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Our staff
Kindred's staff are spread between the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh and our Dunfermline Office.
The majority of our staff have lived experience as the parent of a child, or children with complex or additional needs.
Chief Executive
Elaine Davis
Elaine Davis has been the Chief Executive of Kindred since April 2025. Her professional background spans regulation at The Law Society of England and Wales and The Solicitors Regulation Authority, teaching (including in SEN), and training consultancy and Advocacy Services within the Rape Crisis networks across Scotland and England. She brings a strong knowledge of education, safeguarding, protecting children’s rights, inclusion, and delivering early intervention and advocacy services.
Elaine has lived experience as a carer of a child with complex needs.
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Service Manager
Clair Halliday
Clair joined Kindred in January 2026 and leads frontline service delivery across the organisation, developing operational processes to support effective and efficient services for families. She line manages the Information and Advocacy team and also holds a small caseload. Clair came to Kindred from the Advice Service at Edinburgh University Students’ Association and has many years’ experience working across the children and families sector, including as a trained antenatal teacher. She holds an MSc in Developmental Linguistics and brings lived experience as a parent and sibling of a child with additional needs.
Business Improvement Lead
Linda Black
Linda has been part of Kindred since 2007 and is the charity’s longest-serving member of staff. She leads work to strengthen Kindred’s long-term sustainability, developing and delivering its fundraising strategy with creativity, energy and impact. Linda also supports the charity’s internal operations, governance and financial oversight, while maintaining a senior advocacy caseload for families facing the most complex circumstances. Linda brings lived experience as well as extensive professional knowledge to her work. She is committed to ensuring families are heard, understood and supported to access the help they are entitled to.
Information and Advocacy Worker
Caroline Ramsay
Caroline is an Information and Advocacy Worker in Kindred’s Hospital Team, based at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. Her professional background is in Early Childhood Development, with nearly 25 years’ experience working in Early Years. Most recently, Caroline worked as part of the East Lothian Health Visiting Team, where her experience strengthened her interest in independent advocacy and supporting families at times of vulnerability. She brings a strong understanding of early childhood, family wellbeing and the importance of ensuring parents and carers feel heard, informed and supported.
Information and Advocacy Worker
George Townsend-Gill
George joined Kindred in June 2026, bringing experience in education and social care, with particular expertise in autism and complex needs. Before joining Kindred, he worked with Scottish Autism, managing a residential unit and an outreach service supporting young people and families to navigate challenges, advocate for their children and access appropriate services. George holds a degree in Community Drama-Based Learning and is interested in creative approaches to communication and engagement. He has delivered theatre workshops for children with autism and complex needs, using drama to support expression, confidence and understanding.
Information and Advocacy Worker
Joanne Kirkham
Joanne joined Kindred in January 2015 and brings both professional experience and personal understanding to her role. As a parent of twins, including one child with a disability, she understands the pressures families can face when navigating additional support needs and hospital stays. Joanne holds a COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills and a BA (Hons) Open Degree, with study in young lives, parenting, families and mental health. She was a trustee with Haemophilia Scotland from 2020-2026. In 2026 she became part of the Lived Experience Steering group for the charity Health In Mind. She previously worked in design, including roles at The Scotsman and ESPC. Joanne is passionate about helping families build confidence and feel understood.
Information and Advocacy Worker
Fiona Bell
Fiona joined Kindred’s Fife team as an Information and Advocacy Worker in 2023. Her background includes nursing and education: she gained a Bachelor of Nursing Honours degree in 2009 and worked in oncology and haematology before moving into pupil support in primary schools. As a parent of a child with complex additional support needs, Fiona brings lived experience alongside her professional knowledge. She is passionate about children’s and carers’ rights, meaningful change and compassionate, holistic support. Outside work, Fiona enjoys walking, socialising, spending time with her daughter and two rescue dogs, and a good comedy night.
Information and Advocacy Worker
Leah Anderson
Leah joined Kindred in December 2025 with a particular focus on community and education support. A qualified primary teacher, she taught for seven years in special education and brings a holistic understanding of the links between health, wellbeing and education. Following the premature birth of her daughter in 2024, Leah also understands the experience of having a baby in hospital. Her communication and creative skills were developed through volunteering in a hospice arts setting, strengthening her belief in compassionate conversations and careful listening. Leah is proud to support Kindred’s work with families across Edinburgh and Fife.
Information and Advocacy worker
Anne Thomson
Anne has been part of the Kindred team since July 2016 and works as an Advocacy Worker. She is passionate about supporting disabled children and their families to understand their rights, navigate complex systems and access the support they are entitled to. Anne values Kindred’s friendly, family atmosphere and the way the team works together to make practical improvements in the lives of families every day. Outside work, Anne is kept busy by her two energetic boys and enjoys spending time outdoors, walking in nature, playing football and tending the family vegetable patch.
Information and Advocacy Worker
Maya Berry
Maya joined Kindred in 2022 as a Parent Facilitator for the Early Positive Approach to Support programme, becoming an Information and Advocacy Worker in early 2024. Her first experience of Kindred came when she sought support for a family member and experienced the relief of being listened to and understood. That experience informs her commitment to offering the same support to other families. Maya values Kindred’s wealth of shared lived experience and the team’s understanding of the challenges of accessing education and health services. She is a mum to three teenage girls, as well as a cat, two dogs and three hens.
Admin and finance officer
Hayley Brown
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