Meet the Team

Linda McCartan - Community Health Development Manager

Tel: 01563 576717
Email: linda.mccartan@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

I have worked with East Ayrshire Council since 1997, since 2002 in my current post of Community Health Development Manager with responsibility for overseeing the Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP) project. Before working with East Ayrshire Council, I worked in Glasgow as a Health and Fitness Officer with responsibility for GP Referral Schemes, fitness testing and activities for older adults. Prior to that, I was a Sports Motivator in Cambuslang, delivering school PE sessions, adult aerobics and fitness classes.
I studied for an HNC in Leisure Management at North Glasgow College and also went to Glasgow University and obtained a BSc in Physiology and Sports Science. During the years I spent at College and University, I qualified as a coach in a number of different sports and as an aerobics teacher. I delivered a full range of these activities as a sessional worker in Glasgow and Renfrewshire. I am currently studying towards a Masters in Public Health at Glasgow University on a part time basis.
I enjoy going to the gym and going out on my bike (in good weather) and reading the odd thriller!

Kate Todd - Health Development Officer

Tel: 01563 576689
Email: kate.todd@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

I am a Health Development Officer and have worked for the CHIP project since it’s launch in January 2001. I have qualifications in Counselling, Health/Fitness, British Sign Language, G.P. Exercise and Referral consultant and recently completed a diploma In Human Nutrition.

Previously I worked in the community as L.A.Y tutor (Look After Yourself). My remit as lay tutor was promoting healthier lifestyles to community groups and included exercise sessions such as healthy eating, coping with stress and relaxation sessions. The groups covered a wide span of ages with numbers from ranging from 6 to 40 attending each session.

I am a trained aerobic/fitness instructor with over 20 years experience of working with community groups and furthermore work voluntarily as a counsellor.

I enjoy exercising and run every morning before work. I compete regularly and run distances from 10k to Ultra Distances. I have so far completed over 40 marathons and represent Scotland and Great Britain in ultra distance events. In 1999, in my 50th year, I became the ladies British Champion in the 100k.

Claire Blair - Health & Activity Motivator (Communities)

Tel: 01563 576641
Email: claire.blair@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

I joined the Leisure Development team in October 08 as a Health and Activity Motivator following a four year period working as a Physiotherapy Assistant at Crosshouse Hospital where I gained much experience in working with people suffering from a wide range of illnesses and long term conditions. Prior to this I worked for many years in the travel industry after gaining an HND in Travel and Tourism from Glasgow Caledonian University.

I qualified as an aerobics instructor over 15 years ago and since then have gained certification in many different disciplines from the well known BTS programmes of which BodyAttack is my favourite to the more unusual such as Pole Dancing! I have also completed the YMCA Personal Trainer Award and am currently an advanced level 3 member of the Register of Exercise Professionals.

I am out most evenings teaching a variety of classes in local leisure centres and in my spare time I often try out new leisure pursuits such as snowboarding and surfing with my two children.

Lifestyle Development Officer

Tel: 01563 576723
Email:

Watch this space

Anne Golightly - Health & Activity Motivator (Communities)

Tel: 01563 554845
Email: anne.golightly@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

After starting work with the CHIP project as a sessional worker in June 04, I secured the permanent position in September 04 of Assistant Lifestyle Development Officer, working on the Lifestyle Referral Scheme.

Since obtaining my original qualifications of MA in French and German from Glasgow University, followed by a post-graduate Diploma in European Marketing with languages, I have held a variety of different jobs using my languages in industry and am also a fully qualified Financial Adviser, since passing all my exams in 1997. However, finding this job intolerable, I returned to industry, but was made redundant 3 years later in 2000. Straight after my redundancy I worked as a temp in various companies until I decided to take some time out to take my most recent Diploma in Personal Training with Sports Massage Therapy, which I passed in January 2003.

Having always had an interest in sport, health and fitness, I then set up my own business in Personal Training and Sports Massage Therapy at the same time as temping. As sufficient business was not forthcoming, I was very pleased to have the opportunity to apply for my current position, which is a particular area of interest for me.

I enjoy playing tennis, badminton, running and cycling and attend the gym whenever possible. I am currently a member of the Register of Exercise Professionals at Advanced Level 3, and am an Associate Member of the Sports Massage Association and am listed on the Register of Nutritional Therapists at Level 1. Through East Ayrshire Council I now possess the Wright Foundation Exercise Referral Certificate.

