independently within the overall principle that "life is for living - albeit a different life".It is human rights based and places the dignity and self esteem of the participants at the centre of its design and implementation.

I became Chairman of the Scottish Association for Mental Health by accident! However, during my tenure of the office, I oversaw the development of a patient focussed approach to mental health care ie rather that "a one treatment cures all' approach to mental wellbeing we sought to treat those in our care was individuals with their own particular needs - ie not all bipolar sufferers need identical treatment etc. We were the first mental health organisation to make representations to the United Nations Convention of Economic Cultural and Social Rights - not that our government has responded in any positive way to the ensuing recommendations.I was chairman for 7 years, standing down at the end of that period. I am convinced that too many people get involved in too many committees; they cannot give as much time as they should to any of them; and they hang on for far too long. Chairmanship of one major charity is demanding and leaves little time for any other voluntary work.

Trying to bring the personnel practices and procedures of the 16th century into 20th century!