OUR TEAM
At the heart of the Craigsfarm Community Development Project is a dedicated team of staff, trustees, volunteers, and community supporters who work together to create a welcoming and supportive space for everyone.
Leadership
Board of Trustees
Murray Carle
Chair
Michael Rae
Treasurer
Femi Odofin
Secretary
Gina Giubarelli
Trustee
Lenny Huges
Trustee
Neil Sutherland
Trustee
Our Staff
Meet the Team
Programme Lead
Manuela Coletti
Manuela joined Craigsfarm in mid-2021 as we were emerging from the lockdowns of the pandemic. She developed and led the programme of research to inform the development of the Craigsfarm Community Wellbeing and Resilience programme, designed around community engagement and participation. Before joining Craigsfarm, she worked as a consultant in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and Burkina Faso on poverty alleviation programmes — specifically child protection, child labour, community-based domestic violence programming and livelihoods. She has also worked on financial inclusion and the introduction of a No Interest Loan scheme in Ireland. Programmes she has designed have received international awards, and she represented her organisation at the WHO Health 2020 in Turkmenistan. Prior to her consultancy career, Manuela was Programme Director with several international charities across Central Asia, the Caucasus and Africa, and also worked with the Ministry of Justice in Victoria, Australia.
Finance Manager
Arlene McGowan
Arlene joined Craigsfarm as Finance Manager in 2022. Her previous work experience includes 23 years with HSBC bank working in administration, Arlene also set up and organised a weekly children’s club in Winchburgh where she lives, providing a range of after school activities and outings for 5-10 year olds. Arlene has 2 grandchildren and loves spending time with them. In her spare time Arlene enjoys walking her little dog Teddy, listening to music, reading and working in her garden.
Wellbeing Companions
Fixe & Sophie
Fixe and Sophie are two beloved members of Craigsfarm’s Wellbeing and Resilience team. They are friendly, gentle, and non-judgmental, making them ideal companions for anyone who needs a little extra help and support. Fixe and Sophie are an integral part of the team, and their presence has helped many people to feel more relaxed, calm and at ease. They are much-loved members of the programme and their contributions are greatly appreciated.
Link Worker
Janette Cameron
Janette is the Craigsfarm Link Worker. Janette is a qualified Transformational Coach with over a decade of experience working with communities and is passionate about empowering individuals to believe in themselves. With her extensive knowledge and expertise, Janette is dedicated to helping people reach their full potential. She dedicates herself to truly understanding the concerns and needs of those around her and strives to be provide a supportive and empathetic ear to those in need.
Member
Sihah Waris
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Yoga, Dance Coach
Aga Korsak
Aga facilitates our evening Yoga, Polish Yoga, Meditation and Intuitive Dance. Born in Poland.
I have been living in Scotland for 18 years and I love it. Since I was a child, I have always helped others and I have never been indifferent to human suffering. From account’s education. I am very interested in spirituality. I love yoga, hiking, meeting new people and cultures, and generally I’m very interested in people and their behaviour. I finished my HNC in psychology and I’m thinking of going down that road. My adventure with yoga began 6 years ago and had a significant impact on my life.
Nature Theraphy COACH
Cath Wright
Cath runs our Nature Bathing [Shinrin Yoku] courses.
Cath is a qualified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides. After experiencing the practice of Nature and Forest Therapy and realising how positive the effects where on her own mental health, she knew she wanted to train to guide sessions to help people find the benefits she experienced. Cath qualified as a Therapist in 2020.
Lead Counsellor
Suzanne Laidlaw
Suzanne is our Lead Counsellor within our Counselling 4 All programme. Suzanne is passionate about supporting people through life’s challenges. After a career in the environment and business sectors, where she loved helping team members develop, Suzanne realised that helping people on a deeper more personal level was her calling and trained as a person centred counsellor. She now runs her own therapy centre in Lanark.
Suzanne offers a safe, accepting space for our counselling clients to explore, heal, and grow.
Yoga Coach
Shirley Loughlin
Shirley runs our day Yoga and Meditation courses. Shirley was first introduced to yoga at night class in Craigshill High School 50 years ago and has never stopped learning. Twenty years ago, she qualified as a Yogabugs children’s Yoga Teacher and taught in schools and nurseries in West Lothian. Shirley continued to train with the Scottish Yoga Teachers Association (now Yoga Scotland) and Viniyoga (now the AYS). Most recently she graduated from Seasonal Yoga TT. A committed life-long learner, Shirley is now studying Yin Yoga and Myofascial Release.
Lead Janitor
Greg
Greg is the Lead Janitor at the Craigsfarm Community Development Hub, playing a central role in keeping the building safe, clean, and running smoothly. He brings reliability, care, and a strong sense of pride to his work. Greg is also accompanied by his service dog, Neeva, who adds a calm and friendly presence to the Hub. Together, they help create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone who visits.
Janitor
Luke
Luke supports the day‑to‑day upkeep of the Craigsfarm Community Development Hub, ensuring the space is always tidy, safe, and ready for community use. Known for his approachable nature and willingness to help, he contributes greatly to the smooth running and positive atmosphere of the Hub.
Finance Manager
Arlene McGowan
Arlene joined Craigsfarm as Finance Manager in March 2022, bringing with her 23 years of experience working in Finance, Customer Service and Administration with HSBC Bank. She also established and ran a local children’s club for 10 years, reflecting her commitment to supporting her community. In her spare time, Arlene enjoys gardening, walking, reading, and listening to music.
