Former MSP appointed to charity policy role

Former MSP Richard Baker has been appointed as policy manager at Scotland’s largest visual impairment organisation.

Having spent the last two years as policy and communications manager at Age Scotland, Mr Baker takes up the role across sister charities Royal Blind and Scottish War Blinded, which are also known as the Royal Blind Group.

As Scotland's largest visual impairment organisation, the Royal Blind Group is designed to care for, educate and empower visually impaired people across Scotland. 

The organisation’s new policy and research function aims to tackle issues such as education, care for older people and transition services for young people with complex needs.

Speaking about his appointment, Mr Baker said: “Royal Blind has a deep understanding of the issues affecting people living with visual impairment, and this informs the charity’s ambition for a Scotland which better includes and supports visually impaired people in the future. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to make the case for policy developments which promote positive change for people living with visual impairment.”

Commenting on the newly-created role, chief executive of the Royal Blind Group, Mark O’Donnell, explained that it had been established to ensure that the issues affecting people with sight loss of all ages are taken to local and national Government.

He said: “This new function is part of our commitment to improving the lives of people of all ages living with sight loss across the country. I am sure that Richard, with experience of working in public affairs and his knowledge of issues affecting older people and veterans from his time at Age Scotland, will be very successful in this role.”