Fiona Aitken Scotland Director Expand A qualified speech and language therapist, Fiona has worked with children with disabilities and in residential care before joining Adoption UK Scotland in 2014. Fiona and her husband have two children, a cat and a dog, and are specialist disability short break foster carers. Fiona enjoys singing – both in and out of the office, spending time with friends, and family. [email protected]
Simon Cawthorne Family and Communities Manager Expand A nationwide responsibility to identify, create and maximise opportunities for Adoptive and Kinship young people, families and adults to come together at events, community networks and through volunteering. I work across all projects and services within AUK Scotland as well as being involved with wider, UK projects. I also work part time in another organisation as a Play Ranger, providing outdoor play opportunities. My adopted daughter is now an adult teenager, my son and kinship cared niece are all grown up and, after 14 foster placements, I’ve recently retired as a foster carer. Theoretically this means I should have more spare time. When I do, self-care includes time with the family, Dad’s taxi, Scouting, entertaining our dog and ticking off the Munros - they have to be done! [email protected]
Fiona Dunbar Head of Services, Scotland Expand Fiona joined Adoption UK Scotland in 2014, originally as the volunteer coordinator and now in the role of Adoption Services Manager. She is the parent of three children, as well as being a retired foster carer and kinship carer. [email protected]
Paula Gilhooly Lead Education Advisor, Scotland Expand Paula started work with Adoption UK in September 2019 as a helpline adviser and is now Lead Education Adviser in Scotland. She has worked in different education roles including secondary English teacher, primary class teacher and support for learning teacher. She still teaches in school two days a week. Paula enjoys time spent watching TV with her teenage daughter, drinking tea and eating chocolate! [email protected]
Denise Horn Business Support and Development Manager Expand Denise started with Adoption UK Scotland in July 2019. She lives in Edinburgh with her partner and 2 adopted children. Denise has a background in developing partnerships, project management and marketing working within the public sector and charity sector. You are most likely to find her dog walking, fusing bits of glass or sea swimming when she gets a moment to herself. [email protected]
Pascaline Mollard Kinship Services Manager and Scotland Safeguarding Lead Expand A qualified social worker, Pascaline also qualified as a Family Systemic Practitioner in June 2018. Before joining the Adoption UK Scotland team in August 2019, Pascaline worked in statutory services for over 10 years (both in child protection and a family placement team) and subsequently worked for Scotland’s Adoption Register. Originally from France she moved to Edinburgh in 1999 to study. In her spare time she enjoys skiing, cycling, yoga and trying out new baking recipes to share with her family and friends. [email protected]
Helena Wilson Finance and Office Co-Ordinator Scotland Expand Helena started with Adoption UK Scotland in May 2019. Helena has a background in the legal sector prior to joining AUK. She lives in East Lothian and has one adopted daughter aged 8. Helena volunteers with her local Brownie unit and her hobbies include yoga, swimming and exploring the East Coast of Scotland by foot, bike or car. [email protected]
Gavin Stuart Communications Lead, Scotland Expand Gavin joined Adoption UK Scotland in 2021 following a 15-year career in journalism during which he worked as a reporter and sub-editor at STV, the Herald, and Scottish charity news website Third Force News. A graduate of Glasgow's Cardonald College, Gavin also holds National Council for the Training of Journalists qualifications in news and feature writing, editing, and shorthand. He is a past winner of the Feature Writing category at the annual Write Stuff Scottish Journalism Awards. [email protected]
Carol Hunter Community Engagement Lead Expand Carol joined Adoption UK as Community Engagement Lead for our #EProject, engaging with children and young people as part of our commitment to The Promise. She has previously volunteered with the FASD Hub as an adult with FASD and as an adoptee and also works within the college sector as a full time guidance adviser. She has recently completed her MA Crime and Justice, alongside volunteering with Children’s Hearings Scotland as a panel member within Fife and is a Mum to three young boys. [email protected]
Gemma McAllister FASD Admin Support & FASD Helpline Advisor Expand If you call the helpline, it’s likely that it is Gemma you will speak to first. Gemma is a parent to a 7 year old girl who has a diagnosis of FASD and ADHD. Gemma first joined the team as a parent partner, and since May 2021 has been working as our Admin Support and Helpline Advisor. Before working for FASD Hub she worked as a music therapist for 12 years in schools and hospices. In her spare time she likes to do cross stitch, reading and walking. Gemma graduated from Glasgow University with a BMus in 2004, and completed her MSc in Music Therapy from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh in 2006. [email protected]
Ashley Ryan Volunteer Support Coordinator Expand Ashley started at Adoption UK in August 2023 after working in the sport sector focusing on volunteer management and development at both major and local events. If not spending time with her family, Ashley can usually be found volunteering somewhere, watching movies or enjoying the Scottish countryside. [email protected]