The OneCity Trust Board

Paul Wilson is the Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh, where he leads a talented team with a shared mission to increase the number of people who volunteer in Edinburgh.  Paul has a strong commitment to promoting the value and benefits of active citizenship and volunteering both for individuals and wider society.  Paul has worked at Volunteer Edinburgh for over 20 years and is active strategically in volunteering at both local and national level in Scotland.  Personally Paul is a volunteer Board Member for a local equalities organisation and a volunteer Regional Officer for a national car club.

Paul said, “I am very proud to be able to offer some of professional skills and my experience in Edinburgh’s vibrant third sector to the One City Trust, which I believe has a uniquely well placed to support the activities of grass roots organisations which impact real change for people and our communities.”.

Robert Aldridge has been a Councillor in Edinburgh since 1984, where he represents the Drum Brae Gyle ward.  Between 2007 and May 2012 he was the City’s Environment Leader with responsibility for recycling, refuse collection, street cleaning, parks, carbon reduction and clean air.

Until his appointment as Lord Provost he was Group Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Council.

Robert has been a board member of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and was its chairman from 2007 to 2012.  Robert has retired from his position as Chief Executive of a national homelessness charity (the Scottish Council for Single Homeless and latterly Homeless Action Scotland). In this role he sat on a broad range of Scottish Government advisory groups and forums (including those relating refugees, homelessness, health and drugs). He was for 20 years the UK representative on the European Federation of Homelessness Organisations (feantsa) and is a past President of that body.

He is currently the Independent Chair of the West Lothian Public Service Partnership for People Vulnerable due to Young Age and the Fife Partnership on homelessness and short term housing support.

Robert was educated in Edinburgh at George Watson’s College and attended university at the University of East Anglia where he obtained a 2.1 Honours degree in Comparative Literature and Linguistics with German.

Robert entered a civil partnership in 2008. His civil partner is a medical consultant in paediatrics. They have been together since 1990.

Born and bred in Edinburgh, Betty has been involved in local communities for more than 40 years. A Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh , Betty is the Convenor of Edinburgh Tenants Federation and a seasoned campaigner for tenants’ rights in the city. Betty is passionate about improving housing conditions and has led on a wide range of initiatives to secure improvements to services for the most vulnerable in the city, including award winning work on support for people with mental ill health.

Betty said, “I am delighted to have been appointed to the One City Trust Board. I hope my contribution will give the Board a valuable communities’ perspective.”

Cammy was elected as Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council at the 2022 Local Authority Elections.  He is also Group Leader of the Scottish Labour Group and Councillor for Forth ward within the City of Edinburgh.  Given his career working with young people, supporting them to challenge social injustices in many of Edinburgh’s areas of deprivation, it is unsurprising that he was nominated by the City of Edinburgh Council to join the One City Trust Board.

“I’m really proud to serve on the OneCity Trust promoting social inclusion in Edinburgh. It’s extremely important that we find innovative and creative ways to encourage social inclusion in Edinburgh, and for me, that starts with genuine engagement with young people.”

Lesley, a teacher by training, and a long-time local Labour politician, retired as a Councillor for the City of Edinburgh Council in May 2017.  She is keenly interested in issues of social justice and inclusion, and was a great champion of the One City Trust during her term as Lord Provost (2003-2007). Lesley has chosen to continue her commitment to the Trust by joining the Board in a personal capacity.

“I love living in Edinburgh; it is a great city. I have lived here for over 30 years, and brought up my children on the north side of the city.  Over these years it has become clear to me that there are areas of deprivation in Edinburgh where people are excluded from society and do not feel they are part of the city. I want to live in a place where all its residents can feel they are included, have their part to play and feel proud of the city they live in. OneCity Trust can play its part in bringing all parts of the city together.”

