PEOPLE KNOW HOW - Key Persons
Adina joined our team as Office Administrator after volunteering with both our Positive Transitions and Reconnect services for over a year. She is responsible for managing key administrative tasks for our office spaces and supporting the wider team. She has a degree in Visual Arts and a passion for contributing to the wellbeing of our community.
Alex manages our spaces, administration and finance processes, overseeing our sites and building internal and external relationships across the four sectors. She has a degree in Sociology and is driven by the values of Public Sociology and social innovation.
Amy manages our volunteers, interns and placement students. She has a degree in Psychology & Sociology and an MSc in Public Sociology, both of which led her to a desire to work in the third sector. She also has experience in community education and outreach work with schools.
Job Titles:
- Digital & Wellbeing Coordinator
Archana supports our digital befrienders to provide digital and wellbeing support. She has previously worked and volunteered with charities in Edinburgh supporting equality and women's empowerment. Her educational background is in Geography & Computing, together with work experience in the Information Technology sector.
Job Titles:
- Youth & Family Coordinator
Becky coordinates group work and one-to-one sessions to support young people. She has a degree in Psychology & Counselling and a working background in autism. She is passionate about supporting young people to achieve and realise their full potential.
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
Bobby is part of our Communication & Digital team. Since graduating with a BA(Hons) in Marketing from RGU he's honed his writing style and fuelled a passion for journalism, photography and music. Having experienced working in a variety of sectors Bobby is excited to bring his unique skillset to a new challenge in the third sector.
Job Titles:
- Communications & Digital Manager
Claudia leads our Communications & Digital team and is passionate about communications, digital and graphic design for social impact. They manage People Know How's communications, marketing, IT, digital and campaigning as well as working as an in-house graphic designer - producing and coordinating asset and content creation, and managing our social media, publications, website, events and IT systems, leading our digital transformation and Connectivity Now campaign. Claudia has an MFA in Graphic Design and a broad portfolio of communications and design for organisations and individuals.
Job Titles:
- Youth & Family Coordinator
Duncan joined the Positive Transitions team in 2022. He has studied Peace and Conflict Studies and Applied Social Sciences at university in Aberdeen and is looking forward to applying his research and what he learned during his studies to this role.
Elaine has a background in digital transformation, supporting people to access public services that are inclusive, well designed and accessible. Elaine brings skills in programme and change management, strategy development and human-centred design. Elaine has experience working with EY as a management consultant, the Scottish Government as Head of the Digital Transformation Service and is now the Director for Operations for Amiqus, one of Scotland's most successful tech for good start-ups - all roles have been focused on helping people to realise their full potential.
Job Titles:
- Digital & Wellbeing Coordinator
Filip joined the Reconnect team in 2022. He previously worked as a Support Worker within communities helping individuals connect with the outside world, especially during the pandemic. Filip has a MA in Philosophy and Social Communication which has strengthened his passion for social change and ethics.
Glenn established People Know How in 2013 having worked and volunteered in the third sector for over 25 years. He is values-driven to support and empower people and communities to thrive and has trained in leadership and counselling with a commitment to continuous learning and development. Glenn's role is to lead and develop People Know How, through our strategy for growth and innovation, ensuring leadership and development opportunities for staff and VIPs. He also works to establish, develop and nurture excellent collaborative relationships with all stakeholders to ensure People Know How continues to deliver the most productive and impactful difference to communities aligned to our vision, mission and values.
Job Titles:
- Positive Transitions Service Manager
Himi manages our Positive Transitions service, supporting young people in the transition from primary to secondary school. She is a social worker with over 12 years of experience, mainly in the children and families sector. She is currently undertaking a Practice Learning qualification.
Karla is a seasoned Marketing professional with more than 20 years of experience within FMCG and Spirits companies across the world. Currently working as Global Marketing Head in Edrington and giving back to society as a Trustee within People Know How since November 2019.
Kayleigh left journalism to work in the third sector after witnessing the impact of inequality and injustice in the UK. Since 2014 she's applied her drive to make a difference through collaborative partnerships, programme development and in winning large grants for charitable causes.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Coach
- Social Worker
Keith is a qualified social worker and coach. He has been a Manager in Children's Social Work since 2004, and is currently the Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager for the City of Edinburgh Council. A trustee since 2019, Keith has a keen interest in governance as well improving outcomes for people.
