On 28th September 2020, Bernard Gallagher was appointed as Chair of Care Housing Association (Care). Bernard, pictured above, has had an extensive and varied career in the social housing sector and has most recently been Chief Executive for both a regional, then a locally based housing association in the North West of England. He has previously been heavily involved in working in the field of supported housing and was delighted to join the Board earlier in 2020 to help contribute to the ongoing work of Care.
Upon his appointment as Chairperson, Bernard said ‘I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to hold the post of Chair. I’m really looking forward to building on the strong foundations that have been created in order to maximise our contribution to meeting the housing need for those requiring support to live independently.’
Roger Parr, pictured below, was elected as Vice Chairperson and has over 25 years of experience working in the NHS. He is currently a CCG Chief Finance Officer. Roger is thrilled to be appointed as Vice Chair, saying: ‘Working in the health sector I know how much impact somebody’s home has on their health and wellbeing. The opportunity to support Care in delivering a quality home for residents in need of support is one I see as an honour. Working with like-minded people with the aim of empowering people to maximise their independence in our communities is really important to me – and this is what Care is all about. I look forward to working with Bernard, the Directors and the brilliant Care Team over the next period of the charity’s activities.’
Bernard and Roger replace Stephen Niven and John Thompson in the roles of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson respectively following their resignation from the Board after serving 9 years each. Stephen, using his experience as a qualified accountant and in a previous role as Company Secretary at a food wholesaler and distributor, had been instrumental in transforming Care into a multiple asset-owning and reputable provider of supported housing in the North West and beyond.
John, a chartered surveyor operating a practice from central Manchester, had a wealth of experience in governance at large social housing providers and offered a unique insight into the business, governance and financial arrangements for the organisation. Both John and Stephen will be sorely missed for their contributions, commitment and person-centred approach they brought to Care, and we wish them all the best for the future.