Find out more about the Children in Scotland staff team, their areas of expertise, and get in touch.
Please note, as staff will be working from home for the remainder of 2021, most office telephone lines are not being regularly monitored.
Staff can be contacted via email as normal – you can find email addresses following the staff descriptions on these pages.
Billy is a Senior Policy Officer (Children’s Rights), working with the My Rights, My Say service.
Billy has worked for 18 years with and for vulnerable young people and young adults across Community, Health, Education and ASN settings.
Prior to working for Children in Scotland, Billy held service management, learning and development, personalisation, community health development and youth mentoring roles.
He is an innovative person-centred practitioner and visual recorder who has a passion for children’s rights, engagement and research & evaluation.
Catherine joined Children in Scotland in January 2020, and is part of Children in Scotland’s Communications Team, with a particular focus on supporting the Membership Service team but also covering marketing, media engagement, publications and digital output.
Previously Head of Communications at Capital Theatres, Scotland’s largest independent theatre organisation, Catherine has worked in public relations for more than 20 years, directing campaigns and communications strategies for organisations including Edinburgh College of Art and the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Before working in communications, she worked as a staff and freelance journalist for UK national and international publications.
Sally is part of Children in Scotland’s Leadership Team and has responsibility for bringing together and developing the work that is delivered by the Enquire and Resolve services, My Rights, My Say and the national Inclusion Ambassadors network.
She supports ongoing improvement within the organisation by leading development in programme management.
Sally joined Children in Scotland in 2006. She has almost 20 years’ experience of working in the children’s sector with a focus on improving support and services for children with additional support needs.
She sits on the Additional Support for Learning Implementation Group, Pupil Support Staff Working Group, Disabled Children and Young People’s Advisory Group, is a trustee of Flexible Childcare Services Scotland and Chair of a Scout group.
Lizz joined Children in Scotland in September 2021 as a Learning & Events Officer.
Previously, Lizz worked as a secondary school teacher in and around London. Starting her career with the Teach First Leadership development programme, aiming to tackle educational inequality in schools in England & Wales, her last teaching role was English Lead at a school in a low-secure psychiatric hospital for young people sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
This role further fuelled her keen interest in education, health and social welfare reforms, as well as deepening her experience of working with vulnerable children and those with additional educational needs.
She studied English & Scottish Literature at the University of Edinburgh and writes in her spare time.
Sally joined Children in Scotland in September 2021 as a Learning & Events Officer.
Prior to joining the organisation, Sally held roles supporting projects and events at Macmillan Cancer Support and working in fundraising and communications at Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
After gaining her degree in English from Durham University, Sally completed the TEFL qualification and moved to Madrid where she spent two years teaching English as a second language to both children and adults.
Sally has worked closely with autistic young people and is a keen advocate for inclusive and person-centred practice.
Outside of work, Sally enjoys practicing her (rusty) Spanish and exploring her adopted home of Scotland.
Julie assists Valerie Harty, Head of Finance and Central Services, in operating and maintaining Children in Scotland’s accounting and financial reporting systems and leading the staff team in complying with our financial procedures.
Her day-to-day duties include effective operation of sales and purchase ledgers, credit control, customer liaison and our banking systems. Julie also supports the wider administrative function through front office, reception and customer care duties.
Grant develops and maintains Enquire's websites and suite of databases as well as providing IT support to the Enquire team.
Grant has previously worked in various organisations seeking to achieve equality for disabled people in housing, voting, education and health.
In addition to his Children in Scotland role, he is CEO of S'up Products Ltd. The company sells the S'up spoon – the spoon for shaky hands – that Grant created as a result of personal need.
Angus joined Children in Scotland in September 2019 and has worked for several years as a freelance designer.
He is a member of the communications team and the Engagement and Learning department. He contributes design work and expertise across digital materials, print, events marketing, and in support of our ongoing project work and strategic aims.