Denis came to Edinburgh from Irvine on the west coast of Scotland back in 1970. He studied Marketing and Accountancy at Edinburgh College of Commerce which is now Napier University. He is now a Councillor for the city ward of Sighthill/Gorgie, in which Napier University is situated.  His ward harbours some of the City’s most deprived areas and he is always ready to fight to help improve the plight of those in the community who are less privileged than others.

“My own background was not one of privilege and I have had to work hard for everything I have. I believe that by deploying the resources of One City Trust into Edinburgh’s areas of need and deprivation, we can help provide a pathway to a better future for many of our less well off citizens.”

Born in 1959 in Selkirk, Donald Wilson attended Galashiels Academy.  Further academic achievements include a BA (Hons) from Stirling University, an MSc in Information Science from London’s City University, and a teaching qualification from Moray House in Edinburgh.

Son of a Baker (Wilson’s the Bakers in Selkirk) he was brought up in a bakery and has a lifelong interest in the skills and trade. He is now the Deacon Convener of the Incorpration of Baxters (Bakers) of the City of Edinburgh.

A former teacher of Computing in Midlothian, Donald was elected in 1999, as a City of Edinburgh Councillor, representing the Shandon Ward and has served on a range of Committees until retiring in 2022.

Donald was Lord Provost and President of the OneCity Trust from 2012 to 2017 and was instrumental in reactivating the theme of responsible business and corporate social responsibility.  As Lord Provost he was passionate about encouraging active citizenship and encouraging more businesses to do their bit for the city in addressing social exclusion and inequality. To this end he revitalised the One City Trust and raised over £250,000 through a variety of fundraising activities (including running five marathons) to fight exclusion and inequality in Edinburgh.

In his free time, Donald enjoys science fiction, opera, antiques and history, and spending time with his wife Elaine, two grown up children and his two grandchildren.

Jay Crawford has been broadcasting to Edinburgh and further afield for 50 years.

His career began with Radio Forth prior to their launch in 1974, he presented the Breakfast Show on Forth 1 in the ‘90’s. He was Programme Director of Real Radio, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio and became a Fellow of the Radio Academy in 2008.

Jay now owns the Edge Media Group which has two radio stations based in Edinburgh, Edge1 and Edge2.

Jay has worked with many charities over the years, he was a trustee of Help a Child Appeal, on the committee for Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and is the Honorary President of Dog Aid Scotland.

“I’m delighted to join the board of the One City Trust, I’m looking forward to working closely with the team to enhance opportunities for people across the city. I’ve always loved working and living in Edinburgh, there is so much to be proud of in the Capital. I’ve been extremely fortunate in my career and I’ve always believed in giving back what I can to ensure we all share in the benefits of living in our beautiful city.”

Dr Linda Irvine Fitzpatrick was born in Edinburgh and, apart from five years spent living in the Netherlands, she has lived here all her life.

Linda has worked for over 30 years in the NHS and has a wide range of services in developing innovative services and programmes.  During the pandemic she was privileged to interview senior leaders, staff and people to explore what health and care meant to them, hearing stories of resilience, hope, loss and pain, kindness, and compassion. Despite being the very worst of times, the pandemic did bring out so much good in people, and it’s that spirt of Edinburgh that Linda cherishes.

“We are a city of contrasts and when inequality is so stark that can lead to all of us feeling the impact.  One Trust offers opportunities to focus on addressing these inequalities, to making a real contribution to ensure that this city’s wonderful cultural, green and civic assets are available to all, and importantly welcoming to all.”

“I want to contribute to ensuring that all our Edinburgers feel a sense of belonging in this city.  Diversity and difference is not something to fear but something to nurture and celebrate.  Through the trusting and connected networks I have built in the city I can make a real contribution to the work of the Board.  I will bring curiosity, creativity, and a commitment to raise the profile of the Trust across our business, academic and public sectors.”

OneCity Trust is a registered Scottish charity (SC034165). Board members are Directors of OneCity Limited, a company limited by guarantee (SC320023), which operates as the Trustee of the OneCity Trust.