Chief executive resigns from social care charity

The chief executive of an Aberdeen social care charity has resigned, weeks after warning services were becoming "unsustainable".

Sue Freeth had joined Voluntary Service Aberdeen (VSA) in 2023.

The charity provides services for more than 2,000 vulnerable children and adults.

In October, VSA had appealed for its biggest ever level of support from the community in the organisation's 155-year history. It later announced it was seeking voluntary redundancies.

The new campaign for VSA - which runs facilities like care homes - aims to raise more funds and awareness of the charity's work in the face of financial pressures.

Since 2020, the demand for services and their costs has gone beyond the level of support from local councils, the charity said.

The £3m spent from reserves in the last five years has effectively used up the organisation's savings.

Launching the new strategy, including the search for more volunteers, Ms Freeth had said "times have never been more challenging" for the charity which was founded in 1870.

VSA chairman James Knowles said: "Sue Freeth, VSA's chief executive for the past two and a half years, is stepping down to pursue new opportunities elsewhere. We wish her well in her future endeavours.

"At this time, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea Jones as interim CEO. Andrea will remain in this post until the end of February 2026 to provide support to our leadership team.

"The process to appoint a permanent CEO will begin immediately."