Angus’s clients as a freelancer included Scottish Canals, Perth & Kinross Council, reallymoving.com, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Museums and Heritage Highland, Get Glasgow Moving, Lightpress Design and East Perthshire Youth Alliance.
Public transport inequalities is an area of particular interest. At a practical level, Angus is concerned with encouraging the use of intuitive schematic mapping and signage and advocating for improved infrastructure in modern UK cities.
Before joining Enquire, Robert was previously Senior Project Officer on the CHANGE Project, which helped to develop childcare services and family support in the East End of Glasgow.
His involvement with Children in Scotland began in 2014, when he volunteered as a Research Mentor on Beyond4Walls – a participatory youth research project exploring young people’s experiences of Housing.
Robert’s background is in community development and he was involved in establishing community food projects that later became part of Children in Scotland’s Food, Families, Futures programme.
He is also a Participation and Engagement Associate at Children in Scotland and recently worked on the Young Media Voices project, supporting children and young people across Scotland to learn new skills, create multimedia content and share the stories that matter most to them.
Jennifer is a member of the Communications Team and editor of our bi-monthly Children in Scotland Magazine. She leads on all aspects of the magazine, from planning and commissioning to editing and layout.
Jennifer also provides communication support for the organisation, including producing web content, press and media activity.
Jennifer has a degree in Public Relations and Management. She started her career working in PR for an independent firm specialising in food and drink and lifestyle clients. She then worked for a political communications company where she led on children, family and social issues.
The Enquire service’s Helpline Officers listen and respond to questions and concerns from parents, carers, professionals, children and young people about additional support for learning.
The team members come from various backgrounds, including teaching, policy, support work and other advice lines.
The team undergoes an extensive induction and continuous training programme to develop their knowledge and keep up to date with developments in the law relating to additional support for learning.
0345 123 2303
Beth joined Children in Scotland as an Advice and Information Officer with Enquire in June 2021.
Previously, Beth worked directly with children and young people with additional support needs in a mainstream educational setting. This practical experience has given her a passion for supporting all children and young people to succeed.
Beth recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health and Education and has an English Language and History degree from the University of Glasgow.
In her spare time, Beth volunteers with the Scouts, supporting a local group as well as holding a national role enabling young people to embark on an international adventure in 2022.
Lynn is part of Children in Scotland’s Communications Team, with responsibility for the organisation’s digital and social media output. She also provides marketing, editing and IT support and leads on communications for specific projects.
She is actively involved with our Participation and Engagement work and work on LGBT+ equality.
Lynn joined Children in Scotland in November 2004. She has 20 years’ experience working in journalism, PR, events management, schools outreach work and charity fundraising.
She is a qualified journalist and has worked in a range of roles, including reporter and editor, for local and national newspapers and magazines.
Harriet has worked for Enquire twice. From 2003 to 2005, she was the Training and Outreach officer. She then rejoined in 2015 as an Advice and Information Officer and became Advice and Information Manager in 2018.
Her role is to work with her co-manager, Cat Thomson, to make sure that the Enquire service achieves (or exceeds) our objectives and continuously strives to achieve our vision of all children in Scotland being supported, included, and listened to throughout their education.
Before and between working for Enquire, Harriet held a number of different roles across the private, public and voluntary sector, including teaching (French), training, and project management.
Hannah joined Enquire as an Advice and Information Officer in September 2015. She works on the Enquire helpline speaking to parents, carers and professionals supporting children with additional support needs. She also works on Enquire’s policy responses and digital outreach.
Previously, Hannah worked with the Scottish Government in education policy and as an employment support worker for young adults with learning difficulties. For three years she chaired a young people’s group at the Sick Children’s Hospital in Edinburgh – where she did all her school exams and half her education from a hospital ward – so has her own wee bit of personal experience of additional support for learning!
Hannah studied Social Anthropology at Aberdeen University. In her spare time she writes poetry, plays board games and has a corner on a motorbike race circuit named after her.
Valerie is part of Children in Scotland’s Leadership Team. She is responsible for Central Services’ functions and driving the sustainability of Children in Scotland through robust and proactive financial management.
Valerie joined Children in Scotland in October 2015. She previously worked for Coram Children’s Legal Centre, originally as their accountant and subsequently as their Head of Finance and Operations.
Valerie completed her training contract with PricewaterhouseCoopers, becoming a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland in 2010.
Access to Childcare Fund Lead
Before joining the Access to Childcare Fund, Alison was previously, since 2017, the Senior Policy and Participation Officer for the CHANGE: Childcare and Nurture Glasgow East project.
She has 30 years' experience of working in the Early Years sector in various roles including as a frontline practitioner, Senior Early Years Officer, Training Officer and Internal Verifier.
Prior to joining Children in Scotland, she worked within third sector organisations and the local authority. As well as being qualified in Early Years, Alison has a BA (Hons) in Humanities and a Postgraduate Qualification in Strategic Thinking: Systems for managing change.
Angela is the administrator for the Early Learning and Childcare Inclusion fund, which Children in Scotland administers on behalf of the Scottish Government. She also works on finance related tasks within the Finance team.
Angela has worked in administration and finance in the voluntary sector for a number of years, which included working in community education centres and, more recently, working with IDEAS, a development education organisation.
Angela administered the Development Awareness Mini-Grants in this role which IDEAS administered on behalf of DFID.
Tracy focuses on developing new relationships and securing a sustainable future for the organisation. She is also the key contact for our members.
Tracy has significant experience in membership support and development through her previous experience at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, where she was Assistant Development Manager. Before joining Children in Scotland she was Head of Marketing and Membership at the Scottish Business Resilience Centre.
Lucy works as part of the Enquire team and has a focus on raising awareness of children’s rights to be supported and listened to, in particular those with additional support needs. This includes engaging with children and young people and generating opportunities for them to have effective and fulfilling participation in Enquire’s work – including the Reach website, social media and the My Rights, My Say service.
Lucy’s background mainly lies in education. She joined Children in Scotland in August 2018, bringing with her a range of experience from her previous role as a teacher, where she specialised in history. For many years she has championed children’s rights in schools, which she continues to do in her current role.
Nina joined Children in Scotland in October 2021 as Assistant Communications Officer – Digital.
She comes to the organisation with experience of working alongside children and young people with additional support needs, and on projects aiming to engage young people on issues of gender inequalities.
In addition to her role with Children in Scotland, Nina works in marketing for a Scottish publisher. She has just completed a Master’s degree in Publishing after studying Sociology and Psychology at the University of Edinburgh.
Elaine leads on our direct engagement and participation work with children, young people and families. This is often through our project work.
Elaine joined Children in Scotland in September 2016 and brings a wealth of experience in young people’s health and wellbeing, rights and participation.
Elaine was a secondary school teacher for more than 18 years. Most recently she was Principal Teacher of Pupil Support at Linlithgow Academy. She also enjoyed a secondment with Education Scotland where she was responsible for developing national guidelines relating to Health And Wellbeing for practitioners.
Elaine is a board member of Fast Forward, Edinburgh, and West Lothian Drugs and Alcohol Service, Livingston.
Cat joined Children in Scotland in January 2019 as a Learning & Events officer. She has spent 16 years working in the education sector focusing on professional learning, outreach education and environmental education. She has a keen interest in equality and sustainability.
Previously, she has worked on community education programmes that supported asylum seekers, refugees, the Traveller community and disadvantaged young people.
As someone who enjoys the great outdoors, Cat combined her degree in natural resource management and postgraduate diploma to manage a forest education service where the rainforest was her classroom.
Having worked in Australia, Poland, Ireland and the UK, Cat brings a range of international experience to the team.
