Fran Kirkwood

Fran was delighted to be welcomed onto Partners in Advocacy’s Board of Trustees in February 2025.

They have been an unpaid carer for an adult family member for 20 years. Since 2015, they have personally accessed the invaluable support of individual, peer, and collective Independent Advocacy services. This support has enabled them to have a voice and increased their awareness of their rights, helping them navigate not only their own carer-related challenges but also the issues faced by the person they care for.

They are passionate about the need for continued Independent Advocacy provision and are committed to using their voice and experiences to promote the benefits of these specialised and essential services.

In 2016, they were welcomed onto the Edinburgh Carers Council Board of Trustees and served as Chair of Trustees from 2021 to 2024. They also represented the charity on the Cross-Party Group for Carers.

Additionally, they were a member of Thrive Edinburgh’s Core Group and served as the carer representative on the Thrive – Getting Help When Needed multi-agency Design Team and Peer Collaborative.

They look forward to working closely with Partners in Advocacy’s board of trustees, staff team, and individuals with lived experience to continue strengthening, expanding, and securing high-quality Independent Advocacy across Scotland.