PARENT NETWORK SCOTLAND
Parent run solutions transforming and strengthening family relationships
PARENT NETWORK SCOTLAND
Parent run solutions transforming and strengthening family relationships
MEET THE TEAM
JACKIE TOLLAND
Chief Executive Officer
Jackie started her journey with PNS in 1994 where she was introduced to the programme working as a Community Development Worker in Drumchapel. As a fully trained facilitator and trainer, she knows the importance of family life and is a firm believer in building strong positive relationships and building confidence and skills for parents. Jackie’s background is in Community Development and she has had the experience of living and working in Glasgow, Northumberland and Brixton. A Winston Churchill Travelling Fellow, she is taking what she has learned to further her passion in reaching out to as many families as possible and helping them build powerful, positive relationships. Jackie likes to go walking, and can be seen breaking into a run every now and again!
LIZZY BARBOUR
Team Facilitator
I am a mum of 3 and have been involved with Parent Network Scotland for over 5 years since I did my first course. I have loved every minute of my PNS journey and have made lasting friendships through peer-to-peer support.
I love getting out and about, spending time up the hills as well as taking on new challenges and adventures from climbing to gorge walking and kayaking.
I am passionate about inclusion which led me to set up and run the NAS Largs branch supporting autistic individuals and their families.
I am honoured to now be a facilitator and share my passion with other families to help them on their journey.
JEN MCALLISTER
Team Facilitator
I have two boys 9 and 7 years have worked for Parent Network Scotland for around 3 years.
What most attracted me to PNS was the peer support, being around other parents and being able to share all the joys of parenting, as well as the struggles. When I attended the Parenting Matters course I felt like I had found where I was meant to be. My passion is in helping parents better understand their families and their own needs, and watching them leave our courses with a smile.
Facilitating has given me so much confidence and helped me grow as a person. I love starting a new project, meeting new people and helping others start on their PNS journey.
I love spending time with my kids and husband. We go on lots of walks with our rescue dog.
JOHANNA QUINNEY
Team Facilitator
Johanna is our Facilitator up in the Highlands and Moray, where she has lived for 23 years - the same amount of years she's been involved in Parent Network. Having moved to Scotland with three children and overwhelmed with parenting and a new home, she went on her first Parenting Matters course and hasn't looked back, training as a facilitator two years after completing her first course. Johanna now has five children, two are still teenagers and three that have flown the nest.
Her passion is to see the potential in all parents, offer a listening ear - and the Parent Network tools. Knowing that the course served her so well, she feels honoured to walk that path alongside other parents and catch the moments when a parent senses a shift in their relationship with their child, and with themselves. She loves travelling, cycling to the beach for a walk, and connecting with friends and family.
ALISON HOLMS
Finance Administrator
As the Financial Administrator I ensure that our Finances are always in good order. With 26 years
experience supporting the voluntary sector I thrive with attention to detail and seeing the difference my
work makes to the parents across Scotland.
I first joined Parent Network Scotland in 2015 and have recently returned to the Third Sector as I missed working with the families.
In my spare time I love to socialise with family and travelling both at home and abroad.
SOBIA AHMAD
I am a mother of 4 energetic boys, and my journey with PNS started 2 years ago. One of my children has health issues and with the changing dynamics of parenting I struggled and felt stuck, nothing was ever good enough. Going through the parenting academy gave me the awareness, tools, and empathy to emotionally navigate myself and my children creating a happy balanced environment in our home.I have now trained to be a facilitator for PNS and enjoy sharing and supporting parents through their parenting journey. I am also a holistic therapist, an intuitive trauma informed therapist and NLP practitioner, so working for an organisation that promotes holistic working and living practices is an additional benefit.
My boys have brought me back to creativity and joy. I enjoy playing football, badminton and pool, travelling and trying new things. My favourite places are near the beach or anything nature based and I enjoy dancing.
DAVID ASHURST
I am delighted to have recently start as a Facilitator within Parent Network. I have over 20 years experience working in Glasgow’s Third Sector, both paid and voluntary, in a variety of different areas including working with asylum seekers, parents and families and volunteering with Citizen’s Advice. My more immediate background has been helping to develop and deliver therapeutic groupwork for children and young people. Through this, I have been inspired to take on a diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the skills from which I look forward to using with the parents participating in our programmes. Outside of work I enjoy playing tennis, sci-fi and watching as much motorsport as possible!
CRISSIE GRANT
My journey at PNS started nearly 3 years ago with the wellbeing toolkit and since then I have worked my way through every course in the Parent Academy. I have developed new skills and confidence and am delighted to now be working as a facilitator. After 14 years of being a stay at home parent to two children, PNS has helped me to unlock my potential and find a way to do something I’m really passionate about.
In my spare time I love reading, crocheting and spending time with family and friends.
STACIE MACKENZIE
A proud mum to an amazing 10-year-old son, I am the Social Media Communications Coordinator at Parent Network Scotland. I began my journey with Parent Network Scotland at the onset of lockdown, focusing on spreading the word about their essential work online. It’s been incredibly rewarding to showcase Parent Network Scotland’s initiatives, engage with families, and report live from events like The Scottish Parent Awards. Over the past four years, Parent Network Scotland’s digital evolution has been remarkable, and I’m excited to continue helping them achieve even more online, connecting families to the support they need.
JASMINE MURPHY
Hi my name is Jasmine, mum of Joshua 4. After years of being a hairdresser I decided a change was needed and focused on being a full time mum and now I volunteer with PNS which I absolutely love! I love everything PNS has to offer and they have been a huge help in my own journey as a parent. In my spare time I like to get outdoors with Josh, exercising and socialising with friends.
MARGARET ELLIOT
Progress for Parents Key Worker
I really enjoy my work with Parent Network Scotland networking with other great organisations, working with the PNS team and meeting parents on a one-to-one support basis and seeing them join the Wellbeing Toolkit and accredited courses such as Parent Matters.
Progress for Parents service we run is a partnership with support agencies such as Enable, Enable Works, Families in Trauma, One Parent Families and we have a Welfare Rights Officer, employability, help into further education and volunteering throughout Glasgow.
I enjoy meeting parents, supporting them into whatever they need and seeing their progression as well as confidence and happiness, not just for them but for their children and family too.
