Shasta Ali, Community Development Worker
Shasta raises awareness of the Digital Sentinel in Wester Hailes and within the local community. She runs weekly Digital Sentinel IT drop-ins with Craig, here at WHALE or at Clovenstone Community Centre.
Meghan Bidwell, Creative Development Coordinator
Meghan facilitates a regular programme of arts events for adults at WHALE Arts. She is responsible for the management and development of the following groups: smART CRAFT, Stitch ‘n’ Time, Snappers, Drama, Let’s Dance!, WHALE Community Cinema, our new Digital Photography group, as well as Heritage Lottery funded project Wester Hailes: Your Story, Our Story. She also supports external group the Arty Party.
Dawn Borthwick, Support Worker and Cleaner
Dawn supports a variety of our adult and young people’s groups. She also makes sure the building in clean and tidy.
Allan Farmer, Director
Allan is responsible for WHALE Arts’ strategic and operational development. He oversees all aspects of WHALE’s programming, building, staff, finances, and ensures the organisation achieves its objectives. He joined WHALE Arts in 2014 having worked across the community, voluntary and social enterprise sectors with a range of innovative local organisations and national intermediaries.
Kate Griffin, Learning and Participation Manager
Kate manages WHALE Arts’ programme of arts activities for families, children and young people, including creative and strategic development, programming and working with partner organisations and artists to create exciting and engaging arts projects. She is responsible for the following groups: Creative Adventures, Generate, LYT: Discover, and Arts Explorers, as well as the holiday programme, Early Years work, and exhibition programme.
Kate MacKay, Westburn CAN Coordinator
Kate coordinates our Westburn CAN (Climate Action Network) initiative. The project involves a programme of creative community activities, including environmental arts workshops and the creation of a community garden for growing fruit and vegetables, which help to reduce carbon, improve the local environment and raise awareness of climate change.
Anne Monk, Finance Officer
Anne is a qualified chartered accountant, with extensive experience in the private and public sector in accounting and value for money studies including seven years working at OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator. Before joining WHALE Anne was part of the award winning project team establishing Revenue Scotland the Scottish tax administration body.
Tatyana Simpson, Reception and Facilities Assistant
Tatyana is the first point of contact for visitors and tenants, on the phone or in person. You can contact her if you need to book a room or have an inquiry about WHALE Arts activities. She is also responsible for the maintenance of the building and providing a safe environment for the visitors and tenants.
Craig Tyrie, Community Reporter
Craig writes the majority of content for the Digital Sentinel, the local news website for Wester Hailes, keeping up to date with community news and finding out what’s on in the local area. Along with Shasta he runs weekly IT drop-ins, here at WHALE or at Clovenstone Community Centre. He is always on the lookout for local people who are interested in becoming volunteer community reporters and writing their own stories and content for the website!