Carers of East Lothian

Supporting people who care for family and friends

Tel: 0131 665 0135

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You are here: Home / About CoEL / Staff team

Staff team

Carers of East Lothian has a diverse staff team with a wide range of experience and expertise. Many staff work part time. Please contact the centre on 0131 665 0135 0r centre@coel.org.uk if you think we can help and we will put you in touch with the most appropriate member of staff to support you.​​

Jess Wade – Chief Executive Officer

Jess provides strategic leadership for Carers of East Lothian to support the Trustees in realising their vision for the organisation. Jess is keen to make sure that carers are at the centre of everything we do, so please do get in touch with your comments and suggestions.

jess@coel.org.uk

Claire Spiden – Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Claire’s role is to support, supervise and line manage the Carer Support Team and provide direct support to carers.

claire.spiden@coel.org.uk

Photo of Claire Spiden
Sandra Gemmell – Admin and Finance Manager

Sandra is responsible for administration at Carers of East Lothian and making sure that everyone gets a warm welcome at the Carers Centre.

sandra@coel.org.uk

Photo of Sandra Gemmell
Sharon Byrne – Admin and Finance Co-ordinator

Sharon works with Sandra on administration and making everyone feel welcome at the Carers Centre.

sharon@coel.org.uk

Sharon Byrne
Alison Kinnie – Admin and Finance Assistant

Alison helps Sandra and Sharon with administration and making everyone feel welcome at the Carers Centre.

alison@coel.org.uk

Julie Oswald – Carer Support Worker – Short Breaks

Julie supports carers to access breaks from their caring role.

julie@coel.org.uk

Julie Oswald
Claire Thomas – Carer Support Worker – Mental Health

Claire supports carers throughout the county who are caring for someone with significant mental health problems.

claire@coel.org.uk

Jenny Swan – Carer Support Worker – Events & Networks

Jenny supports carers whose loved ones are in hospital or about to be discharged.

jenny@coel.org.uk

Lisa McIlwraith – Welfare Rights Coordinator

Lisa can help identify what benefits you and the person you care for qualify for, and help you claim them. She can also help with challenging decisions and administrative errors and problems. Our Benefit enquiry line means you can get quick and straightforward help and advice on any welfare rights issue without having to go on a waiting list.  Lisa also ensures the staff team have up to date training and knowledge so we can provide the best possible service to carers.

lisa@coel.org.uk

Shona Mathers – Carer Support Worker – Mental Health 

Shona supports carers throughout the county who are caring for someone with significant mental health problems.

shona.mathers@coel.org.uk

Suzie Queripel – Carer Support Worker – West & Parent Carers

Suzie primarily supports carers in the west of the County and Parent Carers.

susanq@coel.org.uk

Photo of Susan Queripel
Linda Walker – Carer Support Worker – West

Linda primarily supports carers in the west of the county.

linda@coel.org.uk

Margaret Elliot – Carer Support Worker – East

Margaret primarily supports carers in the east of the county living in the Dunbar and East Linton area.

margaret@coel.org.uk

Margaret Elliot
Aileen Gillies – Carer Support Worker – East

Aileen primarily supports carers in the east of the county living in the North Berwick Coastal area.

aileen.gillies@coel.org.uk

Louise Kennedy – Carer Support Worker – Haddington

Louise primarily support carers living in the Haddington and Lammermuir area.

louise@coel.org.uk

Lydia Eunson – Counselling Service Manager

Lydia oversees the counselling service, supporting volunteers and managing carer’s journey through the service, alongside holding a small client caseload.

lydia@coel.org.uk

Catherine Cain – Volunteer and Training Coordinator/ Mental Health Carer Support Worker

Catherine is developing a volunteer programme. She also organises training opportunities for carers and professionals. She supports carers who are caring for someone with significant mental health problems.

catherine.cain@coel.org.uk

Kirsteen Powell – Carer Support Worker – Engagement and Peer Support

Kirsteen works on projects to raise the profile of carers and help carers have their voices heard in the planning and development of services. She is also helping to develop our new befriending scheme for carers.

kirsteen@coel.org.uk

Comments

Lifeline for carers. The support groups are a chance to share information and talk about problems.

Professional, caring, this team does an excellent job. Thank you.

When I contacted COEL the help I received was exceptional and the carers courses were so informative and made my...

An excellent service which has been invaluable. I have no hesitation in recommending CoEL's services to others if I think...

The workers with COEL give the best support and advice truthfully and accurately. No falseness at all. Absolutely the best...

CoEL helped and guided us through our challenges enabling us to see much clearer what we were doing and what...

Quick and helpful response with no fuss. Excellent service

I first contacted COEL some 4 years ago when my husband was first diagnosed with Alzheimers and got excellent advice...

Sensitive, awareness and attention to detail all impeccable. I could not have managed without it.

I now understand better what I need and need to do, with help at hand if needed.

I found CoEL staff very helpful and reassuring when I felt stressed at the form filling to claim benefits and...

I feel very well supported and have been impressed with the service.

Feel totally at ease when we use CoEL. Their knowledge is excellent.

I can't praise your organisation enough for all the help you provided in the past.

Staff member went out of their way to assist me in obtaining the service I required. Member was very understanding...

Having someone to listen to problems and give encouragement and make helpful suggestions (also help with filling in forms) has...

Very supportive, kind, nothing was any trouble, went out of way to help. Nothing but praise for all help given.

I benefitted from a home visit, and I feel now I'm not alone.

It was at a time we were not sure what to do regarding care options for my mother. CoEL were...

Friendly helpful and put you at ease.

The staff in the office were very helpful and supportive when I dropped in without warning a couple of weeks...

Just to know you are not on your own and there is someone else you can rely upon when times...

Contact us

The Carers Centre is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

TEL: 0131 665 0135
EMAIL: centre@coel.org.uk
ADDRESS:
Carers of East Lothian
East Lothian Community Hospital,
Alderston Road, Haddington, EH41 3PF

Carers of East Lothian is a charity registered in Scotland Charity Number SC027000 and a Company Limited by Guarantee No. SC366908

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