Stuart McMillan - Chair
Stuart joined the board of Moving On Inverclyde in May 2015. He is an MSP and became Greenock and Inverclyde MSP in 2016 and was re-elected in May 2021. At present, Stuart is the Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. He is also the Co-Convener of the Cross Party Group on Drug and Alcohol Misuse.
Stuart grew up in Inverclyde and still lives locally and understands how addictions can both harm individual lives but also the community. Inverclyde has faced economic challenges for many years and some people have followed the path into addiction. Stuart understands how vital partnership working between Government, Public Sector and Third Sector agencies is to address some of the underlying issues to help people out of addiction. Without genuine partnership working, then many more lives will be caught in the cycle of addiction.
Brian McLaughlin - Vice Chair
My current role is Chief Executive of Greenock Morton Community Trust, which involves the day to day management of the charity and working closely with board of trustees to carry out our goals and objectives. The charity delivers projects across 4 key areas; Sport (Football and Hockey), Education, Employability and Health & Wellbeing.
I have been employed within the organisation for eight and a half years and roles have included; Football Project Manager and Development Manager.
I have been involved in community sport across Inverclyde since the age of 16 which includes coaching variety of sports, delivering MH Projects and employability support through my previous role at Street League.
I am extremely passionate about the third sector in Inverclyde and I am looking forward to contributing to making the area better by tackling societal issues and challenges residents face on a day to day basis.
Eleanor Robertson - Secretary
In the late 90s, I became involved in the Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership. This was an organisation set up to bring community groups together to set priorities for Inverclyde. One of the main priorities became drugs and the effect it was having throughout Inverclyde. A separate group, Inverclyde Forum About Drugs (IFAD) was set up to explore what could be done. It was through this group that the initial funding for Moving On was obtained from the Scottish Government.
It was during this time that I became a Board member of Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Primary Care Trust. This led on to my membership of Argyll & Clyde Health Board. At this time I also became Chairperson of Argyll & Clyde Alcohol and Drugs Action Team. I served as Chair in this organisation for 4 years.
I was also involved in the setting up and later as chairperson of Scottish Families Affected by Drugs. It was during this time I became involved in several national committees of the Scottish Government.
Ten years ago I was awarded my MBE for services to community health.
Since I retired I have been involved with Inverclyde Tourist Group and enjoy meeting the many passengers from the many cruise ships from all over the world who visit Inverclyde.
John Williams - Treasurer
John lives locally and before retiring was employed as an accountant with the NHS. On retirement, John became interested in becoming involved in the voluntary sector within Inverclyde. As well as Moving On, John is involved in Starter Packs which assists homeless people setting up in a new home; and Financial Fitness, which gives advice to individuals claiming benefits.
Angela Divers - Board Member
Angela currently works as a family support practitioner within the Inverclyde area for a third sector agency, with a focus on families affected by parental substance use. She previously worked in education for many years within a social and emotional behavioural setting.
Gillian McAlpine - Board Member
Gillian was born and raised in Inverclyde and continues to live within the Inverclyde community. Gillian has just recently joined the Moving On board, in November 2022.
Gillian currently works as a Social Worker in the Mental Health sector and has done so for 5 years. Many of the service users she works with also experience addiction, as mental health and addiction are often co-existing. Gillian works with service users to aid them in their recovery in mental health and addiction, by identifying and offering to the social supports that are required to aid recovery
Gillian highly values third sector services such as Moving On, as they are uniquely placed to offer the support required in a community setting.
Paul Brooks - Board Member
Joseph McElwee - Board Member
Joe has just recently joined the Board of Moving On.
He was previously a senior manager within the Facilities Directorate of GG&C Health Board where he worked for 32 years before retirement in 2018.
Through his role as an Inverclyde Councillor from 2007-2017 he held the positions of Convenor of the Health and Social Care Committee, Chair of Inverclyde Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP), Chair of the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership and Non-Exec Director of GG&C Health Board until he retired as a Councillor. He has served on many committees and had a great involvement with the third and voluntary sector working closely every day with community activists and organisations from whom he has learned a great deal.
Joe now volunteers as Chair of Greenock Southwest Community Council and also as a member of the Greenock Southwest Hub committee.
Joe has worked hard to try and achieve as much as he can for the people of this area in his various roles. A busy man, what keeps him motivated? Simply to be effective, to help make this community a better place for the people of Inverclyde.
Elizabeth Drew - Board Member
Elizabeth has worked in Education for all her working life, as a teacher, depute headteacher and a headteacher. She is now on a phased retirement, but still working as a teacher on a part time basis. In her professional and personal life, she has been very aware of addiction and the importance of high-quality recovery services such as Moving On.
Elizabeth’s daughter tragically and suddenly died in December2021, and because of this, she has benefitted from bereavement counselling herself recently. This has emphasised the importance of trauma and counselling services to her, and she is beginning a Counselling Course in September 2024. She was delighted to join the board of Moving On in May 2024.