Katy joined Down’s Syndrome Scotland in 2012, having been a stay-at-home mum to her five children, the middle of whom has Down’s syndrome, completing her masters in Adult Education during this time. Before having children, she worked abroad teaching English as a Foreign Language, then returned to Scotland to work in Waterstones Book Shop and pursue music with her band. She continues to create music and play live which has been a huge help in working and performing with Choir 21.
Katy leads the ABC programme, which she describes as a dream come true as an ABC Tutor for eight years before taking on the Lead role and overseeing the transition of the service to an online model. She particularly enjoys working face to face with babies and toddlers and their families and running face-face Choir 21 sessions and performances.
In her spare time, she enjoys walking, travelling, singing and writing. In 2024 Katy’s first book was published, ‘Matilda in the Middle,’ a musical family memoir which charts her experiences of raising a child with Down’s syndrome into her adult years.
Gaylin has worked in the charity sector for most of her adult life, including working in social care with a homeless charity. She used to run an online art group for several years which has aided skills used for FriendZ Space activities.
Joining Down’s Syndrome Scotland in 2024 Gayle finds she has come to appreciate at heart level how valuable people with Down’s syndrome are to our society and pleased to be a small part of supporting them at DSS.
Outside of DSS she works part time as a counsellor for a bereavement service. Gayle loves to paint and read, as well as hiking and wild swimming in the beautiful Scottish wilds.
Karen Fraser has over 30 years of experience working within social care, mainly supporting adults who have a learning and/or physical disability. Before working at Down’s Syndrome Scotland she was Deputy Manager of a highly regarded supported housing service and day centre.
Alongside her professional work, Karen also has caring responsibilities within her own family, which has deepened understanding and empathy in both her personal and professional life.
Outside of work she spends a lot of time with family and especially enjoy the company of her grandchildren, Honey and Myles. She enjoys catching up with her lovely circle of friends whenever she can. The thrill of watching the DSS garden do so well at RHS Chelsea Flower Show inspired her to enjoying her garden more and more this summer.
Hannah joined Down’s Syndrome Scotland in August 2024 as a TeenZ Space Worker within the Family Support Service. With a background in education, she has worked in schools across Edinburgh and Midlothian, most recently at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.
Hannah takes a person-centred approach in her work, tailoring support to each member’s needs, and is passionate about communication and supporting positive transitions. Having previously studied BSL, she is now learning Makaton, which she incorporates into her sessions to support inclusive engagement.
Outside of work, Hannah was selected to participate in the Young Women Leads programme, developing skills to create meaningful change in the community. An enthusiastic musician, Hannah plays the piano and previously conducted a choir for teenagers. She is also a dedicated crafter and enjoys exploring ways to weave her creativity into her work, helping members engage with their own creativity in an inclusive and accessible way.
Varshali joined Down’s Syndrome Scotland in 2017, following ten years with the National Deaf Children’s Society and previous roles in education both in India and the UK. She now leads on training, professional engagement, and resource development across education and health sectors.
Holding a master’s degree in economics and a postgraduate qualification in Early Years Education, she has contributed to national work on neonatal and healthcare pathways for babies with Down’s syndrome. She also supports inclusive practice in schools through tailored training and resources.
Outside of DSS, she volunteers for SAVE-UK, a charity supporting women and children across SAARC countries. In her own time, Varshali enjoys spending time with her family and dog, Oreo. She is an enthusiastic home cook and loves exploring new cuisines and cultures through travel.
Jo brings extensive experience in events, marketing and communications, having successfully managed international projects for clients such as Harvard Business School and Eurostar. She also spent over 15 years as a senior manager at the renowned Glasgow arts venue Òran Mór, overseeing events, marketing and operations. But what makes Jo’s appointment even more special is that she’s also a mother to a 12-year-old son with Down’s syndrome.
This means Jo understands our work not just professionally but personally. She knows the daily realities the celebrations and the challenges that families in our community face. Combined with her expertise in Corporate Social Responsibility and creating inclusive environments Jo will help us reach even more families and make an even bigger impact.
When she’s not working or volunteering with us Jo loves travelling, attending gigs, cooking, and wild swimming with her family.
Nashwa brings 25 years of experience as a neonatologist with a special focus on child development and neurodisability. For the past 20 years she’s been following the development of children born preterm in Glasgow particularly those with complex health needs.
Her work establishing a neurodevelopmental clinic for children with severe congenital heart disease shows exactly the kind of innovative thinking and compassionate care our community needs. Nashwa has even contributed to national guidelines and teaches on infant mental health programmes at the University of Glasgow.
Her deep understanding of how families navigate complex health journeys will be invaluable as we continue to improve health outcomes for people with Down’s syndrome.
Nitin joins us as a GP principal in Glasgow and Postgraduate Dean at NHS Education for Scotland. What excites us most about Nitin’s appointment is his particular passion for Equality Diversity and Inclusion – something that sits at the heart of everything we do.
His experience overseeing healthcare training across Scotland means he understands the challenges our community faces in getting quality healthcare. Having been awarded Fellowship by the Royal College of General Practitioners and appointed Honorary Professor by the University of Glasgow Nitin brings both clinical excellence and educational leadership to our board.
When he’s not working to improve healthcare you’ll find Nitin hiking cycling or playing badminton (he’s even the Honorary Medical Officer for Badminton Scotland!).
Kirsty has worked with people with learning disabilities for over 20 years in a range of roles, joining Down’s Syndrome Scotland in 2020 following a period of working in supported employment. She holds a postgraduate certificate in Counselling Skills, which informs her approach to support and communication.
During the pandemic, she co-created what became the FriendZ Space programme, and later launched its sister initiative, TeenZ Space, which she continues to run today alongside her work as a Family Support Service Officer. Kirsty’s cousin has Down’s syndrome and is a strong influence on her personal and professional life. Kirsty works part-time for DSS, balancing this with creative practice as a visual artist and live event illustrator.
You can email her at Kirsty@dsscotland.org.uk or call her on 0791 856 6503.
Lauren is one of our Family Support Service officers she covers East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Argyle and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Inverclyde local authority areas.
You can email her at lauren.lockhart@dsscotland.org.uk or call her on 07392 464 000.