32. Meet the Team

Ally Lloyd (she/her)

Amber Daw

Hi, I’m Abbie! I’m studying Speech and Language Sciences at Newcastle University. I became interested in disability activism due to being disabled myself and joined LUNA’s Ambassadors Team to have the opportunity to educate people and reduce the stigmas surrounding disability. Outside of LUNA, I spend my time crocheting, reading and snuggling with my cats.

Hi, I'm Ally! I am one of the co-founders and trustees of LUNA. I am about to go into my last year of a psychology degree at the University of Glasgow. I really enjoy creating things, and have enough enthusiasm to balance out a lack of natural talent. My perfect day would be collaging in the sun after a swim with an ice cream.

I’m Amber and I have been volunteering with The LUNA Project since January 2021. It has been a huge factor in my disability acceptance - having peers experiencing similar things is incredibly valuable. I am a massive bookworm, tea enthusiast and love dogs! I am also very passionate about disability rights and inclusive education, I hope to work in this field after finishing a degree in Education Studies.

Anna Gallagher (she/her)

Hi! I'm Anna, I'm a medical student at the University of Glasgow. I am passionate about The LUNA Project because I think disability education is the best way to help people support their friends. Outside of LUNA I am a yearly volunteer in Lourdes, and I love my violin, comic books and musical theatre.

Hi! I’m Anthony. I am at Glasgow University, studying Law and English Literature. I joined the Luna Project because I saw the brilliant things they were doing and wanted to take part, as I truly believe the work that The LUNA Project does is so important. In my free time I love comic books, writing, novels and drawing.

Becky MacGregor

I'm Becky, I'm currently 18 and have just finished school. In September I am going to start training to become a paediatric nurse. I joined LUNA to help spread awareness about disability and long term health conditions.

Beth Dillon (she/her)

Hi I’m Beth, one of the LUNA Project trustees and cofounders. The LUNA Project means a lot to me: growing up with a chronic health condition and disability presents challenges but strong friendships and understanding from your peers help to make things so much easier.

Claire Robertson (she/her)

Hello, my name is Claire! I am 24 and currently an MSc Health Psychology at St Andrews University. I joined the LUNA Project to help raise awareness of young people with a chronic illness or a disability. I am passionate about health communication, particularly accessibility and inclusivity and I am soon to begin a PhD on the evaluation and impactfulness of health information comics which I am very excited about! When I am not studying, I enjoy playing golf, crafting and going on walks with the dogs.

Hello! I am currently a student of Neuroscience at the University of Glasgow. The greatest joy brings me exploring the outdoors - mountains and forests and coasts – be it through hiking, kayaking, cross country skiing, or really any means that allow me to get lost in nature (figuratively, and due to my navigational skills quite often also literally). I enjoy board games, long conversations, and rash ideas.

Ellie Brownlie (they/them)

I’m Ellie, and I’m originally from Moray in the North East of Scotland. I have just graduated from the University of Glasgow with a psychology degree. I have been open to speaking about my Dyslexia and Dyspraxia since being identified, and my identities had inspired me to study Psychology. When I’m not LUNA-ing, I love scouting, hiking, and sewing

Emma Rush

Emma is a youth worker for MAP, a charity in Norfolk. She's supported young people in a variety of ways, and currently coordinates projects that work within schools. Outside of work, she loves spending time with cats (both her own and other people's) and hunting out the best gluten and dairy free cake!

Georgia Hayward

Hey I'm Georgia I have worked with young people for nearly ten years have and spent six of those working with young people who have rheumatological conditions in the NHS. I am also a volunteer counsellor for MIND working with people from all walks of life !

Hey! I'm Heather, and I live in Glasgow. Not currently working due to illness, but I have a degree in law and a diploma in legal practice. I love reading, writing, eating cake and having cuddles with my dog, Archie. I joined LUNA to help raise awareness of chronic illnesses and the impact disability has on young people.

Heather Valentine (she/her)

Hello! I’m Heather, one of The LUNA Project’s new Professional Advisors. I work for the charity Guide Dogs as the My Sighted Guide Community Development Officer for Scotland & Northern Ireland. My Sighted Guide is the service we offer to help improve the confidence and independence of people living with sight loss by matching them with a sighted volunteer who can help them achieve their goals.

Ines Alves

Ines is a lecturer in Inclusive Education at the University of Glasgow. She is one of the LUNA professional advisors. She is a fount of knowledge about all things education, and the speediest writer of research proposals we know! When she is not thinking about all things inclusive education she enjoys running.

Jas Taylor (they/them)

I'm Jas and I'm a queer disabled person living in Manchester. I have a Master's in Gender, Sexuality and Culture, a passion for pole dance, pottery, gigs and lady gaga, and spend a lot of time vegetating on my sofa. I am autistic, with Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, Hashimoto's, C-ptsd, NEAD, and BPD.

Hello! I am a very chatty, slightly disabled junior doctor who currently works in a sexual health clinic in Glasgow. I am passionate about raising awareness, intersectional advocacy and basically just making friends wherever I go. Fun fact: My first word was “friend”. Reach out for anything I could assist with.. not limited to medicine with disability and chronic pain but those are the things I am most in-the-know about!

Katherine Hawkes (she/her)

Hi, I’m Katherine! I joined LUNA to help raise awareness of chronic illness that can affect young people. From my own experience, I know how people can use your age to invalidate your health struggles. I love that LUNA can help those young people feel accepted. After finishing a psychology undergraduate degree, I’m looking to further train in clinical psychology and help those struggling with mental illness.

Kirsten Lloyd (she/her)

Hi, my name is Kirsten. I am 19 years old and about to go into my second year of medicine at the University of Leeds. I have recently joined LUNA and am enjoying getting to know everyone. I love horses, swimming in the sea, and walks with my dogs.

Laura McCafferty (she/they)

Hi, I’m Laura! I’m a third year medical student at the University of Glasgow. The LUNA Project gives me a chance to support other young people living with disabilities by helping to create a more supportive and understanding environment. I love walking my dog and cooking

Hi! I’m Maria, I'm a medical student at Uni of Glasgow. I joined LUNA in the autumn-winter of 2019 filled with enthusiasm and It’s fantastic to see how much LUNA has grown during this time and how the spirit of community and friendship is helping young people with disabilities to feel more empowered, and those without disabilities to be kinder and more compassionate. I am a hiking enthusiast and I love films and books to no end (same rule applies to dark chocolate digestives).

Meghann Paterson (she/her)

I’m Meghann, I have just graduated from an English Literature and Language degree at UofG! When I am not reading, I love listening to podcasts, spending time outdoors and playing with my kitten! I joined LUNA to work with like minded people to spread awareness of chronic illness and disabilities in young people.

Mehar Singh (she/her)

Hi ! I’m Mehar, 23, founder of It’s complicated blog and instagram page. I am an Afghan Sikh, from London. Last year I graduated university and am now working on my blog alongside working with LUNA. My aim is to raise awareness for, and educate others about, life with multiple chronic illnesses as there isn’t much knowledge in the medical world around some of my conditions, which needs to change. I love spirituality, reading, baking, cooking, music, and fashion!

Merry Wilkinson

Hi, my name is Merry. I recently joined the LUNA project as a Professional Advisor to support this fantastic charity as much as I can. I am a medical research scientist at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital working with young people with rheumatic disease. I play tag rugby; my favourite flowers are sunflowers and I love inventive baking and cooking.

Ross Tanner (he/they)

I’m Ross, one of the LUNA trustees/co-founders, and it’s a pleasure to be a part of the LUNA Ambassadors working group. I also love painting and drawing in my spare time

Sian Jones

Hi, My name is Sian. I'm a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Education at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. As a disabled academic with r / hemiplegia / cerebral palsy, I am really passionate about helping studentteachers to understand and explore chronic illnesses and dis/ability. The work that the LUNA project does is amazingly helpful with that! Alongside that, my research is about dis/ability representation in the toy industry. Outside of work, I live in East Lothian with my wife and my cat and spend most of my spare time crocheting.

Sophie Mattholie (she/they)

I'm Sophie (she/they), I'm 19 and I've been volunteering with LUNA since May 2021 - I love having a space to meet other disabled young people and create positive change! Outside of this, I'm currently studying a History degree at the University of York and enjoy reading, writing, and volunteering on different committees and projects

Thapi Semenya (she/her)

I am a diabetes advocate who is passionate about advocacy. I have been a person living with diabetes for 16 years. I use my social media accounts to educate about my multiple chronic conditions namely Diabetes, Vitiligo and Bipolar Disorder. I am currently studying Law and i am looking to specialise in health law. I am passionate about advocating for access for the basic diabetes management needs and affordability to diabetes technologies. I started advocating in 2018 when I realised that I actually wanted to form a community and allow for a space where people living with diabetes can come together and share their hopes and struggles.

We would love for you to stay in touch! It would be great to hear what you think about the zine, to chat about anything disability related, and to hear from anyone who wants to get involved!

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The Learning to Understand Needs and Abilities (LUNA) Project is a registered charity no. SC050148