Lloyds Bank Foundation has appointed three new charity leaders as trustees – Darren Knight Chief Executive at Bolton CVS, Kamran Mallick Chief Executive at Disability Rights UK and Ruth Sutherland Chief Executive at Samaritans.

Darren Knight works for the place-shaping local support organisation Bolton Community and Voluntary Services which helps voluntary sector networks, groups and organisations to explore and reach their potential. He previously worked for national homelessness charity Shelter and for the LGBT Foundation.

He’s passionate about joining the Foundation commenting: ‘Lloyds Bank Foundation is championing the issues that are at the top of the agenda for many charities. As an organisation, it is using its platform to lead exciting new conversations. As a funder, it is listening to what the sector is saying and championing small but vital charities. For me, this is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between charities and their funders.’

Ruth Sutherland is stepping down as CEO of Samaritans in March after leading the charity since 2015. She was previously CEO of Relate and has held senior leadership roles at Rethink, Alzheimer’s Society and Scope. She is the founding director of the Community Development and Health Network, a charitable membership network committed to addressing inequalities in health in Northern Ireland.

She added: ‘I have a long-held passion of working for social justice. I also know that people around the country are working hard to find solutions to complex and deep-seated problems within their communities. I admire the Foundation for wanting to make a difference through funding and developing the work of communities and delighted that I can play my part as a trustee in delivering its bold vision.’

Kamran Mallick is Chief Executive of Disability Rights UK, the only UK-wide disabled people’s organisation, as well as trustee of small disability charity Wheels for Wellbeing. He has worked in the user-led disability community for over 25 years, 15 years of which he has been a CEO of charities dedicated to challenging the barriers that face disabled people.

Kamran has a passion for and deep understanding of digital and is currently working with industry to transition towards inclusive technology, usable by everyone. He has represented the UK disability movement at the UN, created a coalition of civil society organisations, consulted for Transport for London on disability issues and has led the way in pushing for big business to offer internships to young disabled adults.

He said: ‘I am proud to be working with the Foundation and look forward to using my expertise in the disability sector to help them further support small and local charities. I believe in the power of people’s lived experience to create innovative and long-term solutions. With a new government and parliament underway, it’s a critical time to advocate and support charities doing vital work.’

Baroness Rennie Fritchie DBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome three new excellent trustees to the board, each with a wealth of experience from the charity sector. Their collective knowledge, expertise and understanding will add to our strategic leadership as we work to meet the needs of the charities we partner and the people they serve and support.’