Kevin Mitchell - Lifestyle Development Officer (Men's Health)

Tel: 01563 578160
Email: kevin.mitchell@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

I have worked as Lifestyle Development Officer (Men's Health) since June 2005 after briefly working as a sessional worker for the CHIP project. After leaving school, I worked in the Resource Centre of the Health Promotion Unit at Ayrshire Central Hospital where my main duties were assisting clients with their health information needs by providing them with resource materials and equipment. During this time I was also able to play a part in major health events such as No Smoking Day and World AIDS Day.

I went on to to work in Glasgow as a Soft Skills and Systems Trainer for Vertex Data Science but realsing that my passion was not in this field, I studied and gained the WABBA Fitness Instructor award. This allowed me to make my move into the fitness industry where I became the Senior Fitness Instructor at the Excells fitness suite at the Galleon Centre. As well as working in the gym, I also taught a variety of fitness and exercise classes.

During my time at the Galleon Centre, I became a qualified Pool Lifeguard and Spinning Instructor and also studied at Kilmarnock College's Centre of Sporting Excellence where I gained an HND in Sports Coaching.

In my spare time I try to train at the gym as often as I can. I also enjoy running and have completed several half marathons.

Johnny Allen - Community Health Assistant

Tel: 01563 578159
Email: johnny.allen@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

I have been employed as a Community Health Assistant with the Leisure Development team at East Ayrshire Council since November 2005. My interest in health and fitness began at a young age, playing football for local teams and competing in athletics at both district and county level. Once leaving school I attended Reid Kerr College in Paisley for two years and gained an HND in Health and Fitness. Thereafter, I worked as a gym instructor/pool lifeguard at David Lloyd Leisure in Renfrew for 3 years, carrying out gym inductions, aerobic classes and personal training sessions on a regular basis.

In 2000, I wanted to further my knowledge in this field, so I enrolled at Abertay University in Dundee and gained a BSc in Health and Sports Studies. At this point, I was employed as a gym instructor at Barrhead Sports Centre near Paisley, where, as well as gym inductions and administration duties, I was involved in the GP Referral Scheme, doing consultations and inductions. Outside of work , I enjoy weight training and running at the local gym on a regular basis. At weekends I DJ at a few night-clubs in and around Glasgow playing dance music.

Sharon McQuillan

Tel: 01563 576641
Email: sharon.mcquillan@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

My name is Sharon McQuillan and I have worked with Leisure Development for over ten years as a fitness instructor. I have worked with all the departments over the years teaching fitness classes within communities to everyone from the age of 1 to 90. I am also a freelance self-employed instructor teaching Bodypump, Bodycombat, Bodyattack, Salsa, Hip Hop, Aqua trim, Aero skip and much more. I am also a qualified Trampoline instructor, which was my childhood hobby. My job involves motivating people into living a healthier lifestyle. I have a career that I love and it was my childhood dream to become a P.E teacher. I have taught in schools which is great but I love working with the older generation too. A career in fitness involves ongoing education, courses and workshops continuously as we work in many specialised areas such as mental health, cardiac clients, smoking cessation, obesity diabetes, the is endless. I am currently attending night classes hoping to qualify as a person centered counsellor, which I find very challenging.

Jack Macdonald

Tel: 01563 574812
Email: jack.macdonald@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

After working with Royal Mail for 38 years, I decided to take early retirement in 1999. As I have always been interested in health related issues and keeping myself fit, I decided to apply to Kilmarnock College for the HNC/HND Sports Coaching course. I was successful and attended college form 1999 to 2001 and gained an HND in Sports Coaching. I was also fortunate to be selected as sports coaching student of the year.

After leaving college I worked part-time in a health club doing personal programmes as well as doing classes for the 50+ age group. I also did private classes for this age group. In 2003 I started doing sessional work for East Ayrshire Council and this led to gaining a qualification in taking chair exercise classes. In 2004 I gained the Wright Foundation Exercise Referral qualification.

In 2005 I secured a temporary contract as a Community Health Assistant working on the Lifestyle Referral Scheme and in May 2007 I was promoted to Health and Activity Motivator (Communities).

In my spare time I train at the gym as often as possible. I also enjoy gardening and am now seeing the results of a lot of hard work.