Our Staff
CLS has a staff team of eight, who together have a varied and diverse background of skills that include: funding procurement, community development, economic development, community capacity building, participation and consultation techniques, project management, urban/rural regeneration, landscape architecture, welfare rights and energy advice.
All our project staff have an established base of experience within the social, voluntary, community or housing sectors.
Stephen Singer | Director
Stephen is the founder and Director of Community Links Scotland. Stephen has a background in housing and has supported community groups for more than twenty five years. Stephen combines managing the organisation while working for a range of community led organisations, assisting them with their governance and supporting them in the journey from project inspiration to implementation including the preparation of business plans, community action plans, options studies and funding procurement.
Stephen is a dad to two teenage boys – both of whom are currently learning to drive; he relaxes from being a part-time driving instructor by gardening. An ex-geographer he has a fascination for urban forms.
Louise Bacon | Project Manager
Louise joined Community Links Scotland as a Project Manager in 2005. She has a background in Landscape Architecture and Urban Regeneration and has worked within the community sector for over 25 years supporting and enhancing community driven regeneration across the physical, social and economic environment. Louise has worked on a variety of large scale employment training, financial inclusion and community capacity building projects and supports RSLs and voluntary sector organisations to access funding, develop and implement new projects. In particular, she has worked extensively within Inverclyde building long term relationships with a variety of clients to take forward large partnership projects.
Outside of work, Louise is on the Board of a local Community Controlled Housing Association, Treasurer of her local Community Development Trust and Treasurer of a Junior Curling Club. She also provides a taxi and cheerleading service to her kids for their various sporting activities – which leaves very little time for anything else!
Suzannah Roberts | Project Lead
Suzannah originally joined Community Links Scotland in 2005 and following a career break to raise her young family she returned to the organisation in 2019. She has over 20 years experience working in both Scotland and Australia in strategic planning, grant funding, business planning, community engagement and community capacity building initiatives.
Suzannah fills her spare time chasing after her children, getting together with friends, enjoying the great outdoors and volunteering. Whilst on her career break she spent time living in Australia and volunteered as both Treasurer and Centre Coordinator for a military base community centre, providing support to military families and here in Scotland she has recently joined the Parent Council for her son’s school.
Debs Allan | Consultant
Debs has worked within the community sector and social housing for over 20 years, most recently as a solutions consultant, with an emphasis on funding, community consultation, project coordination and delivery and business planning.
Having decided to go freelance in July 2023, she has worked with Community Links Scotland on a consultative basis since November 2023, supporting the team on specific projects in a range of areas. Prior to this, Debs was with the Scottish Federation of Housing Association (SFHA) in a national role, championing communities and the importance of community investment, through the lens of community anchors and social housing. Before moving to SFHA, Debs worked in a community regeneration capacity in a Housing Association in Renfrewshire, working in partnership with several other social landlords, community groups and local authority and third-sector stakeholders.
Lisa Lees | Healthy Pathways Project Lead
Lisa has been involved with Community Links Scotland since 2011, firstly as a volunteer, student, sessional worker and now full time team member. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a BA in Community Development, is a qualified SQA Verifier and Assessor and recently gained her Reach Advocacy Practice Award. Lisa has a vast amount of experience in youth work, community engagement, group work, facilitation as well as creating and delivering training.
Lisa has 3 children and 2 grandchildren, she loves to read in her spare time. Lisa has found that she has a strong affinity with Harry Potter and is a very proud Hufflepuff. Lisa has a vast collection of Harry Potter merchandise and wands and like a true Hufflepuff she loves animals. Lisa has an array of pets that include, a dog, 2 cats, African Grey Parrot and 3 Ball Pythons.
Kay Clark | Project Lead
Kay joined Community Links Scotland in November 2022, and works part-time. She is an experienced community engagement worker with over 20 years’ experience working within the voluntary sector, primarily working in Inverclyde. Kay has a wide range of expertise and experience in developing and delivering community development projects – particularly, funding, volunteer management, community consultation and project management. Kay worked with Inverclyde Community Development Trust for 15 years, latterly as the Heritage and Cultural Coordinator.
Kay has two children and four grandchildren, she is an avid walker and plays badminton three times a week. She is a board member for a local Housing Association and Inverclyde Heritage Network. She has recently joined a series of 3D Printing workshops and wants to eventually buy her own 3D printer.
Lesley Anderson | Project Worker
Lesley joined Community Links Scotland in August 2023. With 26 years' experience in the third sector, she initially began as a youth worker before moving into criminal justice and latterly helping local charities to grow.
With a MSc in Sustainability and Environmental Management, Lesley’s interest has always been in protecting our natural resources for future generations. Her time is spent with her two Labradors, ponies and as a volunteer Marine Medic with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
Jim Percival | Energy Lead
Jim is supporting our West Dunbartonshire Energy Advice Service.
Jim has over 46 years of experience supporting households who have been impacted by energy-related issues.
He started work with the South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) in 1976 and was employed with them for 27 years. He has since worked with Solas Scotland for 11 years and latterly with the Wise Group Energy Advice and Advocacy services for the past 9 years up until retirement in 2022.
Jim resides in Greenock. He is married with two children and five grandchildren.
Emma Kelman | Energy Advisor
Emma joined Community Links Scotland early Summer 2023. She has over 25 years’ experience of providing advice, delivering community engagement, promoting social inclusion and working with under-represented groups across Scotland. For the last 15 years, Emma has been specialising in Welfare Rights. She has supported individuals across Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire to maximise their income through benefit entitlement checks, completing various benefit forms, advocating on their behalf and working in partnership with local organisations to support referrals. Energy Advice has always played a vital part of this role. Initially working as a volunteer with Citizens Advice Bureau, Emma has worked with local councils and housing associations, engaging with the local community and promoting social inclusion through a capacity-building approach.
When not working, Emma likes to sing and play guitar with her sister. She has recently taken an interest in photography; joining an evening class to learn more.
Fatemeh Mesbahi | Energy Advisor
Bio coming soon!
Alison Shaw | Finance Consultant
Alison is our Finance Consultant. She worked for us for 20 years and in 2022 she decided to semi-retire. However, she couldn’t leave us completely, and now works one day a week on all things finance.
In her spare time, when not busy with childcare for her several grandchildren, Alison is either in competition bowling Scotland wide, organising bowling events or caring for the family’s horses and dogs; she enjoys gardening and is also addicted to house hunting and interior decor TV programmes!