Mohit has worked in the third sector since 2013, while he was at university completing a degree in Marketing. Within the charity sector he has worked for and supported a wide range of charities, including West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC) and GalGael.
Mohit has had varied roles working in the charity sector, including Marketing and Enterprise Officer, Marketing and Sales Administrator, Fundraising Assistant and Project Co-Ordinator.
While at WSREC Mohit also ran one of the main projects alongside his marketing role. The project was called MESS (Minority Ethnic Silver Surfers), which looked at supporting and training M.E adults over 50 in digital skills, such as how to online shop to how to use Zoom.
Currently, Mohit works at Enquire as the Communications Officer, which is a new role within the organisation. Within Enquire Mohit will be involved with the marketing and communications.
Cathie leads on the organisation’s Human Resources functions and has a key focus on organisation and people development. She is a member of Children in Scotland’s Leadership Team and part of the Child Protection Review Group.
Cathie joined Children in Scotland in October 2000.
She spends much of her home life participating in outdoor activities and is keen that children and young people have the opportunity to gain similar experiences.
David leads a range of projects to generate evidence and help to inform Children in Scotland’s policy work at a local, national and international level.
David joined Children in Scotland in April 2019. He has worked on children and family programmes in several cultural organisations including National Galleries of Scotland and Scottish Book Trust. As a graduate of Edinburgh College Art, he is passionate about children and young people’s access to the arts and culture.
David has significant experience of multi-agency working, bringing together contacts from health, education, local authorities and third sector organisations. During his time in the Early Years team at Scottish Book Trust, David managed the organisation's early intervention family support programme and lead on audience development work.
He has a range of professional and voluntary experience working directly with children and young people.
Simon is part of Children in Scotland’s Leadership Team and manages the Engagement & Learning Department, consisting of the Communications Team, Learning & Events Team and the Membership Service.
He has a keen interest in equality and diversity, particularly LGBT+ issues and led the organisation through LGBT Youth Scotland's LGBT Charter of Rights accreditation. He is also a rep on the Workforce group of the Independent Care Review, a member of the Basic Income Cross-Party Group, a member of SCVO’s Intermediaries Network and part of the internal Children in Scotland Child Protection Group.
Simon joined Children in Scotland in September 2015 and has more than 30 years' experience working in the children’s sector in various roles including volunteer, front-line practitioner, manager and consultant.
He is a qualified social worker and has undertaken extensive child protection and post-abuse therapeutic social work as well as work in residential childcare settings. He is also a qualified practice teacher with experience of the social work education field and local authority workforce development.
Simon is a Trustee on the Board of Bright Light, an Edinburgh-based charity providing relationship counselling services.
smassey@childreninscotland.org.uk
07469 149 135
Nazmi joined Children in Scotland in March 2020.
She is the Administrative Assistant in the Learning & Events team, where she supports the delivery and day-to-day administration of the team’s events and webinar programme.
Nazmi has more three years admin experience both within and outwith the third sector and has spent time supporting disadvantaged young people. These experiences have made her passionate about working to support children and young people.
She also has a keen interest in equalities, particularly of those who live at the intersections of marginalised groups.
Finance Manager
Madeleine is part of the Central Services team with responsibility for financial management, reporting, budgeting and fund management. She is passionate about providing a professional and high-quality finance service.
Madeleine joined Children in Scotland in April 2021. She previously worked in various finance departments within the SME sector.
Madeleine is an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Affiliate member, and she hopes to complete the requirements of full membership within the next 18 months.
Madeleine also acts as a treasurer and board member for a not-for-profit nursery in North Edinburgh. Outside of work she is a keen crafter.
Laura’s varied role includes coordinating Children in Scotland’s recruitment process, maintaining HR records, providing assistance and information to our growing membership base, and administering its records on our database.
This is in addition to the core administrative and reception functions of an extremely busy office.
