Our Development Workers and Staff
Dawn Brown – Development Worker
Dawn is a local lass, and was brought up in Inverurie, going to Kellands Primary School and then Inverurie Academy. She moved away from Inverurie to go to college in Dundee, but ended up working in catering and hospitality and doing some youth and voluntary work on the side! She moved back to Aberdeen in 1998, and from 2000 onwards was actively involved in local community groups, serving on the board of her local community project. This sparked a passion in Dawn for the importance of front line services, being delivered in ways to meet the needs of the community. Through the community project, Dawn became the voluntary Chairperson of the Great Northern Partnership (Aberdeen’s social inclusion partnership), where she learned more about government policy, and took a keen interest in health and social care. Dawn was fortunate enough to be invited to sit on the boards of The Civic Forum (community engagement for the City Alliance), The Aberdeen City Alliance (community planning partnership) The Joint Alcohol and Drugs Action Team, as well as a range of other boards, and was very active with the Poverty Alliance in Glasgow, being lucky enough to be involved with the European Anti-Poverty Network as well. Dawn was actively involved with developing the “National Standards for Community Engagement” which underpin Dawn’s commitment to putting communities first. Dawn has an interest in funding, and knowledge of self-directed support, having been involved in the Aberdeenshire Council User Reference Group for Self-Directed Support. Home life for Dawn is centred on her school aged son, and a keen interest in the gym and keeping fit, walking, cross stitch and trying to knit – sometimes more knots than knits! A keen movie goer, and an avid reader – whether that’s a government consultation paper, the latest policy document or a good old book, her kindle is never usually too far away. She lives in Insch.
Dawn has just completed her University Course on PG Dip in Community Learning & Development, click on the link to read it here.
Vivien Rae – Assistant Development Worker
Vivien has joined us to provide temporary support from July 2020. A Portsoy quine, Vivien is a marketing & PR professional, providing support to a range of SMEs across multiple industries and is keen to help raise the profile of The Garioch Partnership. She also brings to the role more than 15 years’ experience as a volunteer across a variety of community organisations and events, including Home-Start Deveron, Portsoy Community Enterprise, The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival and Cornhill Highland Games. Vivien is looking forward to working within the Garioch area and meeting (probably virtually for now!) the people who drive our local community organisations.
Administrator/Research Worker
Position Vacant
Our thanks go to the following Development Workers / Administrators for sterling services to The Garioch Partnership:-
Development Worker: Anne Simpson, 2012 – 2016
Administrator/Research Worker: Louise Thorburn, 2016 – 2020
Administrator: Paula Mulvaney, 2016
Administration: Dawn Ranson & Grampian Opportunities