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CARERS of WEST LOTHIAN
Providing Support, Information and a A Voice for Carers in West Lothian
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WHO's WHO IN CARERS OF WEST LOTHIANVolunteers
- Board, Management Committee, Advisors & Other Volunteers
- Board of Directors (Trustees):
- Paul
Weddell (Chair), Barbara McKenzie
(Vice Chair), Hugh
MacRae (Acting Treasurer) and, Lyn Aitken (Company
Secretary)
- Management Committee:
- Paul
Weddell (Chair), Barbara McKenzie
(Vice Chair), Hugh
MacRae (Acting Treasurer) and Lyn Aitken
- Advisors to the Management Committee:
- Cllr Alex Davidson, Anne
Glencourse (Acredale House), Graham Whitelaw
(WLC)
and Doreen Trainor (NHS Lothian)
- Volunteers:
- John Aitken, Val Eaglesham, Molly Hamilton, Ann
Haughie, Yvonne Macdonald, Dave
McGillivray and Ron Raymond
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I have been a carer for about 25 years, my wife suffers from M.S. and
has been in wheelchair for about 16 years and my youngest daughter was
cerebral palsied at birth and needs total care.
As a family we have an excellent care package which, despite my
caring role, allows me to pursue my various interests. I am a
member of the Public Partnership Forum and also chair West Lothian's
Learning Disability forum.
I love sport and music and, amongst other things, I am involved in
running the West Lothian based No Limits sports club for
disabled children and young people.
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Barbara was
appointed Vice Chair in June 2006. She has experience of
working for Education, the NHS, the Voluntary Sector and for Local
Government:- trained and worked originally as a biology and science
teacher, later, following break to bring up family, worked in
occupational therapy and nursing departments of a large psychiatric
hospital then worked for some years as a principal development
officer for the vocational rehabilitation section of a national
mental health voluntary organisation.
Latterly worked for West Lothian
Council as a development officer with Community Services, where one
of her responsibilities was to provide support and advice to Carers
of West Lothian. In this capacity Barbara has been closely
involved with the organisation since its early days of meeting in
people's houses.
Now retired, her time is partly spent
walking dogs, gardening and helping her elderly mother.
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I was born and brought up in a poor area of Leith around the time of
the Second World War. I was the only member of my family to go to
university and, on graduating, I took a teaching post in Edinburgh. In
1963, I went overseas with my young family where I spent the next
twenty-odd years on a variety of educational projects in Third World
countries, mainly working with the British Council. On returning to
Scotland I continued to teach until my retirement when I moved with my
wife to West Lothian.
Since my childhood I have been involved with caring in one form of
another, and I remain particularly concerned with issues involving
vulnerable adults. I am a representative from West Lothian to the
Scottish Older Persons Advisory Group and a delegate to the UK Group
where, under the umbrella of Better Government for Older People, I am
able to raise these and other concerns about ageing on a national
level.
I hope to get involved with the work of West Lothian Carers in
whatever capacity I can make use of my time, skills and experience.
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Advisors:
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Volunteers:
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John Aitken
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John Aitken became Treasurer of Carers
of West Lothian in 1999 and helped to restructure financial
systems and the accounts to meet the growing needs of the
organisation until 2006. He helped with incorporation as a Company
Limited by Guarantee and was Company
Secretary from 2003 to 2007. He served on the Management Committee,
Policy (as chair), Publicity & Publications and IT
Sub-Committees and now supports the website and database
applications.
John takes an active part in the Linlithgow Union Canal Society. He runs a
small Internet services company and was formerly treasurer of the ARK Housing Linlithgow Project Committee.
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Val Eaglesham
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Being a carer myself, I understand how lonely that position can
sometimes be. Now that things are a bit easier for me, I felt I
would like to become involved with an organisation which really cares
for carers, and in so many practical and emotional ways. I know
from experience how much a phone call means - "How are you
doing?" - just a short chat and it can help a carer feel like a
"real person" again.
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Molly Hamilton
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I retired eight years ago from the civil service after twenty-two
years. At this time I had intended to do some part time work,
however I was unable to take on another job as my mother was diagnosed
as having dementia. I became my mother's carer for approximately
five years. As her condition worsened she eventually had to go
into residential care. I was not aware of Carers of West Lothian
until after my mother went into care and I am very happy to be
involved in this kind of volunteer work. So far I have helped with
administration work at the Strathbroch Centre and have also visited
Linlithgow Health Centre as part of the Outreach team. I am
looking forward to speaking to carers across West Lothian and offering
them the services Carers of West Lothian provides.
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| Ann Haughie
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I worked for Carers of West Lothian as a part-time Outreach Support Worker
from April 2004 until February 2006, after an earlier period as a volunteer.
Before that, I worked for 14 years in West Lothian initially as
divisional co-ordinator for Under Fives. I am a qualified
Social Worker and gained experience with a variety of client groups
with several different local authorities within Scotland and
England.
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Yvonne Macdonald
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At the end of August 2005 I joined Carers of West Lothian as a
volunteer and straight away I have enjoyed being involved in an Office
Away Day, the Newsletter distribution, a training course and database
input. I have three children and care for my thirteen year old
daughter who has Down's Syndrome. My mother has had multiple sclerosis
for thirty years, and while my father has been the main carer, I am
aware of many of the issues surrounding caring in this situation. My
family commitments mean that employment needs to be flexible and
volunteering seems to fit the bill. Over the years I have been
extremely grateful to the many volunteers who have helped out my
family and I hope that I can use my caring experience, as well as my
pre-family office experience to help other carers in West Lothian.
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Dave McGillivray
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Ron Raymond
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Born in 1936. My passion has been the Royal Navy, which I first joined
after leaving school. I completed three years boy's service and nine
years man service, the latter seven years being in the submarine
service, in communications. After the Royal Navy I completed nearly
twelve years as a prison officer at Winchester in Hampshire, leaving
to bring my wife and family back to Scotland. I then worked as a
quality controller and in management. My last twelve years before
retiring at 60 was spent working for the Bank of Scotland. One of my
interests is the submariners association and has been for eleven
years, I have been on the committee and served twice as chairman,
which I still am. I have spent seven years since my retirement as a
full-time carer for my wife. After her loss I wanted something else to
do to help close the void in my life and decided to look into
volunteering with Carers of West Lothian who I joined in November
2004. I enjoy very much the variety of work with them and of course
the company.
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