Welcome to the trustees
Pamela Mclaughlin Founder and Chair
Pamela qualified to work with children and families in 2000, she has develop her career and personal development and has completed training such as Applied Suicide Intervention Training, Alcohol intervention training, Level 2 certificate in counselling skills and Naloxone training. Pamela continued her career and completed her Degree BA in Social work in 2011. Since them Pamela has worked with Substance use, Mental health and homelessness in the community. She has developed relationships with many services in Dundee and has managed very successful projects to tackle poverty in Dundee. She has secured funding for projects for many years and has good relationships with funders. She has completed training in the Benefit system and has worked for the TSI in Dundee to provide community and advocacy support for Dundee through Substance use, mental health, benefits and Advocacy and plans to being her experience and knowledge of the sector and community work to assist this project moving forward.
Ross Middlemiss Vice Chair
Ross currently works as the Cash First Coordinator with Faith in Community Dundee. Funded by the Trussell Trust, Ross is developing and implementing a Cash First approach within Dundee as a means to tackle food insecurity with an aim to reduce the need for foodbanks, in line with the Scottish Government’s recently published Cash First strategy. Ross previously worked in the Lochee community for seven years, primarily within Lochee Community Hub as Community Development Worker and latterly as the Hub Co-Ordinator. He has also previously had spells as a Youth Worker with Hot Chocolate Trust and an Assistant Officer with HMRC for 7 years. He has a passion for social justice and helping those with a history of substance use, poor mental health and food poverty.
Roisin Smith
Roisin’s career has always been very people focused, from a long career in the banking industry in a variety of roles, through third sector work to her elected role as a SNP Councillor. She has always maintained a focus on helping people, whether that be to resolve issues or to improve services including access to those services. She have a wealth of professional and personal experience in navigating various government systems due to my caring role and this gives a unique insight to the many facets of society. She has a keen interest in supporting people and this has led her back to university after a 30 year break to study psychology and counselling. A decision designed to enhance her natural and developed skill set with a view to growing her understanding of why we all behave the way we do, how this can be influenced, and how we can work together towards a more equal society.
Tracy Garty
Tracy qualified in 2008 as a registered mental health nurse, she started her career in Murry Royal working with acute mental health during the mentor ship programme. From then she moved on the Dundee Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service working with substance use and mental health and realised this was her passion. Tracy moved to experience new support with Huntington’s and brain injury. She then moved back to work with substance use and worked with Positive steps, and developed the non fatal overdose pathway working with over 400 people. Tracy has completed naloxone trainer for trainer so is able to train other people. She is Trauma informed practice trained and a mental health first aider and has completed suicide awareness. She has also completed Reports for funders to develop the Non fatal overdose pathway and has walked the west Highland way for mental health charities. She looks forward to using these skills within her role.
Steve Conacher
Steve has worked for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for 38 years in various roles, please see below. Advisor: Dealing with members of public from various backgrounds, giving advice on benefit entitlement, job search and sign posting to other departments as required. Over the years Steve has built up contacts and knowledge to assist clients in particular those who are vulnerable. Union: Steve has been Branch Secretary of Tayside branch of PCS for 25 years. This involved negotiation with senior management and problem solving for staff over 8 Tayside Job Centres. Health & Safety: Over 30 years Senior Tayside Branch Rep for Health and Safety involving conducting risk assessments covering basic desk risk assessments for staff up to full office risk assessments ensuring the environment was suitable and safe for workers. Instrumental in setting and completing safe working environments during Covid. Scottish Benevolent Fund: Steve has been a committee member for 30 years for this staff charity covering DWP staff in Scotland. Part of committee making financial decisions to provide support to staff who were in financial need due to hardship normally due to unforeseen domestic changes. For the last 6 years Steve has been the treasurer of this committee a role which involved making timeous payments once approved by committee. Responsible for maintaining accounts and providing monthly statements to committee and preparing end of year accounts for Oscar. During this role Steve has developed contacts out with the main one being Step Change which provides financial advice and contacts for those in debt. Having recently retired Steve is in a position to give his time and experience to this project.
