About the Network

Learn more about Befriending Network Scotland, including staff, board and annual reports:

Staff & Board

Staff

Board of Directors

Rosemary Cameron

Rosemary is Manager of the Carers Befriending Project in Falkirk working with carers from the age of 6 upwards. Prior to this Rosemary set up and managed a befriending project for adults with physical and learning disabilities in a Social Work Department covering the whole of Central Scotland. Rosemary has been on the Board since October 2003 and held the position of Chair for her first three years of service.

Sheila Campbell

Sheila has been the Co-ordinator of Befrienders (formerly Argyll and Bute Children's Befriending Scheme) based in Lochgilphead since its inception in April 1989. Prior to that, Sheila worked as a Senior Social Worker and as a Senior Groupworker in Lanarkshire before managing a joint education/social work project in the Priesthill area of Glasgow. She has been a volunteer with the Six Circle Group for many years. Sheila has been on the Board since October 2003.

Jim Leary

Jim is a Senior Development Officer with the Volunteer Centre, South Lanarkshire (SoLVE). He worked initially as Volunteer Co-ordinator with the South Lanarkshire Rough Sleepers Initiative and set up the Jubilee Key Scheme (JKS) Befriending Project which developed into the SoLVE Befriending Project in January 2003. Since June 2003, Jim has been running SoLVE's Access Project for people with substance misuse issues, using befriending, and mentoring, to enable service users to access volunteering opportunities and ultimately, paid employment. He is currently overseeing the Healthy Valleys Befriending Project in the Clydesdale area of South Lanarkshire and has been on the Board since October 2003.

Andrew Findlay

Andrew practised as a solicitor before joining the voluntary sector as Interest Link Berwickshire's first co-ordinator in 1996. The project has now been replicated Borders-wide and Andrew is now responsible for managing staff, project planning and securing funding for Interest Link Borders which supports over 100 adults with learning disabilities. The project has also developed the Buddies project where people with learning disabilities attend day and evening classes with volunteers. Andrew is also Treasurer of the Borders Forum of CVS. Andrew joined the Board in 2004.

Christi Guest

Christi set up an emergency befriending service in London and is currently involved in firsthand's befriending scheme in Edinburgh as the Volunteer Services Manager. The project supports one parent families, families affected by disability and young disabled people. Christi has experience of fundraising and providing advice and training to management committees. Christi joined the Board in 2006.

Melanie Lambert

Melanie is co-ordinator of the BefriendER project, a service for socially-isolated older people & people with additional support needs in East Renfrewshire. Melanie was appointed in October 2003 to set up and develop the older people's project and latterly has developed a new Supported Volunteering Service which provides buddies to help people with support needs access volunteering opportunities. Melanie joined the Board in 2004.

Neil Mathers

Neil is Services Manager with CHILDREN 1ST bfriends Service. bfriends has been operating in Edinburgh for over 20 years, providing support and friendship to children who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Prior to working with CHILDREN 1ST, Neil was Programme Co-ordinator for a community-based HIV/AIDS organisation in Tanzania, and has worked for a variety of youth organisations in Edinburgh and Dundee. Neil joined the Board in 2005.

Jim Hamilton (Treasurer)

Jim has been the Assistant Director of Finance at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde for seventeen years with responsibility for Corporate Financial Reporting and Planning. In addition he is Chair of the Institute of Counselling, a charity which provides distance learning in counselling skills. He has recently been appointed to the Finance Committee of Langside College in Glasgow. Jim joined the Board in March 2007 continuing a link with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde which has provided Treasurers for BNS since 2001.