About
More about Ceangail and the Teams behind each organisation.
ABOUT Ceangail
The Ceangail concept of using the events industry to inspire young people was formed in 2010 by Stirling born Social Entrepreneur, Matt McGrandles. He has been delivering events since 1997 and started fundraising for the 3rd Sector in 1999. Having been involved in these sectors ever since he founded Ceangail CIC in November 2012 and continues looking for ways to support young people within a practical learning environment.
Based on his own past learning experiences from school and business, including from the financial crash of 2008 where businesses were sadly just left to go under, he felt there was an opportunity to create an organisation which through its business activities, could challenge the traditional classroom-style learning.
With a focus on getting more young people into employment, he created a business model which offered great potential to generate income for the social enterprise as well as inspire those young people that signed up to the programme, boosting their core and soft skills needed for the world of work.
By creating and focusing delivery on more of a practical skills-based learning environment, led by educators with a growth mindset, the team would look to encourage and influence these young people in what we now know also becomes a safe training environment for them.
In 2014, Ceangail CIC delivered its first Project. The event was Stirling Highland Games and the training was an Into Events programme for 10 young people. This Project has become the backbone of the organisation in terms of generating its annual income as well as attracting young people onto an Into Events programme. By 2019, Ceangail CIC had supported up to 160 young people as part of their journey towards employment.
In September 2019, following a 12-month review of the grant-giving sector, he founded Ceangail Training Academy SCIO. A Scottish charity registered with OSCR whose purpose is; The advancement of education; The advancement of citizenship or community development; The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science. His aim is for the charity to carry on the important training still needed for young people aged between 16 and 40.
The CIC Board
Ceangail CIC is governed by up to 5 Board Members.
Approved by the CIC Regulator as a Community Interest Company, the Board was formed to show all stakeholders a transparent operational delivery as well as provide strategic direction and ensure compliance with the law.

Matt McGrandles
Chairperson
Matt is the Founder of Ceangail. He is the current Chair, overseeing strategy, business development and project delivery.

Catriona Cripps
Member of the Board
Cat is the current Director of volunteers, overseeing recruitment, training and engagement.

Una McLachlan
Member of the Board

Graham Lilley
Member of the Board
Graham is the current Director of Finance [Treasurer], overseeing budgets and forecasts for the CIC.
Vacant
Member of the Board
The Director Secretary position is currently vacant but this person oversees the administration of the CIC, including Board meetings.
CIC Staff Members
Vacant
Event Manager
Matt McGrandles
Director
Delivers the social enterprises vision on a day to day basis.
Vacant
Project Co-ordinnator
Bob McGowan
Advisor to the Director
Bob McGowan has been a specialist advisor to the Director since 2015.
SCIO Trustees
Ceangail Training Academy is Governed by up to 5 Trustees.
Approved by OSCR as a registered Scottish Charity, the Board of Trustees was formed to show all stakeholders a transparent operational delivery as well as provide strategic direction and ensure compliance with the law.

Matt McGrandles
Chairperson
Matt is the Founder of Ceangail Training Academy. He is the current Chair, overseeing strategy, business development and project delivery.

Catriona Cripps
Trustee
Cat is a Board Trustee overseeing recruitment, training and engagement of volunteers.

Una McLachlan
Trustee
Una is a Board trustee overseeing all HR.

Graham Lilley
Trustee
Graham is a Board Trustee overseeing all Finances.
Vacant
Trustee Secretary
The Trustee Secretary position is currently vacant but this person would oversee all adminstrations including Board Meetings.
SCIO Staff Members
Vacant
Training Academy Manager
Position currently vacant
Vacant
Office Adminstrator
Funding Support
Ceangail works extremely hard to secure support from a broad range of social investment and grant funders. We are extremely grateful to be working with these organisations that have supported our latest projects and training academy.











What is the 3rd Sector?
The 3rd Sector is made up of 3 distinct organisations:
- Charities
- Social Enterprises
- Voluntary Organisations
Ceangail Training Academy SCIO is registered Scottish Charity with OSCR. It is governed by a Board of Trustees who report to OSCR.
Ceangail CIC is a Social Enterprise, with asset lock, and is approved by the CIC Regulator. It is governed by a Board of Directors who report to HMRC.
To check to see if an organisation is a social enterprise there are 5 essential elements you should look out for and that show us apart, all held within a voluntary code of practice. (You can read more at www.se-code.net)
1. A Social Enterprise (SE) is a trading business – selling goods and services – but whose primary objective is to achieve social and/or environmental benefit. SEs are different from those charities and voluntary organisations which do not aspire to financial independence through trading.
2. Regardless of its legal form, the constitution of a SE will include the requirement that profits are reinvested in the business or in the beneficiary community – and not distributed to private owners, shareholders or investors.
3. The constitution will always require that on dissolution, the assets of the SE are reinvested in another organisation with similar aims and objectives. Taken together Criteria 2 and 3 are referred to as the ‘asset lock’ – the defining characteristic of a SE – which distinguishes it from the private sector.
4. SEs are constituted and managed in an accountable and transparent way – particularly with regard to the community they serve.
5. SEs are distinct from the public sector and cannot be the subsidiary of a public body.
Memberships
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Ceangail
Kerse Road, Millhall, Stirling, FK7 7LT