Meet your
LIFESTYLE SECTION
Advocate
Donna MacLeod Bray is an Advocacy & Participation Worker in Eilean Siar, otherwise known as the Western Isles.
M
y name is Donna MacLeod Bray and I live on the Western Isles with my husband, 4 teenagers (!) and our dog. I have not moved far at all over the last 4 decades, a mile in fact. I still live in the village I was born in. My interests are participating in sporty challenges; Tough Mudder, Moonwalk, Kiltwalk, 100k Ultra Challenges. In my spare time I enjoy catching up with my family and friends, property renovations and travelling. My previous jobs have included Administrator, Childminder, Classroom
assistant/ ASN relief worker, NHS switchboard operator and a Nursery Play Leader. I started with Who Cares? Scotland in December 2020. I am extremely fortunate and feel privileged to have this job, my friends are very jealous. Being an independent advocate is so important for
the young person, as they know you are fully dedicated to amplifying their voice. I also enjoy watching young people feeling empowered for having control over their own life decisions. On the Western Isles we are reconnecting with our young people and their families after Covid. I travelled down to North & South Uist recently and met 2 new families, where I will now advocate for the children. Following feedback from the summer programme in the Uists it has been decided that we will set up and run a ‘families group’ once a month, which will continue to connect the families of all the schools in Uist. As Covid restrictions are lifting I am so looking forward to our North Team away days and hopefully one day I will make it to the National Office in Glasgow to meet all my new work colleagues – or maybe our national Who Cares? Scotland team could come to the Western Isles?!
If you live on the Western Isles and
would like to speak to Donna about how she might be able to support you, you can get in touch with her by calling 07764 290 921 or emailing dmbray@whocaresscotland.org.
If you live somewhere else but think
you would like advocacy, look at the back page of this magazine to see where we offer advocacy. If we don’t have an advocate in your area, you can call our helpline on 0330 107 7540, from Mon-Fri between 12-4.
9