Wellbeing Companions
Fixe & Sophie
Fixe and Sophie are two beloved members of Craigsfarm’s Wellbeing and Resilience team. They are friendly, gentle, and non-judgmental, making them ideal companions for anyone who needs a little extra help and support. Fixe and Sophie are an integral part of the team, and their presence has helped many people to feel more relaxed, calm and at ease. They are much-loved members of the programme and their contributions are greatly appreciated.
Link Worker
Janette Cameron
Janette is the Craigsfarm Link Worker. Janette is a qualified Transformational Coach with over a decade of experience working with communities and is passionate about empowering individuals to believe in themselves. With her extensive knowledge and expertise, Janette is dedicated to helping people reach their full potential. She dedicates herself to truly understanding the concerns and needs of those around her and strives to be provide a supportive and empathetic ear to those in need.
Team Member
Sihah Waris
Sihah Waris is a tech entrepreneur and business leader with 15+ years of experience building startups and leading innovation. Founder of Solugix and Rise Mom, I’ve been recognized among Pakistan’s top female entrepreneurs and named an Exceptional Talent by the UK Home Office. I now continue building impactful tech solutions and supporting inclusive innovation in the UK.
Yoga, Dance Coach
Aga Korsak
Aga facilitates our evening Yoga, Polish Yoga, Meditation and Intuitive Dance. Born in Poland.
I have been living in Scotland for 18 years and I love it. Since I was a child, I have always helped others and I have never been indifferent to human suffering. From account’s education. I am very interested in spirituality. I love yoga, hiking, meeting new people and cultures, and generally I’m very interested in people and their behaviour. I finished my HNC in psychology and I’m thinking of going down that road. My adventure with yoga began 6 years ago and had a significant impact on my life.
Lead Counsellor
Suzanne Laidlaw
Suzanne is our Lead Counsellor within our Counselling 4 All programme. Suzanne is passionate about supporting people through life’s challenges. After a career in the environment and business sectors, where she loved helping team members develop, Suzanne realised that helping people on a deeper more personal level was her calling and trained as a person centred counsellor. She now runs her own therapy centre in Lanark.
Suzanne offers a safe, accepting space for our counselling clients to explore, heal, and grow.
Yoga Coach
Shirley Loughlin
Shirley runs our day Yoga and Meditation courses. Shirley was first introduced to yoga at night class in Craigshill High School 50 years ago and has never stopped learning. Twenty years ago, she qualified as a Yogabugs children’s Yoga Teacher and taught in schools and nurseries in West Lothian. Shirley continued to train with the Scottish Yoga Teachers Association (now Yoga Scotland) and Viniyoga (now the AYS). Most recently she graduated from Seasonal Yoga TT.
Lead Janitor
Greg
Greg is the Lead Janitor at the Craigsfarm Community Development Hub, playing a central role in keeping the building safe, clean, and running smoothly. He brings reliability, care, and a strong sense of pride to his work. Greg is also accompanied by his service dog, Neeva, who adds a calm and friendly presence to the Hub. Together, they help create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone who visits.
Janitor
Luke
Luke supports the day‑to‑day upkeep of the Craigsfarm Community Development Hub, ensuring the space is always tidy, safe, and ready for community use. Known for his approachable nature and willingness to help, he contributes greatly to the smooth running and positive atmosphere of the Hub.
Nature Theraphy COACH
Cath Wright
Cath is a qualified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides. After experiencing the practice of Nature and Forest Therapy and realising how positive the effects where on her own mental health, she knew she wanted to train to guide sessions to help people find the benefits she experienced. Cath qualified as a Therapist in 2020.
Volunteer Counsellor
Grant Christie
Grant is a counsellor in training at Craigsfarm, currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Relational Counselling. Trained in person-centred, psychodynamic, and CBT approaches, he tailors sessions to each client’s needs. With experience across the charity and business sectors in the UK and abroad, Grant offers a supportive, collaborative space for clients to explore challenges, gain clarity, and move forward.
Art Facilitator
Fiona
Fiona is an experienced artist and community art facilitator at Craigsfarm. After studying at Gray’s School of Art and completing an MA in Birmingham, she built a career combining creative practice with community work, including projects for charities and the NHS. Passionate about creativity and wellbeing, Fiona leads welcoming workshops inspired by nature and designed to support confidence, calm, and self-expression.
Trainer/Coach
Monette
Monette is a trainer, a certified life coach and a Co-Director of a training company. For more than 20 years she has been supporting marginalised communities build their resilience and capacities to create lasting change for themselves. Through personal experience she believes that mindfulness can be a powerful tool in self-transformation. Incorporating creativity and movement she aims to take her students to a transformational path to living fully, passionately and at peace with oneself.
Yoga Intsructor
Priya
My yoga journey began in 2009 when I started to experience the benefits that this practice brings to the mind, body and soul, both on the mat, and in day to day life. My yoga teacher encouraged me to expand my learning through a teacher training course that I completed in early August 2024 with the Classical Yoga School in Glasgow. This course was a wonderful experience, not only did it enhance my knowledge and understanding about the philosophy of this ancient practice, but progressed my physical practice also.
Janitor
David
David is the newest janitor at Craigsfarm. Before he joined the Craisgfarm team he was a postie for 22 years. Eleven of those years were spent in Aberdeen and then 11 in Craigshill where he still meets some of his old customers at the Gathering Ground cafe at Craigsfram. David loves live music and helping out at his partners allotment.
Join Our Community
The work of the Craigsfarm Community Development Project is made possible through the commitment of our team, partners, and community members. If you would like to learn more about our programmes, get involved, or access support, we welcome you to connect with us and become part of the Craigsfarm community.