Welcome to our new look! Read the story behind it.
Meet the Team
Diana Whitmore, Founder & Co-CEO
Diana, M.A. Education, is a psychosynthesis (positive and transpersonal psychology) practitioner, who designs and delivers professional training in the fields of youth work, business coaching, psychotherapy and counselling. She is accredited by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and as a senior supervisor by the British Association for Counselling and Therapy. She has worked with young people for over 20 years and has founded three charities over a 35-year period. Diana was Director, Scotland, for Ecologia Youth Trust and set up the Growing2gether programme in Scotland in 2016. She is the author of two books, Psychosynthesis in Education: A Guide to the Joy of Learning and Psychosynthesis Counselling in Action.
Gavin Morgan, Co-CEO
Gavin (PGDip CLD/BA Business) has over 25 years’ experience across public, private and third-sector organisations, and currently sits as vice chair on the CLD Standards Council Registration Committee. He is passionate about community, learning and development and has extensive experience working with children, young people and adults across a variety of settings. He spent six years in a national role for Who Cares? Scotland and over eight years within the CLD Youth Team at Moray Council. He is a trained Rites of Passage Guide with the School of Lost Borders in California and, when not immersed in community development, you may find him out on his Canadian canoe, wild camping, playing his guitar or enjoying a board game with his wife and children.
gavin.morgan@growing2gether.org.uk
Elaine Bennett
Director of Fundraising
Elaine, B.A. (Hons), has over 35 years’ charity and commercial experience, including fundraising, PR and communications. Key roles include Director of Fundraising at the Prostate Cancer Charity and Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, and Head of Corporate and Trusts at the British Red Cross.
Elaine is passionate about raising funds and awareness to help more young people overcome childhood challenges and poverty. She believes that by building their mental health and life skills, together we can give young people a fair chance to become who they were destined to be. She is an avid animal lover and enjoys horse riding in the countryside.
fundraising@growing2gether.org.uk
Ursula Gebicke
Programmes & Development Manager
Ursula has been a full-time Lead Facilitator for Growing2gether since 2017. After completing a Social Pedagogy degree in Germany, she moved to Scotland in 1991. She gained extensive experience in residential Social Work and Nurture Group settings, favouring a therapeutic and holistic approach. Key roles include Assistant Principal at Raddery School and Childrens Services Worker for the Highland Council. She is very interested in languages and enjoys making music and spending time outdoors.
ursula.gebicke@growing2gether.org.uk
Aileen Mackay
Community Programme & Partnerships Manager
Aileen has a number of tools in her belt, such as B Ed (Merit in Teaching), Standard Qualification in Headship, Post Grad GIRFEC and a coaching for life qualification. With over 30 years in education, her passion remains with inclusion, empowering others and strengthening relationships. She believes creativity in its widest form and that an understanding of belonging is at the heart of every one of us. She wants every young person to have the opportunity to strive.
aileen.mackay@growing2gether.org.uk
Mike Evans, Finance Manager
Mike is a proud member of The Institute Of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. He has worked throughout Scotland and beyond in a variety of businesses and industries, including NHS Highland and Firth Of Cromarty Port Authority as non-executive director and as financial director for a multinational electronics company. After settling in the Highlands, he ran an accounting consultancy from
2003 to 2017.
Mike was born in Montreal Canada to an English father and
Scottish mother, so considers himself to be fairly cosmopolitan, or confused. As a Christian he seeks to make a positive difference to his community. Outside work Mike can be found chilling with his family in the garden, on the golf links or cheering on his football passions. He now also runs his own travel business, where he aims to to send people on memory-making dream holidays and to come back delighted.
mike.evans@growing2gether.org.uk
Kirsty Humphrey
Research Health Psychologist
Kirsty has over 20 years’ experience in research and holds a BSc (Hons) and an MSc in Health Psychology. She developed the evaluation methodology for Growing2gether and leads the analysis of project outcomes. Kirsty also works at Queen Mary’s University (behaviour modification in weight management), bringing academic and applied expertise together in her work. Her previous posts include Research Fellow at the University of Surrey, Research Health Psychologist at the Woolfson Institute for Preventative Medicine, and Director of Research at Teens and Toddlers. She has published several research papers and has a strong track record of translating evidence into real-world interventions. Kirsty has also delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has a particular interest in mental health and behaviour change. She has worked with Growing2gether since the project was founded in 2017.
kirsty.humphrey@growing2gether.org.uk
Adelle Horler, Operations Officer
Adelle is a workshop facilitator and a media professional. After many years in traditional journalism she shifted to content marketing – using content creatively to offer value and bring people closer to purpose. She spent 10 years as Content Director at an internationally awarded content marketing agency, working across all sectors, including health, food, communications, wealth, motoring and retail. Originally from Cape Town in South Africa, she moved to Findhorn in Scotland to work in Marketing and Education for the Findhorn Foundation, holding retreats and workshops in this renowned intentional community.
dell.horler@growing2gether.org.uk
Lizzi Pearce, Administrator
Lizzi's business studies and background ensures she keeps all aspects of Growing2gether running smoothly and efficiently. Her passion is singing – she's done various gigs, including singing her own compositions in the Universal Hall in Findhorn. Aside from singing, she loves to cook, to walk along the beach. 'Life is a rich tapestry and I hope to add a stitch or two to Growing2gether.'
