Coming from diverse backgrounds but united by a shared commitment to deliver excellent person-centred services that genuinely enhance health, wellbeing, and community spirit in Uist.
Chief Executive Officer
Chris has worked at both front-line and senior management levels in both social care and international development. Starting as a social anthropologist in Bolivia and Peru, working on indigenous land rights in the Amazon basin for the UK Government, Chris then shifted to directly supporting homeless people, as a project worker in a day and night centre in Edinburgh. After taking on the management of this centre, he then progressed to the role of Principal Officer and Homelessness Strategy Manager for the City of Edinburgh Council. A return to Latin America followed with SCIAF and then a decade in several African countries as Country Director and Head of Programmes for Mary’s Meals. Latterly, Chris led the Dutch NGO ZOA to deliver large scale humanitarian and peacebuilding programmes in Liberia and Ethiopia, supporting refugees and local communities in conflict prone areas. Chris has roots in Benbecula, where his father grew up, and is now taking on the family croft and learning Gaelic. Chris is married to Mercy, who is from Liberia, and they have four children.
Finance Manager
Tiag joined Tagsa Uibhist in June 2012, attracted to its purpose of supporting those in need in Uist. Prior to joining Tagsa Uibhist she worked for community learning and development organisation, Cothrom, for 13 years. With a background in the private sector, Tiag's employment experience in Uist has been varied, working in managerial roles within the hospitality and construction industry. Tiag is a native Gaelic speaker, enjoys working with people and is passionate about ensuring Tagsa Uibhist continues to serve islanders.
Finance Assistant
Mary joined Tagsa Uibhist in October 2018. Before that, she had a long career at QinetiQ which also included working in finance. She was at home for a year and then decided that she would like to get back into the work routine. There was an opportunity to work part time and she was accepted into the post. Mary is from Lochboisdale and lives there with her husband, her family have now left home and living on the mainland.
Care Manager (Trainee)
Sarah joined Tagsa Uibhist as a carer in 2020 just before the Covid-19 pandemic, working full time as a carer. Sarah progressed to take on the role of Care Coordinator in September 2022, and most recently has progressed to Care Manager in January 2023. She has been gaining the required qualifications whilst managing the Care Department. Previously Sarah worked in hospitality and has several years of experience in office environments. Sarah is from Benbecula and has worked since leaving school in 2013. Sarah is passionate about helping the community and progressing professional development in the industry.
Care Coordinator
Kirsty recently joined Tagsa Uibhist as a carer in 2022 after getting back into work after having two children and has now progressed to take on the role as Care-Coordinator. Kirsty’s background has always been in health and social care and previously worked with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the NHS. Kirsty also owns a croft in North Uist where she keeps a holding of sheep. She has a great passion for both jobs and being a native Gaelic speaker really helps in both sectors.
Adult Support Worker
Deborah MacVicar has worked in home care for most of her life, even while completing her Ba Hons degree in fine art. Since moving to Benbecula 31 years ago with her husband Archie and their two sons, she has been a gardener, a nursery teacher and a chef for the Ministry of Defence. The family welcomed a daughter to the family 28 years ago, and as all three of the children have left home, the couple live with a husky, a Bengal cat and an axolotl. Deborah loves to create art and silver jewellery and has her own small business. She is passionate about helping people to reach their full potential, and to keep people as independent as possible, for as long as possible. She cared for her own father as his dementia progressed, including taking on self-directed support.
Post Diagnostic Support Link Worker (Dementia)
Rosie joined Tagsa Uibhist as a Carer in April 2018, working part time as she had a full-time job with QinetiQ. Whilst studying towards her SVQ 3 in Health and Social Care, Rosie decided to go down the route of specialising in dementia. She read about the magnificent work that PDS Link Workers were doing in Scotland and decided that was her dream job. Rosie’s father had lived with dementia before passing away in 2013. There was a lack of support for individuals and their family at that time, as the PDS role did not exist at that time. Rosie felt that the role of PDS Link Worker (Dementia) was written for her and after a successful application, she started in June 22. Rosie’s position is part funded by the NHS and she works as an integral part of the Community Mental Health Team as well as Tagsa’s Care Department.
Human Resources and Office Administration Manager
Hanna joined Tagsa Uibhist as a Human Resource and Office Administration Manager in 2023. She previously worked with Tagsa in 2019 as a Project Coordinator on a Climate Challenge Fund project.
Hanna is born and raised in Sweden by Finnish parents. Her varied background includes working as a care assistant with the elderly and children with autism whilst studying social anthropology, sculpture and nursing. Before moving to the Western Isles in 2015, Hanna enjoyed a role as a Human Resources Manager at sea where she helped an international crew thrive and deliver in their onboard roles. Since moving to Scotland, she has learned about growing vegetables through SVQ’s 1 & 2 in Horticulture and completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology with the Open University. Hanna lives with her partner and son on a croft in South Uist. In her spare time, she enjoys looking after a new woodland (Alders, Birch and Willows) planted on the croft, reading and walking the beautiful island landscape with her two Border Collies.
Local Food Development Manager
Alex Mackenzie is the Local Food Development Manager for Tagsa Uibhist. Alex is leading on Tagsa’s work to help alleviate the challenges of food insecurity on island communities and to get local food accessible and affordable for all. Alex is also responsible for setting up the Western Isles Food Partnership bringing together key stakeholders from right across the local food system with the goal of achieving a Sustainable Food Places award for the Western Isles. Alex has over 20 years community development experience working with local communities from across Scotland and overseas. In her studies Alex specialised on rural community developments, social justice and their connection with the environment achieving an MBS and LLM in Human Rights Law. Originally from Dublin in Ireland, Alex is now living in South Uist with her husband and four children. Alex has a deep love for the Scottish islands and is passionate about climate justice and keeping community at the heart of local food development.
Local Food Development Officer
Kat started at Tagsa Uibhist as a gardens volunteer, after her move to Eriskay in October 2021. Following this, she has worked in a few roles within the organisation, including Volunteer Coordinator and Community Transport Manager. She successfully moved into the role of Community Local Food and Gardens Officer in May 2023 and she continues to support Neighbourfood, a click and collect service for local producers. Prior to moving to the Hebrides, Kat worked in HR in Edinburgh for over 20 years. Kat has embraced her new life in Eriskay, where she lives with her partner and their dog Bailey. They have taken on a croft and inherited a small flock of Hebridean sheep. She loves being part of the community and is passionate about gardening and growing food.
Community Gardens Officer
Theresa joined Tagsa Uibhist as a community gardener in November 2018 when all her children had started in school. Theresa always had a passion for gardening and a love for the outdoors. Theresa completed her SVQ qualification in horticulture at Cothrom in 2016 and shortly after finishing her course went on to support a group of allotment growers in Lochboisdale to encourage them to grow produce in their poly crub. Theresa can now be found hard at work at the Tagsa’s community garden site at East Camp growing nutritious fruit and veg for the community along with providing those essential veg and flowering plants to help people grow their own. Originally from Barra, Theresa is now living in Strome in South Uist with her husband and four children and is never more at home than in the garden or in her poly tunnel.
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