Staff

I have worked in Voluntary Sector for over 20 years and I am passionate about supporting communities to lead the way in resolving issues by listening to people and helping them to develop resources and services to meet the needs of their own community. I love working in the voluntary sector because it has the ability to be flexible and adaptable to meet emerging needs. Through my role within Voluntary Action Shetland I champion the sector to ensure it has a voice at Community Planning and at strategic level to help develop strong partnership working to meet the needs of those in our community

I have lived in Shetland since 2007 and have worked for VAS since then. My work is very varied – I support the development of the third sector in Shetland, making sure their voice is heard and I’m responsible for the day to day VAS management and looking after Market House. When not working I enjoy crafting using recycled textiles to give them a new life. My new passion is open water swimming (or rather floating), it’s so invigorating after a busy day in Market House.

I work with the accounts and payroll for VAS. I also deliver an accounts and payroll service to support charities and community/voluntary groups within Shetland. I am part of the team that complete Independent Examinations for Charities and community/voluntary groups across Shetland. This involves checking over their accounts, their governing document and looking at what charitable activity has taken place over the last year. This is really rewarding work - I enjoy working with and supporting the volunteers involved in making Shetland’s third sector so diverse and vibrant.

I have been involved in Shetland’s vibrant voluntary sector for as long as I can remember, both as a volunteer and also working in the sector for 26 years. I joined Voluntary Action Shetland as a Volunteer Support Worker in 2008 supporting adult volunteers to find a volunteering opportunity and also supporting organisations to recruit and retain volunteers.

In my role as Youth Volunteering Support Worker, I hope to pass on my passion for volunteering to other young people. The great thing about volunteering is that it enables you to try and test things that you are interested in while giving back to others. When I moved to Shetland volunteering was the first thing I did and it opened many doors for me. Shetland has such a wonderful culture of volunteering and I feel like taking part in it has so much to offer for everyone.

I really enjoy taking part in Shetland's great community during and after work and I do this by dancing at the Shetland Community School of Ballet and playing rugby for the Shetland Women's Rugby team.

If you want to find out about setting up or dissolving an organisation, whether to apply for charitable status, or what sort of constitution and legal structure is best for your organisation then chat to me. I also facilitate the Shetland Community Facilities Network and deliver a range of training for committees. Finally I produce the Voluntary and Independent Sector Partnership (VISP) newsletters which keep people up to date on third sector news and funding opportunities.

I’ve worked in the voluntary sector for over 30 years and am on several volunteer committees in Shetland. I love living in Shetland and in my spare time I enjoy dancing, painting, reading and swimming in the sea.

‘I am looking forward to the new opportunity to provide Shetland with a service that has been needed for many families, and what an amazing reward it will be. The last 10 years I worked as a Learning Support Worker. I enjoy being active and have represented Shetland in the badminton on a numerous of occasions for the counties and been to a couple of Island Games.’

I joined the Shetland Befriending scheme on 8^th July 2013 to cover Amanda’s maternity leave for 1 year and guess what….yes…I’m still here!! I worked as the 16+ Development Worker up until April 2021 when I became the Project Co-ordinator. I really enjoy working for the Befriending Scheme and have gained a lot of knowledge about the voluntary sector over the years. It is not a career path that I would have chosen but glad I did.

When I’m not working I enjoy walking, makkin n yakkin, looking after my peerie granddaughter and family time

I have worked for Shetland Befriending Scheme since 2009, following 10 years of being a Primary Teacher. I enjoy meeting all the young people involved with the Scheme, as well as recruiting and training new volunteers to be part of a match. It’s a great feeling to support the community and make a difference to those who need it.

I also have an additional role as Admin Support for Shetland Carers since March 2020. It’s a really interesting and varied role, and I enjoy being part of a service which helps to support unpaid carers in the community.

“I have worked in my role as Additional Support Needs Development Worker with the Shetland Befriending Scheme since 2010 and still enjoy it as much as I did then! I was a volunteer with the scheme before I started my Development Worker role which gave me a good insight into what it takes to be a volunteer. I really enjoy meeting people, delivering training and organising fun group activities.

I also work for Shetland Carers in my role as Children and Families Support Worker. This role involves supporting families who have a child with additional support needs and fits in well with my Befriending role. I enjoy delivering the group work for the service and building up good relationships with the young people, their families and other organisations. “

In my role with the Befriending Scheme I am responsible for matching some of the more isolated and lonely adults in our community with volunteers who can offer them one-to-one support on a regular basis.

I am new to Shetland, but not the voluntary sector! Although I only arrived here in 2021 to take up my role, I have worked in the voluntary sector for the last 30 years.

“I started my role as a Receptionist/Clerical Assistant in November 2021. I really enjoy working at Market House getting to greet clients, helping people with information, the day to day running of reception and being organised. I also work with the Social Media pages & the PVG applications. I love learning about The Third Sector and all it’s varied & wonderful services that are out there for people. In my spare time I love spending time with my friends, family & my cats, reading, walking & watching documentaries”

I have now been working in Reception, here at Voluntary Action Shetland since March 2015. I really enjoy meeting and greeting clients in to Market House.

When not at work I enjoy family time and looking after all my pets. And walking the lovely beaches of Sumburgh.

I am the OPEN Project Coordinator and founder. I am responsible for the overall management, funding and development of the project, involving staff and young people to lead the direction of the project in all aspects.

Providing support, training and personal development plans for peer educators, peer mentors, Emotional Wellbeing and Resilience workers and the OPEN Peer Researchers.

Believing that by providing the right opportunities, based on the skills, interests and ideas of young people they can take a lead in dealing with the issues that they feel are important, getting things done and having a voice in their community.

I’ve been lucky to be part of OPEN since 2011. In my role, I’m mainly responsible for securing funding for the project and providing support and supervision for OPEN’s volunteers. Being part of the OPEN team has given me the opportunity to play an important role in developing and establishing services for young people across Shetland, which I’m passionate about. When not on the Isle engaging with young folk, I love to travel and explore new countries and cultures as often as possible – with camera in hand!

As a Development Worker for OPEN I work directly with volunteers and young people to deliver Peer Education workshops and training locally and nationally.

As the Mentoring Coordinator for OPEN I train and support volunteer Peer Mentors to meet with Mentee’s to guide them to make positive life choices and get them onto a good pathway.

I have volunteered with OPEN since 2016 and started part time as an Emotional Well-being and resilience worker in 2019.

I now work as a Time to Shine (T2S) Leader, I will be exploring how we can turn OPEN into a youth-led independent charity. This will involve carrying out research and setting up a steering group of young people that will lead the way in taking this forward

I started working with the open project (VAS) at the beginning of September 2022 as a peer researcher to develop a vison with young people for children’s services. I have volunteered with the open project for 4 years and have now become successful in getting the opportunity to work as a peer researcher for the project. I am thrilled and delighted to become a part of the team.

I have been volunteering for the OPEN project for over 7 years and have done over 700 hours volunteering with them so was extremely lucky recently to be given the opportunity to work as a peer researcher with the project and keep volunteering. We have a vision to create a space for young people that is welcoming to all, currently we are working on researching with a wide range of ages to achieve this.

I started working at VAS at the end of 2021 with OPEN education. I have volunteered with OPEN through VAS for about 7 years volunteering and I couldn’t be more delighted to now be a member of the team. I was hired to be a peer researcher alongside another college to research if young people need a space of their own and also to clarify what sort of space young people would want to use.