Our Team
At present everyone who is working on the project is doing so on a voluntary basis and recieve no renumeration.
CEO & Founder
Amanda Greig
As a Mum of 4 and finding myself as a parent to a child with additional support needs (ASN) the last few years have been both difficult and demanding.
It would be no exaggeration to say our sons diagnosis changed our whole world. What it also did was give me a clear insight into how unsupported and ill-informed parents (including myself) are at the very time they need guidance and support the most.
It was during this journey that it became evident there is a huge gap in services. There is no ‘central hub’ of information, support and guidance. There is no safe haven that parents, carer and families can turn to. Aberdeenshire lacks the resources and facilities necessary to ensure children and young people with additional support needs reach their full potential. Parents and carer are desperately seeking support, understanding and the knowledge required to empower them to make informed choices about their young persons life, education and care needs.
lsolation is a word we have all become familiar with since the beginning of Covid but for families like ours isolation is not a new feeling, it is a very sad reality due to a lack of support, resources and understanding.
The Journey we have navigated through as a family over the last few years has left me with an absolute determination to never let anyone feel the loneliness, isolation and exclusion we have been through and to make sure every child and young person with ASN feels like they belong, they are valued and they are respected.
From this determination the concept of ‘OaKley’ was born.
Safeguarding/Child Protection Lead
Caroline MacQuarrie
Caroline is an Early years assessor with experience as an EYP and Manager. With a BA in Childhood practice and an assessors qualification she has supported a range of private and public nurseries to develop their practice with children and families and improve the quality of care within the Early Years sector.
Marianne Adamson Skinner
Marianne is a pupil Support Worker at a local ASN school with over 30 years’ experience in the childcare sector in many roles. She has had Early Years Practitioner experience in both private and local authority settings and has recently gained a BA in Childcare Practice. Experience in the education sector can bring valuable perspectives to the development of Oakley’s programs.
“It is important for me to support Oakley as I believe more support is needed for both children and young people with Additional Support Needs and their families. Having worked in the ASN sector for over 10 years, I have seen how children flourish with the proper facilities and support.”
Zia Savel
Zia is passionate about education and ensuring that everyone has access to learning opportunities.
Her journey began with a Childcare and Education qualification from NESCOL, followed by a BA (Hons) in Educational Research from Lancaster University. She initially worked as a Training & Assessing Consultant in Education before transitioning to the Energy sector, where she spent 20 years leading global Learning and Talent Development initiatives.
Since 2020, Zia has been running her own business as an Executive Coach and Facilitator, supporting clients across multiple industries.
With firsthand experience navigating the Additional Support Needs (ASN) landscape—advocating for adjustments in mainstream education and overcoming challenges to access the right resources—Zia understands the critical role that OaKley plays in supporting children, young people, and families in our community. She is proud to contribute to the charity’s mission and make a lasting impact.
ASN Development Manager
Kate Turner
Kate is a passionate educator, bringing years of experience in supporting children with ASN and a qualified Forest School practitioner. She is dedicated to creating meaningful and memorable experiences for children, driven by a strong commitment to inclusion, respect, and collaboration—values that align closely with Oakley ASN’s mission. Her goal is to ensure that every child feels heard, valued, and empowered.
With a deep connection to nature and passion in Forest School approaches, Kate brings a creative, hands-on perspective to program development at Oakley. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces that sparks curiosity, creativity and promotes well-being, helping every child to discover their potential.
Fundraising Team
Our rapidly growing team of fundraising volunteers are meeting regularly to coordinate upcoming events and activities, they come from a wide variety of backgrounds including health, education and legal services, the vast majority have lived experience of additional support needs too. They are an incredible bunch and we are extremely grateful to them for volunteering their time. If you would like to be part of this team then please get in touch, we would love to have you on board!