Meet the Team
Our Operations team:
chief executive officer - Beth Davidson
Beth started working at Feeling Strong in May 2023. Beth’s skills, knowledge and experience benefit from a combination of work across the education and charitable sector. She trained as a teacher in inclusion for children and young people with additional support needs, before being awarded a scholarship to study MSc Inclusive Education at The University of Edinburgh. Beth has supported children and young people in different settings and organisations, working within person-centred and corporate teams across the UK. She is incredibly passionate about supporting, and championing, children and young people by providing experiences and opportunities that are safe, friendly, inclusive and accessible to enable others to feel comfortable and confident in telling their story.
recovery & support coordinator - conor Mcconville
Conor is a recent graduate of contemporary art and has worked with art based recovery projects for the past two years. He has a background in painting, photography and filmmaking. He finds the therapeutic benefits of art incredible inspiring both in his personal work and the work of others. He believes art can help a person unpack their emotions and help form strong foundations in their own recovery.
peer listening & RESOURCES officer - Errin Mathieson
Errin has been a volunteer with Feeling Strong since March 2019 and is currently studying Community Education at the University of Dundee. Errin has been passionate about promoting positive mental health and wellbeing awareness ever since she realised there was a gap in Dundee’s mental health services, and believes that Feeling Strong can make a long-lasting, positive impact on the Dundee community.
Community & learning corrdinator - Louise lumsden
Louise is a final year Psychology Student at Abertay University who has previously completed a 3 month placement with the organization. From this she has developed valuable knowledge and experience of the current issues facing young people and the ways these can be supported. She is passionate about taking steps to improve youth mental health and wellbeing and helping young people to reach their full potential. She believes that support from organizations such as Feeling Strong can provide young people with the tools they need to promote positive steps in recovery.
CAMPAIGNS & CONTENT corrdinator - CAITLYN BANNATYNE
Caitlyn graduated from Abertay University with BA Hons in Computer Arts with a background in illustration, comics and printmaking. Caitlyn was a member of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge Advisory Group in 2016 and started working with young people by chairing the Youth Advisory Group for the same project in 2017. She worked with the Abertay University Student's Association on developing a mental health charter in partnership with the university and in the last year interned at V&A Dundee working with media and marketing. Caitlyn has experienced mental health services in Glasgow and Dundee and is passionate about championing safe spaces with creative practices supporting positive mental health and wellbeing.
our TRUSTEE TEAM:
Feeling Strong is governed by a 6-member Trustee Board who meet 6 times a year to oversee the work of the organisation, develop our strategy and ensure that we are compliant with the relevant legislation and regulations. The board also support the CEO in carrying out the work of the charity.
A copy of our governing document is available upon request, just email contact@feelingstrong.co.uk.
Co-chair - hannah paterson
Hannah has a Scots and English Dual-Qualifying Law Degree and has completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. She first saw the positive impact of the Third sector when volunteering for the Wave Project and teaching surfing to young people. She then spent a year working for the Isolation Welfare Follow-up Team for the NHS Test and Trace Programme where she addressed patient’s mental health and welfare concerns, providing them with guidance and pathways for support. Hannah has seen first-hand the importance of reaching out and offering support to those who need it. In these roles, she has experienced the frustration of many young people who want to see a change but are unsure how to make it happen. She is determined to use her experience and legal background to assist Feeling Strong in making sure that young people are given a platform to express their concerns and become leaders of change within the community.
CO-CHAIR - Gabriel calvert
Gabriel currently works as a project coordinator for Making Dundee Home, supporting vulnerable adults across the city. He has an MA in International Relations and Politics from the University of Dundee and is involved with a number of other third sector organisations such as Amnesty International. He is keen to bring this experience to Feeling Strong and hopes to see real change in the lives of young people and in the support that is available to them.
TReasurer - SCOTT FERGUSON
Scott is a Project Management professional, specialising in Project Controls, with a focus on planning, scheduling, and cost & budget control. He possesses experience delivering largescale capital projects & programmes, spanning a number of industries & sectors. Scott is a strong advocate for the promotion of wellbeing, both physical & mental, and has held positions as a behavioural safety trainer and wellbeing officer within industry. He is passionately keen to draw on his experience to assist & empower Feeling Strong to provide the best platform possible to safely & effectively support young people of all needs & backgrounds to thrive.
TRUSTEE - JOELY NICOL
Joely is a trainee Cognitive Behaviour Therapist working at the University of St Andrews within the Student Services team. She is a graduate of the University of Dundee, where she was a sabbatical officer and trustee focusing on wellbeing and mental health campaigns. She is passionate about supporting young people thrive and to meet their full potential in any environment.
TRUSTEE - EMMA GORDON
Emma came to Scotland over a decade ago for university and has since made Dundee her home. Her background is in public health, and she is particularly interested in all aspects of mental health from prevention to crisis work. Although in her current role she supports charities within the third sector, she has worked with young people in the past, particularly talking about substance use, relationships and sexual health. She has particular focus and experience with young people with additional support needs and wants to ensure that people have access to the support that suits them and not just what works for the majority.