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  • our-ambassadors
  1. About us
  2. Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors

Support in Mind Scotland is proud to have a team of volunteer charity Ambassadors representing us and our work.

The first quartet of Support in Mind Scotland Charity Ambassadors - Scott Hastings, Jenny Hastings, Nicole Ross and Dane Thomson - were appointed in May 2017.

They were joined in April 2018 by Gill Henderson, Gary Little, Marius Pelser and Louisa Thomson, and in April 2019 by Maria Lyle.

Nicole Ross

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Nicole lives and work as a full time estate agent in Glasgow, and has raised funds and campaigned for Support in Mind Scotland since 2017.

She says: "Support in Mind Scotland really does mean a lot to me, I had no connection to the charity prior to the Miss Scotland competition but when I did my research when finding my chosen charity it was the perfect one!

"Due to my own experiences with mental health I knew when I read on the services they provide it was something that is essential to helping others who suffer and their families too. It provides guidance to those who really do need it and for me it just couldn't go unnoticed. I wanted to be a positive connection to the charity hopefully providing some light for anyone in need."

Published: 25th March, 2019

Updated: 3rd April, 2019

Author: Colin Leslie

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Gill Henderson

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Gillian has worked within Lloyds Banking Group for 18 years with various Leadership positions across the Retail and Commercial Businesses.

She was appointed to her current role in December 2017 to develop and support the Mid-Markets & SME businesses operational strategy. Prior to this Gillian was the Commercial Director for Scotland , working across the Scottish Government and industry bodies , supporting the growth of the Scottish economy. Gillian graduated from Abertay University in 1999 with a degree in Tourism.

She says: "After working in a large organisation for over 15 years I am more and more aware of how we need to take care of our mental health within the work place. The way the workplace operates is changing and we need to make sure that we are giving the right level of support and visibility around Mental Health."

Published: 25th March, 2019

Updated: 3rd April, 2019

Author: Colin Leslie

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Maria Lyle

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Inspirational Maria Lyle, 19, is a highly successful Parasport athlete from Dunbar, who competes mainly in the 100m and 200m in the T35 category.

Maria, who has cerebral palsy, has won medals at the Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, and recently won double gold at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai.

Maria, who has been named as the 2019 Evening Times Young Scotswoman of the Year, has been appointed a charity ambassador for Support in Mind Scotland and is supporting our 100 Streets Challenge this year.

Published: 25th March, 2019

Updated: 12th April, 2019

Author: Colin Leslie

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Gary Little

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Gary Little is one of the most consistent and funny acts in Scottish comedy. A proud Glaswegian, Gary is recognised as a master storyteller, and is a regular headliner at many of the top comedy clubs in the UK.

Gary - who has lived experience of mental ill health - became a charity ambassador for Support in Mind Scotland in 2018 and has headlined three comedy nights (two in Glasgow, one in Edinburgh) to raise funds for SiMS.

Read an interview with him here.

Visit his website here: http://www.biggarylittle.co.uk/

Published: 25th March, 2019

Updated: 12th April, 2019

Author: Colin Leslie

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Louisa Thomson

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Louisa (left), pictured launched Support in Mind Scotland's charity tartan with her twin sister Christina, is a Mental Health nurse who lives and works in Fife.

The sisters made history as the first twins to make it to the final of Miss Great Britain in 2017, and Louisa made the most of this opportunity to campaign for Mental Health Awareness.

Published: 25th March, 2019

Updated: 3rd April, 2019

Author: Colin Leslie

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Marius Pelser

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Marius Pelser, a Business Architect who lives and works in Edinburgh, was appointed a charity ambassador in 2018. He has also run and cycled in a series of events, raising thousands of pounds for Support in Mind Scotland.

In 2016, Marius was diagnosed with PTSD and all its related symptoms. He says: "I felt that I would not let this diagnosis get the better of me and looked into ways of managing my symptoms without the need for medication. I found the world of running and quickly became a supporter of the hypothesis, probably more a fact, that there is a very close link between mental and physical exercise.

"Support in Mind Scotland has helped me by being a platform which I can use to profess this, encourage people to improve their mental health and enjoy a healthier life."

Marius blogs about mental health, fundraising, and other things. Visit it here.

Published: 25th March, 2019

Updated: 8th May, 2019

Author: Colin Leslie

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Dane Thomson

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Dane, who has been a great supporter of the charity for several years, is a social media consultant and Managing Director of @ Streets Ahead Social

He says: "Support in Mind Scotland has played a massive part in my life both personally and professionally. Personally, they've helped me manage my mental health through the years. Professionally, I did my first ever Social Media focused placement with them all the way back in 2012/2013. As a result, I fell in love with social media and I'm now running my own consultancy full time."

Published: 25th March, 2019

Updated: 12th April, 2019

Author: Colin Leslie

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Scott and Jenny Hastings

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Scott and Jenny Hastings have been great supporters and ambassadors for Support in Mind Scotland since 2015.

Jenny - a finalist in the 2018 Scottish Charity Awards - says: "Support in Mind Scotland is an organisation that gives hope, raises awareness and reduces stigma towards mental health. They are the founders of the 100 Streets challenge which is bringing people together from all walks of life, helping to show society that physical and mental health are equal."

Rugby legend Scott, who won the Grand Slam with Scotland and represented the British & Irish Lions, says: "Mental health is every bit as important as physical health, and anyone affected by mental illness should be able to seek the help they need without fear of stigma or discrimination. Attitudes are thankfully starting to change through the work of charities such as Support in Mind Scotland."

Published: 3rd April, 2019

Author: Colin Leslie

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About us

Support In Mind Scotland is the operating name of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland), a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland SC088179. Charity Number SC 013649.

Contact us

Information Line: 0300 3231545
Office number: 0131 662 4359
Support in Mind Scotland
6 Newington Business Centre
Dalkeith Road Mews
Edinburgh EH16 5GA
[email protected]

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