DAVID ASHURST
Volunteer and Peer Support Lead
David has been working for Parent Network Scotland since October 2023. I have over 20 years of experience in Glasgow’s Third Sector, working with asylum seekers, parents and families and volunteering with Citizen’s Advice. My more immediate background has been helping to develop and deliver therapeutic groupwork for children and young people. Through this, he has been inspired to take on a diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which he hopes will be useful in working with the parents participating in our programmes. Outside of work I enjoy playing tennis, sci-fi and watching as much motorsport as possible!
JENNIFER CALDWELL
Group Facilitator
Jens most important and rewarding role is being a mum to her amazing 4-year-old daughter. She feels incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work with Parent Network Scotland through support from Jobs & Business Glasgow. She enjoy’s being part of the PNS team, where she continues to learn, grow, and support others in their journey. She has completed her facilitator training in the Wellbeing Toolkit and Parenting Matters courses which she now delivers independently. She is passionate about supporting parents and families to feel heard, supported, and empowered. She finds meaning in building connections with others, developing new skills, and helping create positive experiences for families within the community. Outside of work, she love spending quality time with her daughter, her partner and his two girls, making memories with family and friends, getting outdoors for long walks, and keeping fit.
MARGARET ELLIOT
Engagement Worker
Margaret really enjoys her work with Parent Network Scotland, especially networking with other organisations, providing one-to-one support basis and seeing the benefits parents experience from participating in our courses. Partnership working is her passion and she has established strong referral pathways with Enable, Enable Works, Families in Trauma, One Parent Families enabling parents to access a Welfare Rights Officer, employability services, help into further education and volunteering throughout Glasgow. She enjoys meeting parents, and seeing them grow in confidence progression as well as confidence creating happy spaces not just for themselves but for their children and family too.
EMMA FRANCIS
Programme and Policy Lead
Emma is a social worker with 17 years of programme and organisational management experience. She has designed and delivered parenting programmes funded by USAID and Global Fund. She is particularly known for her ability to identify service gaps, design responsive programmes and take programs to scale. In addition to programme design and management she has developed Monitoring and evaluation systems including improvement in CRM functionality to ensure robust reporting at international standards. Much of this data has been used for research purposes to document learning and inform programme design in the sector. Emma is a animal lover and her French Bulldog has occasionally been spotted at the office.
CRISSIE GRANT
Group Facilitator
Crissie’s journey at PNS started nearly 3 years ago when she attended the wellbeing toolkit. Since then she has worked her way through every course in the Parent Academy. She has developed new skills and confidence and is delighted to now be working at PNS as a facilitator. After 14 years of being a stay at home parent to two children, PNS helped her unlock her potential and find a way to do something she is passionate about.
In her spare time she loves reading, crocheting and spending time with family and friends
ALISON HOLMS
Financial Administrator
Alison has 30 years of experience working and supporting the voluntary sector. Bringing a wealth of knowledge to her role as Financial Administrator. Making sure our day-to-day Finances are in good order by maintaining accurate financial records, supporting budgeting and reporting, and ensuring the organisation finances are managed effectively. Alison is fully committed in supporting Parent Network Scotland make a positive impact on our children, parents and families and seeing the difference her work makes to the parents of Scotland. Outside work Alison loves spending time with family and friends, lots of walking and to travel both at home and abroad.
JEN MCALLISTER
Coordinator Glasgow
Jen has two boys 9 and 7 years have worked for Parent Network Scotland for around 3 years.
What most attracted her to PNS was the peer support, being around other parents and being able to share all the joys of parenting, as well as the struggles. When she attended the Parenting Matters course she felt like she had found where she was meant to be. Jen’s passion is in helping parents better understand their families and their own needs, and watching them leave our courses with a smile. Facilitating has given Jen so much confidence and helped her grow as a person. She love starting new projects, meeting new people and helping others start on their PNS journey. In her downtime she loves spending time with family and walking.
GERALDINE O'KANE
Family Engagement Lead
Geraldine O’Kane holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Genetics,underpinning strong analytical capability and evidence-based approach to practice. She is further qualified in Public Health Project Management and has completed CPD training in Mental Health Awareness, reflecting her commitment to informed, socially responsive work. She has a strong interdisciplinary foundation and a commitment to community impact. She has experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives that are both strategic and socially responsive. Furthermore, her background in Product Design and Business Modelling supports innovative programme development and sustainable planning, while her Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Level1) qualification strengthens her communication skills across diverse audiences. In addition, she is experienced in interface management and effectively managing stakeholders’ needs and expectations, ensuring collaborative partnerships, clear communication, and impactful engagement across sectors.
JOHANNA QUINNEY
Coordinator North Scotland
Johanna is our Facilitator up in the Highlands and Moray, where she has lived for 23 years - the same amount of years she's been involved in Parent Network. Having moved to Scotland with three children and overwhelmed with parenting and a new home, she went on her first Parenting Matters course and hasn't looked back, training as a facilitator two years after completing her first course. Johanna now has five children, two are still teenagers and three that have flown the nest. Her passion is to see the potential in all parents, offer a listening ear - and the Parent Network tools. Knowing that the course served her so well, she feels honoured to walk that path alongside other parents and catch the moments when a parent senses a shift in their relationship with their child, and with themselves. She loves travelling, cycling to the beach for a walk, and connecting with friends and family.
