Board and Funders
Our board ensures we meet our charity promises and follow governance codes. They use their different skills to guide our plans, keep us accountable to everyone involved, and protect how we work. Through transparent decision-making processes, our board fosters an environment of inclusivity and accountability, ensuring that the interests of all those we serve are represented and respected.
Karen Stark
Karen has worked with Care Visions for over 10 years providing financial management and oversight of the support services teams within the organisation.
Karen joined the Why Not Trust as a trustee in 2024 to support the important work the charity does in meeting the needs of young people and children in Scotland.
Paul Snell
Paul Snell is a social worker by background and was a Director of Social Services and Chief Inspector of the English social care regulator - the Commission for Social Care Inspection, until 2009. Since then, he has been involved with a number of children's services providers and charities and provides independent executive and leadership coaching to senior managers in the public and private sectors. He joined the Board of Care Vision 8 years ago having been impressed by the passion and commitment of Mike Reid, the Board and the staff team to making a difference to the lives of children and young people in Scotland.
Mike Reid
Mike Reid founded Care Visions over 20 years ago, with a vision of caring for young people on their own terms.
“We want to help young people’s lives and the period in care is an important part of this, but not the only part. Like many others we grew frustrated, that after the care experience we had so little to offer young people and searched widely for a solution. Why Not sprung out of this search, as Jennifer Davidson, then head of CELCIS, alerted us to a project we heard about and then visited in the Bronx, NY. It centred on relationships above all, which resonated hugely. The principles we adapted and made what is now Why Not. I’m proud to serve as a Trustee and spread our message that positive lifelong relationships really matter”.
Dr Linda de Daestecker
I am the mother of 4 grown-up children, grandmother to 3 wee ones and step-grandmother to another 8 so we have a busy home.
I am a public health doctor having originally trained as an obstetrician and gynaecologist before moving into public health. I have retired from my role as Director of Public Health in Greater Glasgow and Clyde but I am very fortunate to be able to now concentrate on work like this with the Why Not Trust. Although I had a broad remit in public health, I have always retained a special interest in the health of women and children. I was previously chair of the ACES Hub in Scotland and gained a greater understanding of the effect of trauma in early life.
I particularly love being part of the Why Not Trust because of the focus on building trusted relationships and social support. I know how important the support and advice from friends and trusted professionals can be to new parents.
Fun Fact: I once hitch-hiked across America from San Francisco to New York during which we were chased by the FBI…..
Professor Alexis Jay OBE
