After 8 incredibly successful years as Chief Executive Officer and 21 years working at Multi-Cultural Family Base, Steve Gowenlock will be leaving. As a founding member of the organization, he leaves behind an impressive legacy, working tirelessly to secure the financial stability of the agency, improving the life and welfare of countless marginalised and vulnerable children and families, overseeing the practice education of hundreds of social work students and managing a busy staff team.

Steve’s involvement with MCFB reaches back even further than 1998, the year in which the agency was founded. In 1995, whilst working for Children 1^st, he was part of a steering group, which included Trishna Singh and Wendy Brownlee. The group was looking at ideas to fill a gap in service provision to support families from the diverse communities in Edinburgh. Fellow founding members, Nita Brown, Jo Thorne and Ruth Stroud also formed part of steering group and had been part of the Family Resource Network and Student Project, based at Smith’s Place in Leith (later MCFB’s first office). Three years later, on 1 March 1998, MCFB was founded, with the remit of promoting the needs of school aged Black and Minority Ethnic children (then mostly Sikh and Pakistani) as well as being a learning agency for cross cultural social work. These two main strands of work have since been developed to the point where, on average, MCFB now supports around 400 children and families per year and provides social work practice placements to 35 students per year.

Wendy Paterson, MCFB Chair said:

“Steve’s role as CEO during the past 8 years has enabled him to lead its innovation and developments in a way which has shaped the organisation and given it a stronger, clearer identity. His vision has been a driving force throughout and has been so clearly based on an understanding of people, children especially, and of the particular ways in which they can be helped to flourish in adverse circumstances. Numerous students have benefitted from his skilled support of their learning. His expertise has ensured MCFB has been an influence on social work education in Scotland and is seen as a pioneering agency in recognising and supporting BME students particularly.

Steve has never wavered in his determination to hold to the values and ethos at the heart of the organisation but he has also shown great skill in providing evidence of how MCFB may develop new projects to address the emerging needs of diverse communities in Edinburgh and more widely. He will leave a huge gap but his influence will endure through the strength of the organisation and very skilled and committed staff whose development he has nurtured.

On behalf of the Board of MCFB, I want to thank Steve for his work, his vision and his leadership. We shall miss him greatly but will build on the very strong legacy he leaves behind.”

Steve Gowenlock, Chief Executive Officer at Multi-Cultural Family Base said:

“It has been a real privilege to have been part of the growth of MCFB.  I leave with so many wonderful memories of children, families, students and staff, both current and past.  I am confident that the agency is in good hands with a strong, talented and cohesive staff group.  MCFB really is a special place.  My successor, Anne Spiers, will provide clear leadership and take the agency forward in both new and familiar areas. The work we do is needed more than ever in troubling and divided times.”

Steve will continue as CEO until the 15 November 2019 and will hand over to Anne Spiers, currently Depute CEO, who will step in as Acting CEO. He will be very much missed by everyone at MCFB and we wish him all the very best for the future.