Teresa has worked for CHAI since 1997 when our organisation was first established. She works closely with our Board of Directors to provide leadership and vision to CHAI Staff, Volunteers and Service Users. The role also includes stakeholder communication, financial planning, and governance. Teresa has a passion for the work we do and the positive changes we make to vulnerable people’s lives.  She has a Diploma in Accountancy and 20+ years’ experience in Finance and 15+ years of Management experience. Teresa used to work as our Finance Manager where she oversaw all finance, administration, and HR.  She is a full member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and is currently working towards level 5 with the Institute of Leadership and Management.

Stella has worked at CHAI for 18 years.  She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work at Glasgow University in 1998 and has over 30 years’ experience in the social welfare field. This experience includes working for a number of charities in the provision of mental health advocacy, homelessness support and counselling. 

David has worked in social care for over 20 years, starting as a support worker and then moved into management. He has significant experience of managing various types of services throughout Scotland, including homelessness supported accommodation, outreach support, family support, care services for young people and counselling services. He has have worked within several different local authority areas including Orkney, Highland, Glasgow, Edinburgh and South Lanarkshire. For the past 5 years, he was the Head of Services for a Scottish Charity and had overall responsibility for ensuring high quality services were provided to over 4,000 people a year.

Andrew comes from a background in community activism and has a master’s degree in Scots law. Andrew lectured at university and was the editor of SCOLAG Legal Journal before he became a volunteer for CHAI.  He has worked a variety of projects delivering advice and assistance on welfare benefits, housing rights, money advice, and representation in tribunals and the sheriff court.

Steven has worked at CHAI for 12 years and is a specialist in housing support, energy advice; and when he was a Senior Advisor he dealt with debt and welfare benefits. As well as supporting the CHAI Service Manager and CHAI Advisors, Steven also supports clients in mental health settings across Edinburgh through the work we do for the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board. Steven completed a Bachelor of Arts with honours in Sociology (Edinburgh University) as a mature student, and an MSc in Housing and Regeneration (Herriot Watt University). His previous related work experience includes research into young people and homelessness as a council employee in the same field.

Emma joined CHAI in January 2022.  She is an experienced charity fundraiser and has worked in the charity sector for 17+ years. Previous fundraising roles have included Teenage Cancer Trust, Myeloma UK and Cancer Research UK. Emma has a commitment and desire to make a difference for those less fortunate in our communities.

Cindy joined CHAI in 2015 and was initially employed as a Housing Adviser and is now our Training and Compliance Consultant. She has 13-year experience in welfare rights, debt and housing advice and has worked for both Granton Information Centre and Cyrenians. In 2017, she was asked
to lead on CHAI’s Training and Development, and in the intervening years has developed a comprehensive training programme on welfare benefits and debt advice. Cindy trains all our volunteers and new staff, and provides a continuous training programme for staff on new legislation through regular training sessions and news digests. She also manages compliance to make sure CHAI adheres to the Scottish National Advice Standards.