Say Hello to the Team!
New Team!
We would like to extend a warm and happy welcome to a few new members of the Inspiring Young Voices team! We all had the wonderful opportunity to meet face to face recently for a team building day in Inverness, where we had a chance to try out our clay painting skills at The Clay Studio. It was an amazing opportunity to meet each other face to face and start planning our next steps together.
The Inspiring Young Voices Team 2024
Gaener Rodger – Chief Officer
Gaener has worked in a variety of roles across the academic, public and third sector. She brings to the role nearly nine years of experience of working and volunteering with young people. he is passionate about and committed to empowering children and young people to have their voices heard in a way that impacts the issues that matter to them and influences policy and practice.
Morgan Macdonald – Inclusion Officer
Morgan’s role looks to expand our youth-led collective voice for LGBTQ+ young people in Highland, particularity those who identify as trans/non-binary.
Hannah Eaton – Policy Officer
Hannah began volunteering with Inspiring Young Voices as a member of the Inspire Highland young adults’ mental health mini group in 2020. During her time at university, she set up a society at her Students’ Union, which focused on bettering the disability services and removing barriers to students’ education. Hannah is passionate about the positive progress that she makes for young people in the Highlands through her role as Policy Officer.
Kirsteen Wood – Youth Participation Worker
Kirsteen joined in March 2024 with previous roles in advocacy, youth work and pupil support assistant. She first started in the Voluntary Sector as a Young Carers Worker in 2007 and hasn’t looked back. She holds a HNC in Social Care, PDA in Youth Work and SVQ 3 Health and Social Care. She has a kind and caring nature and relationship based practice is one of her core values. Her passions outside of work are cycling, baking, training at the gym and her dog Harris a 6 year old Labradoodle. In June 2024 she will be taking part in the Highland Cross and this year hopes for a personal best time.
Elaine Feeney – Participation Officer
Elaine is an experienced youth and community development worker and advocate for social justice, with over ten years working in the third sector with a diverse range of communities in Scotland and overseas. As well as her passion for working with young people, she has a background in mental health and refugee work, with a particular interest in trauma and how this impacts child and adolescent behaviour and development. Elaine is also a yoga teacher with a focus on creating inclusive community-based classes. She is always keen to bring yoga into her work with young people and communities. In her spare time, she enjoys surfing, cycling and walking her dog Pan. Elaine is really excited to have joined the IYV team as the Participation Lead, and looks forward to hearing from young people across Highland.
Sarah Cardno – Communications Intern
Sarah is joining us for her internship to help us share our work as far as we can reach. Working within the third sector for the last 10 years, Sarah comes to us with a strong background in administration and communications, having worked for both local and national charities across the Highlands. She is thrilled to be sharing the stories of our passionate young people and help ensure their voices are heard.
We are so excited to share all the great things our team get up to, so keep an eye out for more exciting updates coming soon!
