Cash for Kids announces Arnold Clark MD as new chairman

Lord McConnell steps down after seven years at the helm of one of Scotland’s largest children’s charities.

Radio Clyde Cash for Kids, one of the largest children’s charities in Scotland, has announced Eddie Hawthorne, Chief Executive and Group Managing Director of Arnold Clark, as the new Chairman of its Board of Trustees

Eddie Hawthorne will take over from Lord Jack McConnell who is stepping down from the charity after seven years as Chair of the Board of Trustees. In that seven years the charity has raised over £10 million and helped nearly 700,000 children and young people in the West of Scotland. Cash for Kids now supports programmes all year round to help children at all the most vulnerable times of the year.

Lord McConnell said: “I stand down as Chair of Radio Clyde Cash for Kids with mixed feelings, but I think it is important to have a turn over and to bring in new people and new ideas. While it will be sad to move on, I am very proud of all that we have managed to achieve. Cash for Kids is no longer just for Christmas, we help vulnerable children all year round.

“The Cash for Kids family makes an enormous contribution to vulnerable families across the West and South West of Scotland. We might wonder why this charity is still needed in 2018, but we can be in no doubt that it is, and the impact we make is more important than ever.

“I am very pleased that Eddie Hawthorne has agreed to take on the challenging role of chairing the Board of Trustees moving forward. Together with all of the other Trustees, the radio station staff, and of course Debbie Fraser and her amazing team, I have every confidence that Eddie will successfully take us on to whatever challenges lie ahead.”

Eddie Hawthorne said: “The Arnold Clark group has been supporters of the work Clyde Cash for Kids carries out for many years. Child poverty remains a blight in today’s society and the work that Cash for Kids does to tackle this issue head on is vital. Children and their families, living in our own communities, face daily challenges which have direct impact on their health and wellbeing and the charity’s daily efforts work towards making their lives better.

“I am looking forward to building on the legacy that Lord McConnell leaves to ensure that the tens of thousands of children that the charity reaches every year continues.

In April 2018, Radio Clyde Cash for Kids has established The Sir Arnold Clark Summer Camp Fund to give local children living in poverty in Glasgow and the west of Scotland life-enhancing and memorable experience during the summer holiday period.

Arnold Clark was the first organisation to win a platinum award from Radio Clyde Cash for Kids in recognition of its generous support of vulnerable children across Glasgow and the West of Scotland.