Mike Niles is a Chief Executive - Carers of West Lothian at Carers of West Lothian. He is proficient in French and Spanish. Colleagues describe him as "It is one thing to see the unmet need in your community. But to see the need and do something about it takes courage, skill and motivation. Something Mike has in abundance. Not only did Mike set up a successful and thriving befriending charity for older people, but his skills and expertise have been invaluable as a board member and vice chair of Befriending Networks. Working alongside Mike in this capacity I have been impressed by his keen eye for detail and his understanding of good governance. He is an encourager and strategic thinker. He is creative, assertive, and is passionate about social justice. It is a privilege to work with him and learn from him. " and "I have known Mike for around 5 years through his work leading B:friend, a charitable organisation offering befriending opportunities to older adults in Yorkshire and the Humber. As a key stakeholder for the healthy ageing work programme I lead at Office of Health Improvement and Disparities Y&H Mike has contributed to a number of events and work programmes in the region. Mike started B:friend from nothing, identifying a the problem, the intervention, developing the offer and recruiting and supporting volunteer befrienders and the older adult recipients. Growing the organisation required establishing employment policies and governance procedures for its charitable status. B:friend is now the leading befriending organisation in South Yorkshire with a respected reputation for the impact it delivers. His drive and determination to make the organisation a success and deliver tangible difference to the lives of the recipients would translate well into the commitment needed to pursue this academic programme. • He has significant experience of working directly with communities, gaining their confidence and respect through a co-production approach. The model Mike established at B:friend used a community asset-based approach to addressing loneliness in older adults, empowering both the older adult recipients and the volunteer befrienders. Some befrienders became members of paid staff as the organisation grew. • B:friend operated in an area with high levels of deprivation where the impact of poverty and lack of opportunity can become ingrained. He has worked closely with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council through its Well Doncaster programme, which supported a Community Wealth Builder programme. He therefore has a strong understanding of community dynamics and the potential of wealth building initiatives. • Mike has had to demonstrate the impact of B:friend’s work to his commissioners and to major funders, including determining the appropriate data items and data collection points. He is a clear and effective communicator. • As an independent third sector provider Mike understands the challenges in translating policy into practice and is confident in speaking truth to power based on this experience. Bringing his real-world experience into the research community would be an asset to the GCU academic community."