CCPS Staff
Our staff bring a wide range of expertise, skills and experience to their roles. On this page you can read about their professional backgrounds and areas of focus at CCPS and in our hosted units, HSEU and CJVSF. For details of how to contact staff, please go to the contacts page. For information about our Board, click here.
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Yvette Burgess
DIRECTOR, HOUSING SUPPORT ENABLING UNIT
Yvette joined CCPS in 2004 to set up the Housing Support Enabling Unit (HSEU) and has led the service ever since. The HSEU is jointly hosted by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and is funded through the Scottish Government’s Better Homes Division.
Yvette’s background is in housing management in the social rented sector, having worked in London and Bristol for housing associations and for a London borough.
Rachel Cackett
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Rachel has been CEO of the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland since July 2022, leading the work of the organisation to represent not-for-profit providers nationally.
Much of her work to date has focused on realising the Fair Work agenda and influencing much needed sector reform.
She has been part of Scottish social justice organisations for over 20 years and has a particular interest in working in membership organisations to develop a collective voice to influence.
Nadine Cassidy
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCE OFFICER
Nadine joined CCPS in 2019 as part of the admin team and has a focus on finances. She feels privileged to be able to support the work of her colleagues across the organisation in improving not-for-profit social care.
Nadine has worked in the third sector for over 15 years. She was previously an Advocacy Worker supporting parents of children with exceptional healthcare needs and is particularly passionate about disability issues.
Alison Christie
POLICY MANAGER
Alison joined CCPS as a Policy and Development Officer in 2016 and took up the position of Policy Programme Lead in April 2021.
She has a background in healthcare, changing careers in 2014 following a period of study at the University of Strathclyde.
Alison has worked in policy roles since 2014, previously in drug and alcohol policy.
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Annaliese Johnston
POLICY OFFICER - CRIMINAL JUSTICE VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM AND CCPS (WORKFORCE)
Annaliese joined CCPS in September 2024. She works with members of CCPS’s hosted unit, the Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum (CJVSF), and other stakeholders to improve policy and practice for people affected by Scotland’s justice system. She also works one day a week with CCPS’s Workforce Development team, supporting members to improve the experiences and outcomes of the workforce and people who use their services.
Annaliese trained in law and previously worked in a range of advocacy and policy positions in the third sector, including with the Salvation Army, Community Legal Aid and Amnesty International. Prior to joining CCPS, she was an independent human rights inspector for improving the treatment and conditions of people in detention in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Kristy Lambert
POLICY AND PROJECTS OFFICER – WORKFORCE
Kristy joined CCPS in August 2023 as part of the Workforce Development team, supporting voluntary sector social service providers to improve the experiences and outcomes of the workforce and people who use services.
She previously worked in a policy role supporting the fundraising workforce within the voluntary sector. Prior to this, Kristy co-founded a policy initiative which campaigns for improved contraceptive care in Scotland.
Emma Mathews
HSEU POLICY AND INFORMATION OFFICER
Emma joined the Housing Support Enabling Unit (HSEU), which is hosted by CCPS, in July 2022. Her role involves supporting housing support providers to understand policy developments and put forward their views and interests.
Prior to joining HSEU, Emma studied Social Policy and Politics, completing an undergraduate dissertation in 2022 focusing on community investment activity undertaken by Scottish housing associations.
While Emma was a student, she also co-directed a student project focussed on action for housing justice in Edinburgh.
Alex Perry
COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBER ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT OFFICER
Alex joined CCPS in 2024 as part of the Communications and Engagement team.
Alex’s first communications role was at Pilton Community Health Project, where he led on their social media and website development. He connected with other local charities through a role at Edinburgh Community Health Forum, and co-authored a report on their collective response to Covid-19.
He has also worked at Matter of Focus, supporting charities and public services to tell the story of the difference their work makes to people and communities.
Laura Mulcahy
POLICY PROGRAMMES LEAD, CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Laura works with members of CCPS’s hosted unit, the Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum (CJVSF) and other stakeholders to improve policy and practice for people affected by Scotland’s justice system.
Prior to joining CCPS, she worked and volunteered with a range of organisations spanning different sectors and geographical areas. This led to an interest in the connections between local, national and international policy developments and the cross-cutting nature of many social, economic and environmental issues.
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Caroline Scott
RESOURCES MANAGER
Caroline has worked for CCPS since May 2010 and heads up our administrative function.
She is responsible for providing HR, governance, financial and secretarial support to the senior management team and other colleagues. She also services the board and supports the treasurer.
Before joining CCPS, Caroline had nine years’ experience working in museums, heritage and the arts.
Eilidh Shearer
POLICY OFFICER– WORKFORCE, COMMISSIONING AND PROCUREMENT
For Eilidh’s CJVSF role, she supports forum members to advocate for improvements in justice policy, legislation, and practice. Within CCPS, Eilidh carries out research and advocacy for wider social care reform.
Prior to joining CCPS, Eilidh worked in policy and engagement in the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Directorate in the Scottish Government. Eilidh also has experience in the third sector, supporting families and young people in difficult circumstances.
Chris Small
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT
Chris leads our communications work, with responsibility for CCPS’s campaigns, member engagement, parliamentary brief and brand.
Chris started his career as a journalist at the Scotsman newspapers before taking on various communications roles, including at the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, the University of Edinburgh and the Times Educational Supplement Scotland.
Prior to joining CCPS he was Communications Manager at national charity Children in Scotland, where he led their rebrand and communications influencing work.
Fraser White
BETTER FUTURES AND INFORMATION OFFICER (HSEU)
Fraser joined the Housing Support Enabling Unit in December 2021. His role focuses on managing and supporting use of Better Futures, Scotland’s only dedicated outcomes-monitoring and management tool for housing support providers.
His work helps housing support providers and services deliver positive outcomes for people they support.
Fraser previously worked in local authority and consultancy research roles, before undertaking self-employed projects in cultural and social sectors in Scotland.