Skills for Life
Neil Maclean,
Listening Peers Coordinator
As the Listening Peers Coordinator, Neil manages the peer mentoring service for young people. He coordinates the service alongside the young mentors; young people who have received Bridges Project support and who have experienced challenges themselves. Listening Peers gives young people a supportive role model who listens and gives them confidence, helps them tackle negative feelings and gives them advice on overcoming challenges and accessing other services.
Neil joined us in January 2019. He brings a wealth of experience in employability and training from working with private and third sector organisations across Scotland.
Stevie Baxter,
Independent Living Support Worker
As an Independent Living Support Worker, Stevie supports young tenants and prospective young tenants. The key aim is to develop the independent living skills of young people and to support them in maintaining and sustaining tenancies. Stevie supports young people with benefit and money management issues and delivers the SQA accredited Tenancy Award in conjunction with Borders College.
Stevie joined Bridges Project in 2021. Stevie has worked with young people and adults in the care sector for 13 years in various settings for private companies and local authorities. Stevie’s past experience includes working in residential settings with looked after children and young people, youth work in communities, working with adults with learning disabilities and homeless prevention.
Mhairi Kiernan, Independent Living Support Worker
Mhairi supports young tenants and prospective young tenants. The key aim is to develop the independent living skills of young people and to support them in maintaining and sustaining tenancies. Mhairi also supports young people with benefit and money management issues.
Mhairi joined the team in 2022, initially as an Employability Support Worker. She has experience working in many sectors, including more than years in hospitality, and has previously spent time working in the Middle East as an Environmental Engineer Trainee. Mhairi also has experience working with and teaching young people as a PADI Open Water Dive Instructor. She holds a BA Hons in Applied Marine Biology.
Nicola Melvin,
Groups Support Worker
Nicola delivers a wide range of social life skills groups to young people. Groups Nicola runs include arts and crafts workshops and cooking groups.
Nicola joined Bridges Project in 2022. Having graduated with a textile fashion degree from university, Nicola spent 15 years as a freelance clothes designer and was also employed at an employment agency. Nicola moved into charity work in 2016, when she set up a community group for helping refugees in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh.