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Team
The Shed is a youth and community centre that is here for you. Our team is composed of dedicated and compassionate individuals who strive to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Whether it's offering a listening ear or providing guidance and support, we are here for the community.
Fiona Douglas
Fiona is the manager of the Shed Community Services. Originally from Glasgow but with many family ties to the Island as well as love for Island life, Fiona and her family moved to Lewis and haven’t looked back since! Fiona loves the sense of community and support that The Shed has and is looking at ways of developing and growing the work to reach more people in the community. Fiona is passionate about coffee and loves nothing better than meeting people for a chat over a fresh brew, so the kettle is always on the boil and Fiona is keen to meet all of you that make The Shed the special place that it is!
Matthew MacNeil
Matthew serves as our Youth and Schools Manager. He oversees all things youthwork and takes great passion in doing so. He desires that every young person he comes in contact with knows how special they are and succeeds in doing so. He also works in our secondary school throughout the week, providing a place for young people to hang and chat. Matthew loves his job, you’ll always find him with a big mug of coffee and a smile to greet you!
Iain Douglas
Iain is the Recovery and Development Coordinator in The Shed Project. He enjoys talking and listening to others and wants to help and support those who need it. He is kind hearted and wants everyone to feel cared for. He loves the work he does and the sense of community the Shed provides and wants more people to come and experience the warmth and friendship. Iain would welcome you for tea or coffee and a chat with a friendly smile.
Shaina Neuman
Shaina is one of our Youth and Schools workers, all the way from Canada! She first visited the island back in 2018 and fell in love with it, so much so that she told herself she was going to live here one day! Shaina has a real heart for young people and has a big love for travelling the world! Keep a look out for Shaina in school. She will be available to meet and would love to chat with you at any time.
Lawrence Devenney
Lawrence is our Well Support worker. He came up from Glasgow in 2015 and started attending the Well program. He eventually became a volunteer and is now a staff member. He has a heart to help adults who are in recovery and enjoys sitting and listening to their stories, as well as provide support through understanding and compassion. He is a great asset to the team and a friendly and familiar face to those who attend the Well and creates a welcoming space for anyone.
Sophie Graham
Sophie is one of our Youth and Schools Workers. When she was younger she came along to the Shed for many years. With this experience of the work we do, it allows her to bring a fresh perspective to the ongoing and new work being done at the Shed. Sophie also helps run our social media pages, so be sure to keep an eye out on all that we do! When Sophie isn’t at work she is usually found drinking coffee. She is always up for a chat and a competitive game of Uno with the youth!
Tom Bowker
Tom is one of our Youth and Schools Workers. He recently moved up from Aviemore, where he has been running youth clubs and events for the last few years. He has visited the island many times with his wife, always with the intent to move here. Tom has lots of experience in youth work, as he started when he was 16, from working in Lancaster, London, Aviemore and now here. He’s a great fan of board and card games and is always up for a challenge. Keep an eye out for him at the schools, and why not challenge him to a game at club!
Alison Johnston
Al is a Pupil Support Worker who works alongside the Youth Team. Her role is to meet up with young people and provide a safe space to talk. As she enjoys nothing better than a good blether over a cup of coffee and cake, this is the perfect job for her! When Al is not working with young people, she is involved in lots of other creative and design projects, and when she is not doing any of those, she can mostly be found on the beach, in the Grounds or in her garden, trying to train her dog, Bear.
Sandra Green
Originally from Luton, Sandra moved to the Isle of Lewis, 9 years ago after retiring from her job as a Family Worker in a large Primary school. Having years of experience working with under-fives and their families, Sandra was delighted to be able to use her experience at Little Stars. Seeing the Little Stars community grow and develop has been a real joy and privilege and she looks forward to developing the Intergenerational work further.
Rochelle MacLeod
Rochelle is the Safe Families Western Isles Family Support Manager. Her role involves supporting families who are feeling alone and disheartened in their circumstances. Rochelle followed love and moved from beautiful South Africa where she has made her home beside the stunning white beaches of Lewis. Having come from a loving family herself, Rochelle’s passions and heart is to see families loved well and enabled to provide safe and nurturing homes for their children.
Rosie MacLelland
Rosie is our Intergenerational Support Worker. Originally from Skye, she has lived on Lewis, 14 years. She loves working with people, always keeping an open mind, a compassionate heart and a listening ear. Nothing brings her greater joy than giving back to a community that has welcomed her in. Rosie's other joy is the Sun and warmth. Being on the beach or by the sea is where she is happiest.
Catherine MacDonald
Catherine is our Community Volunteer Manager for Safe Families Western Isles. She meets with ministers, churches and community groups, to share the vision and work: to bring belonging to those who feel isolated and alone. As well as taking people through the volunteer process and with the rest of the team, Catherine helps and encourages the volunteers as they befriend adults and children in the families that are being supported. She is passionate about families! You can find her walking her dog at the beach and swimming in the sea whenever possible, all year round!
Christiane Davis
Christiane is a relationship counsellor that came on board as a volunteer to start up the Ark drop-in in 2017. Together with a small team of dedicated women who all bring vital expertise regarding addiction issues, she is committed to providing a safe and supportive space for women in recovery. It is her heart to see these women grow in confidence, feeling respected, included, and connected again within the community.
Jo MacLeod
Jo is the Admin and Referrals Co-ordinator for Safe Families Western Isles. In her role, Jo is the first point of contact for those looking to get in touch about the services. She also manages the referrals from the initial enquiries to assisting with the forms, ensuring all relevant information is provided. Jo was born and brought up in Stornoway and has a passion to help support local families who need support. She loves the beautiful local scenery and loves going for regular walks with her beloved dog Brownie!
Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees is the backbone of The Shed. Their commitment to our cause is incredibly admirable and one of the reasons why we continue to thrive. Discover more about our dedicated board members, their roles, and their personal experiences working with The Shed.
Christeen MacDonald
Christeen's professional background is in Education and she has a wide experience of supporting families who have faced significant and varied challenges. "Serving our community to the best of our ability,' is an amazing banner to work towards and Christeen feels honoured to work alongside the Shed team, to this end. Christeen's 'happy places' are definitely walking the beautiful beaches and hills of the islands - the quiet places of peace and meditation. Highly recommended!
Kathleen Burley
Kathleen is Martin’s Memorial Church administrator and minute taker for the Shed Management Team. She is excited about the work of The Shed Project and its growing and positive engagement and impact in our schools and community. She is someone who always has a smile when you meet her and a warm word to say.
Tommy MacNeil
Tommy has been minister of Martin's Memorial since 2006. A key part of his and the church's work over the last 17 years has been the development of The Shed Project. The heart behind the work was to create a neutral and safe space for young people to come and find a sense of community and support, and for adults who faced challenges bigger than they were, to find acceptance and people who would journey with them. The work over the last 10 years has exceeded all expectations. We look forward to the ongoing growth and development of the work.
Claire Smith
Claire has been part of the Shed Project team since it opened in 2014, starting off in the early days of funding applications and now using her HR and Coaching skills to support the growing staff team. She has a huge heart for the work of the Shed and loves to see how the community can flourish when they come together, young and old. She is very excited to see where the next 10 years of the Shed Project will journey to!
Fraser Ingram
Fraser is currently the COO of Yorkshire Building Society. He has previously held senior leadership and technology roles at Kleinwort Benson, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Citizens Bank in the USA. Fraser is a respected and authentic leader who excels at managing stakeholders and regulations. He is known for developing a culture of service, innovation, control, and efficiency, and has a proven track record of creating innovative business solutions using leading technologies.