Laura started volunteering with Children in Scotland in 2012 and worked briefly in Policy and Events before settling full-time with Central Services. She has a degree in English Literature, and coordinates Children in Scotland’s staff book group.
lmckale@childreninscotland.org.uk
Sandra is the Mediation Manager of Scotland’s leading Additional Support Needs mediation service, RESOLVE: ASL, based in Children in Scotland.
Sandra leads on the development, delivery and management of Resolve, and is a member of Children in Scotland’s Leadership Team. She is committed to developing collaborative and supportive relationships to ensure Resolve as a national service brings about positive change for practitioners, families and young people across Scotland.
Sandra is also an experienced mediation supervisor, national course verifier and supports, trains and supervises other mediators. She has produced a range of national ASN resources and co-produced publications such as Communications Matters with the universities of Edinburgh and Manchester.
Sandra qualified as a mediator more than 17 years ago and over the course of her career has mediated hundreds of cases with positive outcomes in family, education, intergenerational and workplace mediations across Scotland. She is a registered mediator with the Scottish Mediation Network and has Certificates in Family Mediation, ASN Mediation and Education Law, Consulting Children in Mediation, and Workplace Mediation.
Mark Patterson
Advice and Information Officer – Enquire
Mark has been an adviser at Enquire since 2018, offering families and professionals advice on children and young people’s rights to support with their education. As well as working on Enquire’s helpline, Mark helps to write and update Enquire’s guides, factsheets and websites to reflect the latest laws and guidance.
Mark has a Scots law degree and he worked in a variety of roles within the Citizens Advice Scotland network prior to joining Enquire. He was the in-court adviser for Edinburgh Sheriff Court and a policy officer for rights and redress issues. He has also worked as a mentor to young people facing challenges with their learning, and was a children’s panel member in Edinburgh for three and a half years.
In his spare time, Mark is a keen swimmer and enjoys trying his hand at new card and board games.
On a part-time basis Alison supports Resolve: ASL’s manager Sandra Mitchell with the delivery and management of the mediation service, organising and co-ordinating mediations and carrying out administration.
Alison joined Children in Scotland in May 2017. She has many years’ experience of project management and administration and has worked in the third sector for more than seven years in variety of roles, as both employee and volunteer.
Lyndsay joined Children in Scotland in October 2021 to manage the Supporting the Third Sector project.
Before joining Children in Scotland, she worked for nine years delivering front line family support to vulnerable families.
Lyndsay was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship in 2017 with a focus on exploring innovative services across America for pregnant and parenting women affected by problematic substance use.
This practitioner research sparked her interest and pursuit to improve service delivery, systems and resources for vulnerable families.
Chris’s role is to monitor policy developments, liaise with partners and elected members, support participation and engagement work, and contribute to wider policy work.
Chris joined Children in Scotland’s policy team in 2017. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Politics from Strathclyde University in 2014 and then completed an MSc in Health Inequalities and Public Policy at the University of Edinburgh, where he focused on the impact of welfare reform on health inequalities.
Chris has worked with adults with additional support needs and with children and young people in an after-school setting.
Monica (they/them) joined Children in Scotland in August 2021 as the Learning & Events Coordinator. They have worked in the events industry for nearly a decade within higher education and are excited to pivot to the third sector. They have a vested interest in intersectionality, equality, and sustainability.
Originally from Oregon, USA, Monica studied cultural & creative entrepreneurship at Goldsmiths College in London, completing their MA in 2011. Using a community-focused approach, they’ve adapted that creative thinking to events logistics.
Outside work, Monica writes novels, dances, and spends as much time outside as the Scottish weather will allow.
Parisa joined Children in Scotland in January 2021 as Policy, Projects and Participation Officer.
Before joining the organisation, she worked at a busy child law centre on projects that help young people experiencing homelessness and those who have left the care system and also worked in their Policy Team. She previously worked in political offices in Holyrood and Westminster carrying out research and casework. These roles allowed her to appreciate the importance of well-informed and beneficial policy in achieving positive change.