Our Facilitators
Marit Beije, Lead Facilitator
Marit was born and raised in the Netherlands, where she trained as a Primary school teacher. She taught for over 13 years in state schools and in Steiner education. She enjoys singing, nature and arts.
Jill Connor, Lead Facilitator
With a BA (Hons) in Drama and Production, Jill has a passion for drama and enjoys performing on zoom or in person as part of The Mad Hatters of Moray. Before joining Growing2gether she was a long-term volunteer for the Learning Support team at Forres Academy and for Active Schools as a netball coach.
Craig Ramsay, Lead Facilitator
Craig is passionate about engaging with young people and loves the opportunity to see them blossom through working with Growing2gether. He joined Growing2gether in 2023 as the Boys Co-ordinator before moving to Youth Social Action. He has experience working with care-experienced vulnerable young people.
Kelly Brown, Lead Facilitator
While raising three children, Kelly decided to attend college, ultimately achieving an MSc in International Human Resource Management. She focused on human behaviours and how coaching can help people develop skills and achieve their potential. Her final research paper looked at the effect of personal trauma and adversity in the workplace and how to support recovery. Kelly has worked with young people for many years, from nursery to school leavers, and has trained in and delivered support in mental health, childhood adversity and gender-based violence. She believes that by helping children learn about authenticity, self-awareness and confidence, we can foster a more resilient and successful future adult population. Kelly finds peace in nature and enjoys herbalism and natural remedies.
Lorna Leishman, Facilitator
Lorna has always had an interest in working with children and young people – as a teenager she started volunteering in youth groups and in a nursery. She went on to train as an Early Years Practitioner, and over the last 25 years she has worked in nurseries, schools and social work with children of a variety of ages.
She feels privileged to be part of Growing2gether’s Nursery Mentoring Programme, and believes every young person deserves support to develop their confidence, emotional wellbeing and personal growth – giving them the courage to be themselves and realise their potential.
Our Trustees
Our Board of Directors provides strategic governance and ensures our programmes deliver for young people and adapt to local needs. Members all have charity, education or business management experience.
Clive Kitson, Chair of Trustees
Clive Kitson has a lifetime engagement with and love of education. He has a background in teaching and curriculum development in schools, and the in-service education of teachers. He was a faculty member and manager of education for the Findhorn Foundation Charitable Trust.
He has also served as Director of the Findhorn Foundation College. He brings his care, understanding and experience to the work of Growing2gether.
Dr Sara Trevelyan
Dr Sara Trevelyan has had an eclectic career, having originally trained as a medical doctor. She initially worked in psychiatry, followed by an opportunity to explore mental health and the community for the Scottish Association of Mental Health.
She was Co-Director of the Gateway Exchange, a community centre in Edinburgh, offering creative opportunities to ex-prisoners, ex-addicts, and people with mental health backgrounds. She re-trained in counselling and psychotherapy in the Person Centred Approach and has worked as a therapist for many years, integrating transpersonal approaches.
Sara has also studied energy healing and been ordained as an interfaith minister. As a mother and grandmother she is passionate about supporting young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Growing2gether's vision of linking teenagers with young children in nurseries is one to which she is fully committed and delighted to support.
Anne Skene
Anne is an experienced Board Trustee and Chairwoman. She brings a range of experience to the board, from her work as an educational psychologist and teacher, teacher trainer and consultant, to being on the Moray Council for Forres, responsible for chairing the Children and Young People’s Services Committee, Corporate Parenting and Appointments committees. She also founded and ran a youth drama academy – and she’s been a farmer. Her interests include rowing, kayaking, painting, reading, theatre and music.
Heather Knowles
Heather Knowles is currently the Chief Officer of Kincardine and Mearns Citizens Advice Bureau (KAMCAB). She has a background in Homeopathy and Buddhist Meditation. She has been working in the Third Sector for over a decade, leading on the Aberdeenshire Carers Service and in particular support for Young Carers. She has a real passion for supporting the development of young people’s potential.
She has experience and a love of leading change for services, teams, and the community, plus solid experience in strategic management, generating income, building culture, and managing stakeholder relationships.
Her passions include meditation, gym, cold water swimming, family and the unique doggy form of family.
Nan Moore
Nan Moore is an experienced ministerial leader who served as Director of Family Ministries for over 30 years, specialising in youth mentorship, leadership development and inclusive programming. Her work includes a youth/adult co-leadership model on anti-racism and cultural diversity initiatives, substance-use education, and social justice conference organising. She has also served as a chaplain within Unitarian Universalist youth communities across the United States and Canada.
Trained in multi-faith Clinical Pastoral Education in Boston, Nan has provided chaplaincy care in hospitals, churches and hospice settings, including paediatric palliative care supporting children and their families facing life-limiting illness.
Nan is a certified Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Director with a private practice, and serves as a Commissioned Community Minister in Quincy, Massachusetts. She officiates weddings, memorials, child dedications and other life-honouring ceremonies, dividing her time between Forres, Scotland, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.