Crossbasket House bolsters board of trustees to mark 30th anniversary

Crossbasket House is delighted to announce that it has welcomed four new members to its Board of Trustees.  

Alwyn Knox, Connie Young, Waqqas Ashraf, and Monica Sheen have joined the charity, previously known as Ronald McDonald House Glasgow, bringing a wealth of experience to the 30-year-old organisation. 

Crossbasket House provides accommodation to parents and carers whose children are cared for at Scotland’s biggest children’s hospital and is part of the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity group. Each year, it provides a lifeline to around 500 families, many of whom travel hundreds of miles to be with their seriously ill children.

Alywn Knox is the Director of Embrace Talent Consulting, with more than two decades working in recruitment. She hopes to bring her experience working with a wide variety of organisations to the charity, as well as insight into leadership, governance and organisational challenge to make a meaningful contribution to Crossbasket House.  

Founder of Inspiring ChangeMakers Ltd, Connie Young aims to utilise her diverse range of contacts to benefit Crossbasket House, as well as her previous experience as a Trustee of Flourish House Glasgow.  

WA Legal Director and lawyer Waqqas Ashraf joins the board following his appointment as convenor to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland in 2021. He chairs several disciplinary panels, including the English Football Association, and hopes his varied experience working with different charity projects will benefit Crossbasket House.   

Monica Sheen works within the NHS as a Senior Charge Nurse and joins as a Trustee following her own time spent in Crossbasket House with her partner while her son Alfie was being treated at the Royal Hospital for Children in 2022. She has also completed fundraising for the charity and runs a peer support group for parents with babies in Neonatal Care, offering connection, understanding, and guidance during what can be an incredibly isolating and traumatic time. This combination of professional experience, voluntary work and unique personal insight underpins her passion for contributing to the charity’s board. 

“It is a privilege to join the Board of Trustees at Crossbasket House. The charity provides a vital lifeline to families when they need it most, and I feel very grateful for the opportunity to contribute. I look forward to supporting the team and helping the charity continue its fantastic work in the years ahead,” said Alwyn Knox. 

“I am delighted and honoured to have joined the Board of Trustees for Crossbasket House. I hope I can play a small part in helping support the House's teams in the incredibly important services they provide for the families of very sick children attending the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Crossbasket House is hugely reliant on fundraising for the services and support it provides. The people who work there are amazing, dedicated, compassionate and inspirational,” added Connie Young. 

Waqqas Ashraf added: “I am delighted to be joining the Board and hope that my lived experience in having a child in hospital for a period of time and my background and expertise in Law, will be beneficial for Crossbasket House, its staff, and most importantly its users.” 

“Having a child who is critically ill is one of the most unthinkable and heartbreaking experiences any family can face. In the midst of the fear, the exhaustion, and the endless uncertainty, Crossbasket House offered us a kindness and compassion that is almost impossible to put into words,” said Monica Sheen. 

“We are delighted to welcome four new trustees to our Board. Their wealth of experience and insight will be a huge benefit to Crossbasket House and help us continue to raise vital funds to support the families of children and young people being treated in the Royal Hospital for Children,” said Ken Simpson, Chief Operating Officer. 

The news comes as Crossbasket House celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Crossbasket House is proud to provide a homely environment and a safe haven for families to have a bit of 'normality' and be able to rest, away from the stress of the hospital.