Board of Trustees 

AdvoCard is governed by a Board of Trustees who provide strategic oversight, ensure good governance, and support the organisation’s mission to deliver independent advocacy across Edinburgh. 

The Board operates independently of day to day service delivery and meets regularly to ensure legal, financial, and ethical accountability. 

Board Members

Collective responsibilities of the Board include: 

• Setting AdvoCard’s strategic direction 

• Oversight of financial management and risk 

• Ensuring compliance with charity law and company law 

• Upholding AdvoCard’s values, independence, and human rights based approach 

• Supporting and holding the Chief Executive to account 

Staff

Arlene Astley – Chief Executive Officer 

Arlene is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of AdvoCard, overseeing service delivery, financial management, and organisational performance. She works closely with the Board of Trustees to set direction and deliver annual business plans.  

Scott Murphy – Service Manager 

Scott leads the delivery of AdvoCard’s advocacy services, ensuring consistent, safe, and highquality practice across all our teams. He manages  and supports staff and volunteers, embedding a culture of continuous improvement while working closely with our CEO to develop services that meet identified need.