Commonweal thanks Jack Mactaggart, welcomes Amarjit Bains as Chair

Commonweal Housing is proud to announce the appointment of Amarjit Bains as Chair of the Board of Trustees, and staff and trustees wish to thank outgoing Chair Jack Mactaggart for his dedication and guidance throughout his five-year term. The team are delighted that Jack will be remaining on the Board, and are looking forward to the years to come under Amarjit’s leadership.

Jack’s tenure oversaw the development of Commonweal’s first partner projects outside of England, the adoption of our current Strategic Themes, and the constant production of valuable research and commissioned studies, now used to inform Commonweal projects more widely.

​Amarjit has served on the Commonweal Board for almost four years and was appointed Vice-Chair last year. She has extensive leadership experience in the housing sector, and is currently the Programme Lead for London at Bridges Outcomes Partnerships – a not-for-profit social enterprise that designs services to improve life chances for vulnerable people. She previously served as Director at housing and social care provider Mears Group PLC, where she was responsible for a contract to deliver homes and support to asylum seekers across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north-east of England. 

Jack, the outgoing Chair, said:“After five incredible years as Chair of Commonweal, it has come time to pass the torch.

“I am thrilled, therefore, to share that the endlessly talented Amarjit Bains will be taking over the role. I have no doubt that Amarjit will bring fresh energy and vision to our mission, and I will be cheering her on from the sidelines as a Trustee.

“And so, my deepest thanks to the Commonweal family for giving me this opportunity — it’s been a true privilege to work alongside such capable and passionate people.

“Here’s to the bright future ahead!”

Amarjit, the new Chair of Commonweal Housing, said: “”Having had the privilege of serving on the Board for the past four years, I’ve seen firsthand the vital role Commonweal plays in empowering frontline organisations to trial and test innovative solutions to tackle social injustice. In a time when so many marginalised groups are being left behind by mainstream support systems, Commonweal’s dedication to bridging these gaps has never been more important.

“I am honoured to step into the role of Chair and look forward to working closely with our incredible team, partners, and supporters as we embark on a new year focused on deepening our impact and advancing our mission.

“I would also like to sincerely thank Jack for his outstanding leadership and invaluable contributions as Chair—his dedication has been an inspiration, and I hope to build on the strong foundation he leaves behind.”