Meet the Board
Bill Miller – Chair
Having worked in the Voluntary Sector, Local Government and Public Health during his working career, Bill has a broad range of experiences that enable him to make an effective contribution to the organisation.
Bill specialises in Youth Work and Health Promotion and has been involved with developmental work nationally and internationally.
Bill is also a trustee with Callander Youth Project Trust and with Youth Scotland.
Scott Urquhart – Treasurer
Scott is a CIPFA qualified accountant with over 20 years experience of financial leadership and management in public sector organisations.
Scott has had a close involvement with PLUS for many years both as a previous Board member and as a parent of a service user. He has joined the PLUS Board as Treasurer and leads the Finance subgroup.
Scott lives in Stirling with his wife, teenage children and friendly dog. He is a guitarist, a cyclist and an intrepid dog walker.
Maureen Howie – Vice Chair
Maureen spent all of her professional life as a teacher, and was Headteacher at Castleview School when she retired.
She always loved working with children and had the privilege of working with children with additional support needs for many years.
Maureen has been involved with PLUS since it started as PlayPLUS more than 30 years ago. Aware of the very many opportunities PLUS gives to children and their families, her hope is that be being a Board member she can contribute in some way.
Val Bjerland
Val first encountered PLUS as mum to twins with cerebral palsy through Opportunity PLUS when her daughters were 3. Val has enjoyed finding a supportive network of local families through her involvement in Play and Chat and her daughters have enjoyed the variety of activities on offer at PlayPLUS and PLUSYouth.
Val has several years experience as an ASN teacher and is currently studying Inclusive Education.
Val joined the Board in 2021 and is delighted to have to the opportunity to represent parents and families on the PLUS board and welcomes any requests or feedback from families.
Harvey Carruthers
Harvey is CEO of Fife Young Carers, based in Glenrothes. Prior to this he was CEO at veterans’ charity The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, based at Stirling Castle.
He has been a director of many third sector organisations including the board of Stirling Community Enterprise, which provides employability opportunities for young people.
Harvey joined the Board in 2023.
Nicholas MaCauley
Nick joined the board of PLUS in 2020. Nick was first introduced to PLUS after the arrival of his daughter Megan in 2010. Following Megan’s birth, his wife Gillian helped establish ‘Play & Chat’ with some of the other mums whom Gillian met after Megan’s birth.
Originally from the West of Scotland, Nick’s lived in Stirling since late 2009. He has worked in the IT sector since 2003 for a global manufacturer.
Nick’s been married since 2006 and has another daughter, Erin, who also attends PLUS on certain occasions as a sibling with Megan.
Una McFadyen
Una joined PLUS in 2019 after retiring from work as a consultant paediatrician in NHS Forth Valley. She has specialised in care of newborn babies and children with respiratory disorders as well as general paediatrics. Since first specialising Una has believed that co-working with families is an essential part of paediatrics and she has been involved in Action for Sick Children, Contact a Family, SOFT UK and TOFS for many years.
Una has become involved in trying to improve health care transition for young people with long term conditions and disabilities. She hopes to learn from the young people, their parents and carers how services could be improved for them and others.
Fayzan Rehman
Fayzan joined the board of PLUS, to give back to his families local community and offer his experience from an IT career of twenty years.
Fayzan, his wife and their four young children live in Stirling. Having a daughter with learning difficulties, he appreciates some of the struggles that other families may face and who turn to PLUS for support.