my motivation

When I was at school, Section 28 of the Local Government Act prohibited my teachers from ‘promoting homosexuality’. This meant teachers weren’t allowed to discuss even the possibility of same sex relationships and that libraries had to remove all books with lesbian and gay themes. From a young age, I learned that the world around me would have preferred me to be something different to who I was.

Outside of school, my mum worked three insecure jobs to make sure we had food to eat in our high-rise council flat. We used government issue tokens to get seven pints of milk a week and could only get our school uniform from British Home Stores because they were registered with a government scheme.

I served as a member of the Children’s Panel in Scotland for four years and spent a decade in the charity sector - campaigning for change to how people who experience the care system are supported. In that time, I supported hundreds of people to speak to politicians, journalists and public servants about their experiences - while managing a highly functioning, award winning team.

These experiences are why I feel strongly about creating spaces that are sensitive to the shame and judgment that many of us have been made to feel throughout our lives. I think that the most productive spaces are ones where we can be embraced in our entirety, and where new ideas about how we live our lives can be welcomed.

I want us all to feel comfortable enough to dare to be ourselves and talk honestly about what we want from life.

Track record

I’ve spent over 450 hours with people from all walks of life in therapy; worked with national charities to develop inclusive and exciting strategic planning processes; facilitated workshops with students in the West Bank of Palestine and with the First Minister of Scotland in Bute House; supported conversations between board members who are thinking about new ways forward and collaborated with journalists to make sure that the right questions about social change are being asked.

I’m a non-executive board member of two charities in Scotland and help run a community garden in Paisley.

I have spent a month in the United States of America hearing from people who are working hard to bridge social divides. And in 2023, I was part of the Multiplier - a developmental programme made up of community leaders across the UK.

When I worked in the third sector, I managed to change Government policy direction; get investment from funders and bring the mainstream media towards the issue. I also ran successful services, managed award winning teams and supported hundreds of people to harness their lived experience to create change. I was awarded a BEM in the 2021 New Year Honours list for my work with Care Experienced people.