DISABILITY charity, the Papworth Trust, which is behind the recently-opened Saxongate Centre in Huntingdon, has a new chief executive. Adrian Bagg, formerly vice-president of AO Moller Maersk, has taken over from Gordon Lister, who has retired after nine

DISABILITY charity, the Papworth Trust, which is behind the recently-opened Saxongate Centre in Huntingdon, has a new chief executive.

Adrian Bagg, formerly vice-president of AO Moller Maersk, has taken over from Gordon Lister, who has retired after nine years at the helm of the independent charity.

Mr Bagg was chief information officer for a range of commercial organisations before joining his previous employer.

He said the trust was "clearly committed to providing services which enable disabled people to maximise their independence and to addressing the barriers in society which disabled people continue to experience - despite new legislation.

"I'm very much looking forward to being part of the next phase of Papworth's growth both regionally and nationally."

Gordon Lister added: "Since the organisation was founded by Sir Pendrill Varrier-Jones back in 1918 it has championed new and innovative ways of enabling disabled people to live independent and fulfilling lives. Today Papworth is a regional organisation supporting disabled people in the community.

"We provide much needed accessible housing and support. We help people into mainstream employment and run a wide range of training programmes.

"Every year we work with over 5,000 people with a wide range of disabilities, increasingly with people who have acquired a disability as a result of an accident or illness as well as people with mental health issues. At the end of the day we try to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as other people in society."

The trust has also appointed Sally Clelland, formerly with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, as new Employment Adviser.

She will provide specialist support, advice and guidance to deaf and hard-of-hearing clients across the eastern region who are looking for work or training. In this role, she will bring with her a detailed understanding of the barriers that people with hearing loss find in facing employment, as she is deaf herself.

INFORMATION: The Papworth Trust is independent of Papworth Hospital.