Meet our team
These are some of the people that make VTO’s work possible.
Our Team Members
Barbara Oliver
Barbara joined the organisation in October 2016 firstly as a volunteer tutor then as a member of staff in April 2017. Her background is not in education having worked in the insurance industry for many years as an underwriter and latterly as Operations Director for Kwikfit Insurance Services. Her career took her to Thus Telecommunications as Senior Business Manager for several high profile accounts before taking a break to raise her family.
Alyson Grandison
Alyson joined the team in April 2019 and is VTO’s Operations Manager. She is responsible for ensuring we deliver the best possible service to all our stakeholders – pupils, families, tutors and referrers.
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Louise Young
Louise joined VTO in July 2020 as a Learning Communities Coordinator. She currently holds the role of Business Development Officer and is involved in managing dedicated projects and partnerships, exploring new business opportunities, contributing to funding activity and ensuring that service delivery goals are achieved.
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Kesson Wilson
Kesson is the Senior Learning Communities Coordinator responsible for the smooth running of our Learning Hub network. She has worked and volunteered as a tutor and as a camp monitor with children from various backgrounds including asylum seekers, refugees and care experienced young people.
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Anne Gillespie
Anne joined the VTO team in December 2022 as a Learning Communities Coordinator. She volunteered for many years as a coach and judge of gymnastics. She has previously worked in the call centre industry for many years as an Operations Manager, and latterly as a Business Support Manager working with teams in India and Manila.
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Gillian Lowrie
Gillian joined the VTO team as a Learning Communities Coordinator in November 2021. As a committed volunteer with her local Scout Group, Gillian loves working with children and feels very strongly that the engagement of children in education and activities is of vital importance. She also loves being outdoors and giving the kids she volunteers with as many opportunities as possible.
Hilary McDonald
Hilary joined the organisation in July 2022, after many years of working in the travel industry all over the world including for significant time onboard cruise ships. More recently, Hilary has been working for VisitScotland welcoming visitors to Glasgow and Scotland as a whole.
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Lora Addison
Lora graduated Glasgow Caledonian University with a BA(Hons)in International Fashion Branding in 2018. Prior to joining VTO, Lora worked in volunteer management and support within a student union where she developed a passion for working with volunteers and supporting them to make a difference.
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Lewis Gavin
Lewis joined VTO in September 2020 as a Learning Communities Coordinator, having graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in English Literature that year. Prior to becoming an LCC, he has worked as a teaching assistant at a music department in a London secondary school, where he found a passion for working with young people.
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Jennifer Kirkpatrick
Jennifer is a Learning Communities Coordinator. With a background in education, she completed a PGCE at Cardiff Metropolitan University and spent some time teaching in Wales before moving back to Scotland to teach in East Renfrewshire. Before becoming a teacher, Jennifer worked in the third sector for a charity who support ex-military personnel looking for employment.
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Janice Galloway
Janice joined VTO in September 2021 as a Learning Community Coordinator with a responsibility for Learning Hubs. She has volunteered with VTO since August 2020.
Christine Howie
Christine is a Learning Communities Coordinator with a decades experience in Scottish education. A former teacher and member of the SQA, Christine moved to the third sector in 2019 working as a Fundraising Manager for a Carers charity.
Liam Wright
Liam joined VTO in September 2022 after graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling from Strathclyde. Alongside his studies, Liam used to volunteer as a befriender, working with care-experienced teenagers and young people on the autism spectrum. He also previously volunteered with VTO at learning hubs and as an online maths tutor.
Helen Broadbent
Helen joined VTO in August 2023 as the Outreach Coordinator for Perth and Kinross. After a career in sports and theatre venue management she changed track in 2015 to follow a passion for learning. Having gained experience in Perth and Kinross schools as a teaching assistant and on teacher training placements she is a trauma-informed and enthusiastic educator with a passion for working with children and young people.
Beth Skorczewski
Beth joined VTO in August 2023 as the Learning Hub Support Coordinator. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in Primary Education and qualified as a teacher in 2018. Following this, Beth worked in a charity to support the establishment and running of a newly built event centre and later took on a role in teaching Outdoor Education.
Elizabeth Hamilton
Elizabeth has worked as an LCC at VTO since August 2023. Prior to this she worked in Early Years Education for 20 years, with a keen interest in learning through play and outdoor play experiences. During this time Elizabeth also gained a BA in Social Sciences – Criminology and Sociology.
Jamie Courtney
Jamie joined VTO in October 2023 as a Learning Communities Coordinator, after volunteering at one of our Learning Hubs. Her background is in teaching and tutoring English as an additional language.
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Vinnie
Librarian, Mascot
Our Directors
Karen Frondigoun (Treasurer)- ACCA
Karen is a qualified Youth Worker, and a qualified ACCA Accountant. She is also a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwon-Do and won a Silver medal at the ITF World Taekwon-Do Championships in Pyogyang North Korea in September 2017.
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Lynne Ward – BSc, MSc
Lynne has worked within the regeneration sector for more than 20 years, across the Charitable Sector, the former Glasgow Regeneration Agencies and Local Government. She currently works for Scottish Futures Trust, an arms-length-agency of Scottish Government.
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David Kirkwood
David joined VTO as a volunteer tutor in 2021 having retired from teaching Mathematics for 15 years as a classroom teacher and Faculty Head in Glasgow’s East End.
Andrew J. MacDonald – BEng (Hons), MSc
Karen Ritchie
Karen joined VTO as a volunteer in late 2021 having retired from her full time role with the NHS earlier that year. Having originally trained in the biological sciences, Karen subsequently worked at the University of Glasgow as a public health researcher.
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Johann Lamont
Johann served as the Scottish Labour and Co-operative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow Pollok Constituency from 1999 – 2016 and for the Glasgow Region from 2016. She retired from the Scottish Parliament in May 2021.
Our Chairman
Douglas Johnston
(Chairman & Trustee)
BSc., MSc., MRTPI, Dip H., FIOH
Douglas started the Volunteer Tutors Organisation on leaving the University of Strathclyde in 1976 and was Chair of the VTO for the first nine years of its existence. Prior to retiring from business he was Managing Director of the consultancy firm Arneil Johnston specialising in public and voluntary sector business planning, strategy, ICT Procurement and the comprehensive management of public sector assets. Before establishing the business in 1996 he was a Managing Consultant with the multi-national firm Deloitte & Touche working with a wide range of public sector clients on business planning preparation and assessment, system and process reviews and ICT procurement. Previous to this he worked in local government for 14 years and was Director in Housing in Renfrew from 1986 to 1990 and for Stirling Council from 1982 to 1986.
Get in touch with us
Interested in joining us? Want to know more about us? Contact us for a chat. Feeling a little shy? Why not check out our Frequently Asked Questions
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Registered Scottish Charity No SC000403
Company, limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland May 2003 Company No 249724
Website designed by Kelly Chen at KC and Liam Macpherson
Volunteer Tutors Organisation
St Charles Primary School
13 Kelvinside Gardens
Glasgow
G20 6BG
0141 946 6498
admin@vtoscotland.org
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