• Meet Our Staff

    • Cheryl Lee Brown
      Chief Executive
      Head Office

      Cheryl Lee Brown

      Chief Executive
      Head Office

      Cheryl helped set up Midlothian Sure Start and is the Chief Executive at Midlothian Sure Start. Cheryl has Honours degrees in Social Work from Rhodes University South Africa, an honours degree in Psychology from the University of South Africa and a Masters in Business Administration from Napier University. She is a 2018 Winston Churchill fellow, researching community based mental health in Australia and the USA. Cheryl started her career in South Africa as a Social worker with the South African National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence and moved to Scotland after travelling around Europe.

    • Ashley Galloway
      Family Learning Manager
      Mayfield & Woodburn Family Learning Centre

      Ashley Galloway

      Family Learning Manager
      Mayfield & Woodburn Family Learning Centre

      Ashley is the registered manager of our Mayfield and Woodburn Family Learning Centres. Ashley has a BA in Childhood Practice training at Edinburgh University and a HNC in Health & Social Care. Ashley started her career in early years working with children with additional support needs, both here in Scotland & Channel Islands. She has worked in both private & voluntary sector organisations.

    • Arab Chaudhry
      Therapies Manager
      Therapeutic Services

      Arab Chaudhry

      Therapies Manager
      Therapeutic Services

      Arab is our Therapeutic Services Lead and also holds a small case load of clinical work. She has a Masters degree in Art Psychotherapy from Queen Margaret University and a number of qualifications in therapeutic approaches including Systemic Family Therapy and Nurture Group Provision. She is currently pursuing accreditation as an EMDR practitioner. Arab has a background in adoption and foster care, the Children’s Hearing System and early years development and education. She helps to deliver a broad menu of therapeutic services to children and families in Midlothian as well as developing group work and providing consultation to schools, social work and other agencies. Arab is also one of our Solihull Approach trainers.

    • Jackie Davidson
      Perinatal Manager
      A Good Start and Trauma Informed Practice

      Jackie Davidson

      Perinatal Manager
      A Good Start and Trauma Informed Practice
      Jackie is currently the Perinatal Manager at Midlothian Sure Start and is a Learning and Development specialist with qualification from the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD).
      In the last few years through delivery of our in-house programme A Good Start, Jackie has completed an Infant Mental Health course provided by Human Development Scotland and an Advanced Infant Mental Health course provided by Warwick University. Jackie previously worked for 17 years with Standard Life Assurance Company, the latter 8 years as Learning & Development Coordinator for the Personal Pensions sub-division.
    • Susan Affleck
      Positive Destinations Manager
      Paradykes & Mount Esk Family Learning Centres

      Susan Affleck

      Positive Destinations Manager
      Paradykes & Mount Esk Family Learning Centres

      Susan is the registered manager of our Paradykes and Mount Esk Family Learning Centres.

    • Kate Downey
      Early Years Manager
      Penicuik & Gorebridge Family Learning Centre

      Kate Downey

      Early Years Manager
      Penicuik & Gorebridge Family Learning Centre

      Kate is the registered manager of our Penicuik and Gorebridge Family Learning Centres. Kate has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, PGD in Play Therapy, PGD in Childhood Practice and a HNC in Childcare and Education. Kate started working in local authority nurseries before moving to Midlothian Sure Start.

    • Claire Young
      Business Support Manager
      Head Office

      Claire Young

      Business Support Manager
      Head Office
    • Sharon Sinclair
      Finance Officer
      Head Office

      Sharon Sinclair

      Finance Officer
      Head Office

      Sharon is currently the Finance Officer at Midlothian Sure Start. Sharon is studying for BA/BSc Open Degree in Business and Management with the Open University. Sharon started her career as a Bookkeeper for local businesses and began as an administrative assistant volunteer with Midlothian Sure Start in 2011. During this time Sharon has also been Treasurer for Mid and East Lothian Drugs who support people affected with alcohol and substance misuse. Sharon is now a permanent member of staff based in the Head Office and has a real passion for supporting the needs of the local community.

    Board Members

    Mark Bradley

    Mark is currently the Dad’s Representative on the Midlothian Sure Start Board. He has been a service user with MSS for approx 4 years along with his grandson and is a proud parent to 3 grown up children as well as also having 3 grandchildren with himself and his wife having the primary care of their oldest grandchild for the last 8 years in the role of Kinship Carers.
    Proud to having been the recipient of the Grandparent of the year award by Parent Network Scotland in 2017 for the support he helps provide through the Dynamic Dads service as well as being an enthusiastic fundraiser for both MSS and the kinship group he is involved with, whilst he also continues to raise awareness of the services MSS provide & of Kinship care.

    Paula Roots MBE

    Paula is a retired social work manager who worked in West Lothian for nearly 40 years. She worked in child care and child protection and later specialised in early intervention, early years, and adoption. She has a Sociology & Social Administration degree with post graduate certificates in Social Work and Child Protection studies. She completed a Masters by Research in 2007 by studying mental health work in schools. Paula managed West Lothian’s Sure Start team for 7 years and her benchmarking partner (and inspiration) was Midlothian Sure Start. She now volunteers with her local church, and at the CrossReach Polmont Prison Visitor hub.

    ‘Just the old lady making cups of tea!’

    Erin Johnston

    Erin is a board member for Penicuik Family Learning Centre. Erin has been attending the centre for four years with her little boy and loves all the staff who helped lift her confidence and also with depression after having her little boy.

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