For Diana, from an ambassador

‘It's easy to talk about giving young people opportunities, but there's something quite different about making young people feel that they deserve those opportunities.’ 

Lorelei Munro, Growing2gether ambassador

A celebration of life was held for our founder and CEO, Lady Diana Whitmore, in Findhorn on 25 October, 2026.

These powerful and moving words were written by Lorelei Munro, a graduate of Growing2gether’s programmes, and now a member of our Youth Board, an ambassador and a Young Leader.

When I was first asked to say a few words about Diana, I was unsure where to start. How do you sum up someone who has had such an impact, not just on a charity, but on the lives of so many people?

I think the best place for me to start is with the impact Diana had on my own life, and what Growing2gether has meant to me personally.

I've been involved with Growing2gether for a number of years now. Over that time, I’ve had opportunities and experiences that I genuinely don't think I would have had otherwise. I’ve gone from being a young person involved in projects to becoming a Young Leader, helping facilitate sessions, taking on leadership within our Youth Board, and representing young people today as an ambassador.

Looking back, I couldn't have fully appreciated at the beginning just how much those experiences would shape me as a person. Growing2gether helped me build confidence, believe in myself, and discover things about myself I might never have found otherwise. It gave me opportunities to learn, to lead, and to realise that my voice actually matters.

And I think that says something really important about Diana.

When I first met Diana, the Youth Board was just starting out. My friend Olivia and I had come to the ecovillage [in Findhorn] to meet with the board of trustees and have a look around. That's where we met Diana... One of the things that always stood out to me was that she genuinely listened to young people. Not just hearing what we had to say, but taking a real interest in our opinions, our ideas, and what we thought could be done better.

Lorelei Munro, Growing2gether Youth Board member, ambassador and Young Leader

But it wasn't just about the work we did for the charity. She was interested in us as people. She wanted to know how we were doing personally, what we wanted to do with our lives, and who we were beyond our roles in Growing2gether.

And that always meant a lot to me.

It's easy to talk about giving young people opportunities, but there's something quite different about making young people feel that they deserve those opportunities – that their opinions are worth listening to, and that someone genuinely cares about them and wants good things to happen for them.

Diana did that.

One memory that will always stay with me is going to a drama camp here in the ecovillage, which I was only able to attend because of Growing2gether. After an amazing few days filled with new experiences and new friends, we had a performance at the end of the camp. And Diana was there, sitting in the audience, watching us.

I remember thanking her afterwards, because I knew that without Growing2gether – and without the opportunities Diana helped make possible – I wouldn't have been there. It's a simple memory, but I think about what it represents: an experience I might never have had, memories I might never have made, and an opportunity to grow and gain confidence in ways I never thought possible.

And Diana was there, watching us with a smile.

"For me, Diana helped shape the kind of person I want to be and the kind of difference I want to make for others."

There's something lovely about remembering someone that way. When you think of them, you remember not just what they did, but how they made you feel. For me, Diana is someone I'll always associate with opportunity, encouragement, and the belief that everyone is worth investing in.

I know I'm not the only person who feels that way. Every young person who has been part of Growing2gether will have their own memories and stories about what those experiences meant to them.

Her impact isn't limited to the projects she worked on or the time she spent running the charity. It is carried forward by every person who was lucky enough to meet her.

For me, Diana helped shape the kind of person I want to be and the kind of difference I want to make for others.

That's why, although it's incredibly sad to move forward without her, we have a responsibility to keep doing the things she cared about: to keep listening to young people, to keep giving them opportunities, and to remember that behind every person is an individual with their own potential.

We could never replace Diana, and we shouldn't try to. But we can build on what she created. We can carry forward her values and make sure future young people continue to get the experiences so many of us were fortunate to receive.

Thank you, Diana, for all the opportunities you gave me. Thank you for listening, for caring about who I was, and for helping create something that has meant so much to so many people.

I'll always be grateful that you were part of my life, and I hope that as I continue forward, I can make you proud.

Thank you.