About us

Diabetes UK Scotland is dedicated to putting the interests of people with diabetes first, through the best in campaigning, research and care.

Diabetes UK Scotland has an enthusiastic team of staff and volunteers who carry out our work in Scotland. Here are some of our staff who are here to help you.

Jane-Claire joined Diabetes UK Scotland in 2008 and leads our work in Scotland. Previously she held posts at the Scottish Funding Councils, NUS Scotland and was previously the Corporate Policy Manager for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.  She is particularly focused on making sure the voice of people living with diabetes is heard at all levels in Scotland, supporting our volunteers, and working with the NHS to support better diabetes care.

Sumera joined Diabetes UK in January 2012 and is the Community Development worker for the Diabetes and Me Project. She engages directly with the South Asian communities in Glasgow, raising awareness and promoting self management of diabetes. Sumera also recruits and supports volunteers for the project.

Prior to joining Diabetes UK, Sumera worked as a outreach and community engagement worker for BME health charities in Glasgow.

Her previous employment included working for Local Authorities as Event and Supporter Development Manager and she has worked on a freelance basis for clients including Visit Scotland and Unique Events managing festivals and events.
 

Cheryl started as Office Manager in 2010 after previously working as the Director’s PA and Event’s Organiser. She previously worked for North Lanarkshire Council as a Senior Clerical Assistant.

Stephen co-ordinates all Diabetes UK Scotland’s communications including working with newspapers, radio and television and produces our Connect Newsletter and keeps our website, and social media up to date. He also analyses statistics and has a key role in our external public affairs work.  He is the key contact for our Insulin Pumps campaign and coordinated the recent Chat Click Call Pharmacy Campaign. Stephen joined Diabetes UK Scotland in 2004 to work in Volunteer Development before taking on the media role in 2007.

Helen Grant - Administration Assistant
Helen started working with Diabetes UK in 2012, supporting the whole Scotland team with administration tasks. Just after joining the team she took part in one of our famous zip-slides from the top of the X-Scape building at Braehead.

Allan Kirkwood – Volunteer Development Officer
Allan works to support all our volunteers and voluntary groups. He also co-ordinates volunteer support at our many roadshows.  He is responsible for organising the volunteer conference and award’s events.

Sara has been in the role of Fundraising Manager since 2005, she is responsible for all areas of fundraising including, organising events, supporting fundraisers and looking at all areas of funding available.

Linda McGlynn - Health Engagement Manager

Alan McGinley – Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Alan has been with us for over 10 years and works to make sure the Scottish Government, Politicians and the NHS have the right policies in place and are aware of the needs of people living with diabetes in Scotland.

Elaine Millar - Peer Support Project Development Coordinator
The Peer Support Project covers three health authorities – Ayrshire and Arran, Fife and Greater Glasgow and Clyde. People newly diagnosed with diabetes are matched with specially trained volunteers who can tell them about how they cope with the illness and signpost them to other services. Elaine joined Diabetes UK in June 2012 and previously worked in Community Development.

Elaine Paul - National Fundraising Administrator
Elaine joined Diabetes UK first as a volunteer and then as a member of staff in 2013. She works to support the fundraisers taking part in events. Outside the office she is learning to play the cello.

Rupert Pigot - External Engagement Manager
Rupert joined Diabetes UK Scotland in 2013 to make clear to the Scottish Government and MSP’s how they can ensure that services are good for people. He is also coordinating our campaigns on specifics such as the 15 Healthcare Essentials and the provision of services for children. Prior to working at Diabetes UK Scotland Rupert worked for a co-operatives consultancy and undertook research for the Scottish Parliament.

Prajapa Seneviratne - Project Co-ordinator
Prajapa joined in January 2012 and co-ordinates the Diabetes and Me project that focuses on the South Asian Communities in Glasgow. She is responsible for all areas of the project, including organising events, supporting volunteers, networking with other organisations, ensuring visibility and developing new information resources for the community.

Prior to joining us she was the Fundraising Co-ordinator at Practical Action South Asia, Programme Assistant at UNHCR Sri Lanka, and Administration Assistant at the United Nations Volunteer Development Programme, Sri Lanka. 

Morag Ramsay - Careline
Morag has been part of the Careline team since August 2007. Her role involves providing information and support to people with diabetes and their friends, family and carers who contact the Careline Scotland helpline.

Laura Sharpe - Young People's Network

Honor Shaw - Volunteer Development Support Assistant
Honor has been involved in Diabetes Voluntary Support Groups for 18 years.  During this time she was the chairperson of the Glasgow Area Family Support Group and helped organise family weekends, monthly support meetings for all the family, fundraising activities and quarterly newsletters.  For the past 6 years she was the Voluntary Area Liaison Co-ordinator and offered support to various groups (adult and family) throughout Glasgow and the West of Scotland.  As a volunteer she was also involved as the patient rep on Sign 55 guideline and as a patient representative on Lanarkshire Health Authority MCN.  She previously worked with Strathclyde Regional Council and East Dunbartonshire Council Social Work Departments as an Admin Assistant for 19 years.

Sarah Ward – Project Development Manager
Sarah started with us in November 2010, in a new role for the organisation.  Sarah is responsible for managing and developing the portfolio of projects in Scotland, as well as making sure our projects involve volunteers and people with diabetes every step of the way.  Current projects include Choices (see Sheila’s role), Diabetes and Me (for the South Asian community in Glasgow), Diabetes Voices, Making Connections and the innovative partnership with Edinburgh International Science Festival which will take workshops to schools to explain the science behind a healthy lifestyle.

Prior to starting at Diabetes UK, Sarah was a volunteer Project Advisor with VSO at a mental health charity in Sri Lanka, and previous to that held project management roles at NHS Education for Scotland and Edinburgh Napier University.

Susan Williamson - Fundraising Officer