Our staff team are dedicated to supporting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Edinburgh.
We have a wide range of skills and experience, including language teaching, group facilitation and project management.
We are led by a Board of Directors, our Chief Executive Officer Tesfu Gessesse and the Senior Management Team.
Senior Management Team
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Tesfu Gessesse
Protecting the welfare of staff and volunteers. Providing strategic leadership to the workforce. Supporting the Board of Directors. Establishing effective partnerships and promoting the work of the organisation. Ensuring our services are demand-led and the experiences of New Scots contribute to local and national policy design.
Befriending Manager
Chiara Puppi
Managing our Friendship programme, arranging befriending matches, coordinating friendship groups and volunteers. Supporting the Director with managing staff and projects.
Finance Manager
Chris Growcott
Managing our finances and bookkeeping. Preparing budgets and management accounts. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, external stakeholders and funders.
Admin and HR Manager
Sophie Revesz
Responsible for HR management and day-to-day operations of the office. Acting as first point of contact for new service users, volunteers and visitors. Responding to enquiries and new registrations.
Development workers and coordinators
ESOL Coordinator
David Carpenter
Coordinating our free English classes and courses for New Scots. Supporting our volunteer teachers to deliver classes. Supervising the delivery of activities with the CEC Resettlement Programme.
Friendship Group Facilitator
Gosia Kowalewska
Facilitating online and face-to-face group activities for New Scots as part of the Befriending Programme. Supporting New Scots to make connections, develop friendships and feel at home in their new communities.
Communications Coordinator
Jenni Flett
Managing the website, social media and press relations for The Welcoming. Supporting the Director with planning campaigns and fundraising. Email for press enquiries and campaign collaborations.
Energy Advice Coordinator
Kate Osmond
Responsible for running The Welcoming’s Home Energy programme, providing free and impartial home energy advice and support to New Scots households in Edinburgh.
Employment and Training Advisor
Melissa Reed
Supporting New Scots to find employment, develop skills and start businesses. Offering workshops, coaching, language support, facilitated networking and relationship building.
Employment and Entrepreneurial Skills Advisor
Sandra Dargie
Working in partnership with Project Scotland to provide one-to-one support to Young New Scots (aged 18-30), developing employability skills. Providing business and social enterprise support, exploring learning and work/volunteering opportunities.
Employment and Entrepreneurial Skills Advisor
Laura Steven
Working in partnership with Project Scotland to provide one-to-one support to Young New Scots (aged 18-30), developing employability skills. Providing business and social enterprise support, exploring learning and work/volunteering opportunities.
Caretaker
Alan Tolmie