​Our Associates and Wider Team

As well as our core team, we regularly work with local entrepreneurs and organisations who share our values and deliver work to our high standards. We have built a bank of trusted associates and partners over the years.

We also believe in ‘growing our own’ and aspire to provide high quality (accredited) volunteering, training and apprenticeship opportunities as part of specific projects we deliver, which support the economic sustainability of our local area and build the capacity of our own organisation.

We work to ensure client confidentiality and safety at all times, and fulfil best practice guidelines and legal obligations with regards to all aspects of Health & Safety and Data Protection of our clients and their service users.

LORNA
​BELL

 Lorna is an independent researcher and evaluator with over 15 years’ experience of delivering projects for public and voluntary sector organisations.  After working in academia, local government and the NHS in the south west of England, she returned to her home town of Langholm in 2017 and set up Lorna Bell Research soon after. 

​Her academic background means that her work is underpinned by rigorous research training but her real strength is in working with organisations to deliver findings that can improve practice and maximise impact. She is currently working with Sleeping Giants on the evaluation of the Dumfries and Galloway-wide Skills for Life project, a mental health intervention for primary school aged children.  

cara gillespie

Cara brings over 25 years' experience drawn from management and development roles in a diverse range of third and public sector organisations, a passion for sustainable community-led development, and particular expertise in governance. She is an engaging, experienced facilitator with excellent communication skills. 

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douglas westwater

Douglas is an expert in project development and financing and has worked in Scotland’s third sector for 25 years. The development of capital projects in relation to local regeneration is a particular area of his expertise.