Parisa studied Law at Durham University and completed an LLM in General Law at the University of Edinburgh in 2017. Through her pro bono experience as a Volunteer Advocate for parents whose children are involved in the care system, she developed an interest in family law and children’s rights.
In her spare time, she is learning Farsi to communicate with her Iranian family, she enjoys reading and spends a disproportionate amount of time petting dogs.
Chris leads our Communications Team, covering digital, media engagement, marketing and our bimonthly magazine.
Starting his career as a sub-editor at the Scotsman newspaper, Chris has more than 20 years’ experience in journalism, communications and marketing. He has worked previously as Communications Manager at the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, reporter for TESS, publications officer at the University of Edinburgh, and web editor at the Scottish Parliament.
He has also worked extensively as a freelance writer, editor and consultant, and was editor of the culture magazine Product for 11 years.
Chris joined Children in Scotland in November 2014, having been Communications Officer with us from 2005-8.
Cat’s role is creating strong partnerships with organisations working with and supporting children of additional support needs and their families. Cat leads on developing accessible advice and information about Additional Support for Learning and promoting Enquire to parents, carers, professionals, children and young people. Cat’s particular interest is supporting families to work in partnership with schools so children have the support they need to get the most from school.
Since joining Children in Scotland in 2004 Cat has worked on a range of projects about listening to and providing information to families, including the Esmee Fairbairn-funded project Opening Doors to Learning.
Previously Cat worked with the Drugs Misuse Information Strategy Team at Information Services Division Scotland and as a Performance Review Manager at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Dr. Judith Turbyne became Chief Executive of Children in Scotland in August 2021.
She has spent most of her professional life working in and with the charity sector. For much of that time she worked in international development, with charities challenging global poverty and inequality. She worked in Latin America and the Caribbean for many years, in local frontline organisations and with multinational funders, before moving to Dublin to work as the CEO of Progressio Ireland.
Judith returned home to Scotland in 2013 as Head of Engagement with the Scottish Charity Regulator where she has had the pleasure of working with many charities across Scotland. She is currently the Deputy Chair of the Corra Foundation.
Judith has a PhD from the University of Bath which looked at empowerment in development. Aside from her wonderful friends and family, the things that make her most happy are mountains, music, running, cricket and a good book.
Dana joined Children in Scotland in January 2020 and supports a range of projects as part of our Policy, Projects and Participation team.
Prior to joining Children in Scotland, Dana worked with MCR Pathways, supporting projects championing the participation of young people with experience of the care system. She has extensive experience mentoring and working with care experienced young people.
Dana's background is in digital, events and content marketing. She studied History and Communications at university, with a focus on Social History and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree at the University of Glasgow in Policy and Management.
Annie joined the Enquire team at Children in Scotland in 2017. Her role includes making sure that Enquire’s information and advice is accurate and accessible and to oversee the running of the Enquire helpline.
Previously Annie has worked in a range of roles in autism and family support organisations, including at the University of Strathclyde working on the delivery of the Scottish Strategy for Autism and as a manager in an outreach support service for autistic adults.
Jacqueline’s varied role includes day-to-day administrative support for the Enquire service; responsibility for the design and maintenance of Enquire information resources (online and print); service reporting and evaluation; and administrative support to the Enquire Advisory Group.
Jacqueline studied architecture for three years and has an HND in photography.
Amy is part of Children in Scotland’s Leadership Team and heads the organisation’s policy work.
She has overall responsibility for the organisation’s participation and engagement activity with children and young people, has shared responsibility for project development and oversees a portfolio of Children in Scotland projects.
Amy joined Children in Scotland in May 2015. She has a particular interest in children and young people’s mental health, stemming from 16 years working in the mental health sector for a variety of national third sector organisations.
Amy has extensive experience of managing qualitative research, evaluation and development projects at national and local levels. She is a keen supporter of child rights and evidence-informed policymaking and practice.