Kelly supports our management of 525 Ferry Road. She came to People Know How after working as the cleaner in the building for a number of years. As well as having her own small cleaning company, Kelly supports the tenants in the building with any issues and mans the reception desk in the evening.
Job Titles:
- Reconnect Service Manager
Kimberley joined Reconnect in 2020. She has previously worked as an ESL Tutor and within the education management industry, has an MA in Religious Studies and has volunteered for other charities within Edinburgh.
Job Titles:
- Service Manager
- Placido / Positive Transitions Service Manager
Kirsty manages our Positive Transitions service, supporting young people in the transition from primary to secondary school. She has previous experience in project management of children's support services within the third sector. She is passionate about supporting and empowering young people and families.
Job Titles:
- Service Manager
- Placido / Positive Transitions Service Manager
Leah supports our VIP Manager, making sure all of our VIPs are supported throughout their time here at People Know How. She has previously worked in mental health and has a passion for supporting people, and helping them fulfil their potential.
Lisa is our Fundraising Officer. She has over a decade of experience working in the third sector in Scotland, mainly in fundraising roles but also in events, education and community research. She also has experience of working in education, as a Media & Film Studies teacher and in Business Development in the Tech sector. She enjoys building and developing internal and external relationships and working collaboratively and innovatively to achieve our aims. She is passionate about the third sector and making a positive difference within our community.
Natasha is our Youth & Family Intern, supporting the Positive Transitions team across a range of projects with young people. SHe has a BA (Hons) in Psychology and has experience in youth work and educational settings.
Job Titles:
- Student: Action - Research
Neil is a PhD student in the department of social work at the University of Edinburgh. Hailing originally from the north-east of England and now living in the Scottish Borders, for 15 years he worked as a social worker in adult and children's services across Scotland. Together with the team at People Know How Neil is carrying out action-research to help practitioners better understand and respond to the diverse needs of those young people who struggle with their transition from primary to secondary school.
Job Titles:
- Digital & Wellbeing Coordinator
Nicholas joined the Reconnect team in 2022. He has worked in the third sector for his whole career, namely in the areas of Counselling and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. He has a profound faith in the infinite worth of people and is passionate about using his skills, knowledge and experience to help release potential in individuals and organisations.
Job Titles:
- Youth & Family Coordinator
Nicola has a BA (Hons) in Psychology, an MSc in Clinical Health Psychology and experience working as a support assistant in a primary school. She is passionate about building relationships and helping young people feel confident in their transition from primary to secondary school.
Ray initially joined People Know How as a volunteer, supporting our Reconnect service. He has worked for NatWest/Royal Bank of Scotland throughout his career, starting in London and the South East before relocating to Edinburgh for work in 2003. His background is diverse but mostly in Risk Management, specifically Credit Risk, Governance, Regulation and Policy. For 5 years he was an Industry Adviser to the UK Government's Money Advisory Service on Problem Debt. Ray is also a volunteer at Citizens Advice Edinburgh, and at a recently established community hub. He is a keen sports follower, mostly rugby and football, and also enjoys the theatre.
Job Titles:
- Digital Support Technician
Ross first joined People Know How as a volunteer, moving into the Reconnect team and now supporting our internal IT as part of the Communications & Digital team. He has 20+ years of experience in the financial sector but has a passion for all things digital.
Sam coordinates our All Aboard canal boat on the Union Canal and is passionate about all things boats. After completing a degree in Adventure Tourism Management, he worked as a kayak guide, a deckhand, and a tree surgeon. .
Job Titles:
- Youth & Family Coordinator
Scott Pupils Know How, coordinates group work with young people. He studied youth and community work and has an HNC in working with communities. He is passionate about working with people and helping them to grow, learn and fulfil their potential.
Job Titles:
- Development & External Relationship Manager
Tanya leads our Development team. She has over 25 years' experience in Business Development roles, 14 of which have been in the children & family sector in Scotland, working with local authorities and the third sector. She enjoys working as a team, initiating and leading new projects internally and externally, and sharing ideas collaboratively and effectively.
Tina helps with the daily running of financial processes at People Know How. She has previously worked in a variety of finance roles and has a degree in Ecological Science. She enjoys working in the third sector and playing a role in an organisation that makes a positive difference.