Rhona Stewart – Chairperson

I have been a committee member for about 12 years and a member of the group since it was set up 18 years ago. I am currently chairperson and have held this post previously.
I am currently not employed.

My last employment was in youth work working with young people from deprived areas and the issues that they had. I have skills in admin, I T, training people, groupwork, presentations, issue based work, mental health awareness raising and working with other organisations. eg Stirling university Community Psychology Department and Social Work Degree Students leading presentations and supporting Reachout members to speak to students about Mental Health issues and Reachout and how and why it works .

I myself have Epilepsy and Bi Polar disorder and through the skills and arts opportunities I have had here learned to use fused glass and now have my own studio and tutor classes for Reachout and other community groups. I have also acquired business and enterprise skills from the artwork I produce.

Presently we have a board that is able to manage the project as we have a diverse range of skills and work and life experience. We also have a list of people with particular skills that the committee can use as advisers and the project also has many volunteers that are willing to help wherever they can.
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Emma Scott-Smith – Vice-Chairperson

I would love to continue as part of the Reachout management committee. I have multi-faceted experiences and skills as a visual artist, researcher, community psychologist, teacher in art and psychology, charity and arts based worker in my local community. I have worker in secure mental health units, been elected student disability advisor at The University of Stirling, won national art awards, exhibited nationally and lectured internationally in the field of art, disability, discrimination and mental health in theory and praxis.

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Douglas Sharp – Treasurer

Douglas is on our management committee and was an original member of the DVD group and has the starring role in our latest DVD.
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Elvira Craigie – Secretary

I have been a member of Reachout since 2003 and joined the management committee almost straight away as Vice Chairperson. I became Chairperson in 2006.
I am responsible for supporting staff and volunteers as well as members. I feel this support is mutual within the Reachout environment and this is great for everyone’s self worth and confidence.
I like meeting everyone who comes into Reachout and have many friends there.
I also enjoy representing Reachout out with the base at events such as the Queen’s Garden Party and other outreach events.
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Rosa MacPherson – Director

I was involved with Reachout almost from it’s inception in 1993 until 2005 when I took a years sabbatical from Clackmannanshire Council as Arts Development Team Leader. I have had 20 years direct involvement in the community arts activity both as an administrator and a practitioner and I believe passionately and wholeheartedly in the power of creativity to keep an individual, a group or a society healthy and whole.
I have had personal experience of depression and understand its crushing power in leaving an individual apparently powerless. The arts, social support and a safe place where one can be oneself is a vital service that Reachout has provided for many years. It is an example of international best practice, its empowering for individuals and I believe that local people in particular should help to serve in providing its service.
I have had many years experience on Boards: most recently I was Company Secretary and Director of Central Scotland’s Racial Equality Council, I served as Secretary in Clackmannanshire Arts Forum for a number of years and was instrumental in initiating and developing the Association for Migrant Integration. I also served as Chair of the Polish Saturday School. I have understanding of committee processes and procedures and have served as a member of the Community Learning & Development Partnership on behalf of Clackmannanshire Council’s Adult Learning Team.
I am a professional writer and have been involved in initiating and delivering (and sometimes participating in ) arts activities; from arts exhibitions, to creating poetry collections, and developing a positive two way relationship with the local press. I have many years experience in drawing down substantial public funds and grants, and enjoy a wide network of contacts in the world of the arts, funding bodies and the third sector.
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