Meet the Team

We couldn’t do all of our amazing work without the hard work and dedication of our DMAC family. Learn about their wealth of knowledge and experience below.

Drumchapel Money Advice Project

Samantha McInnes: Senior Money Advisor

I have worked in the advice sector for 16 years. This includes working within Citizens Advice as a volunteer where I became a paid member of staff. I was an Information Advice Worker, Support Worker and Tutor Trainer.

I have worked in DMAC for 11 years as a Money Advisor. I have become qualified with a HND in Accounting and a BA Business Law Degree.

Lesley Scullion: Welfare Rights Advisor

I help people with benefit applications, money maximisation and disability benefits. I have been a Community Worker for 20 years and have a varied experience in all aspects of this.

Drumchapel Children’s Rights Project

Pauline Carruthers: Senior Children’s Rights Worker

My journey in DMAC began as a volunteer more than 20 years ago. Whilst my designation within the project may have changed, and the organisation may have evolved in those two decades, the core principles of the service that attracted me as a volunteer remain the same: to provide children and young people with independent advocacy to ensure their views are heard on issues which affect them.

My work within CRP has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life. Seeing children and young people I have helped come back as happy and healthy adults is indescribably satisfying. The team within DMAC genuinely care for the people of the community, and it makes for a happy and productive place to work.

Here is to the next 20 years!

Drumchapel Advocacy Project

Danny Paton: Senior Advocacy Worker

In 2003, I started as a Volunteer Advocate at the Drumchapel Advocacy Project: a sector of the Drumchapel Money Advice Centre. We specialise in housing issues; children’s panels; social work reviews; and supporting people in recovery from addictions to access services like rehabs, evictions, and challenging decisions made by statutory and community services involved in providing services to our clients.

I became a paid member of staff in 2004 before progressing to a Senior Crisis Advocate in 2014. I am passionate about using both the personal and professional skills I have gained over the last 22 years to support, advocate and empower my clients. This allows them to engage with and have a choice and a say in the services they receive, both from statutory and community service providers involved with their care needs.

Elaine Williamson: Volunteer Advocacy Worker

In March 2024, I started volunteering as an advocate for the Drumchapel Advocacy Project. I wanted to volunteer to gain new skills and experiences that could help make a difference within the local community.

By being involved in the project, I have found new ways of understanding how to help people explore options, how to help people decide what is best for them, and how they want to put their views across.

I found working as a Volunteer Advocate to be a rewarding experience and I have developed skills that I can put into practice in everyday situations.

Administration & Finance

Trisha O’Connell: Office Manager

I am currently the Office Manager. I say “currently”, as I have fulfilled many roles in my 25 year career within Drumchapel Money Advice Centre, starting as an Office Junior in 1999. Having lived in Drumchapel my entire life, it has been a privilege to contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community.

My responsibilities are many and varied, but interacting with the public and assisting them in a multitude of ways has always been the best aspect.

Gillian Lynch: Clerical Officer

I have been part of the Admin Team since 2005. My role is to provide administration support for the Money Advice Project, the Advocacy Project and the Children’s Rights Project.

As part of the administration provision, I am an initial point of contact for all clients through the telephone system where I screen calls for individual personal client needs and arrange direct appointments, as required. My role also includes all aspects of clerical support to the Money Advisors, Advocates and Children’s Rights Projects by assisting with the maintenance of client’s files and by collecting and issuing notes and letters when required.

I enjoy my position, being at this starting point of people requiring the help that DMAC provides.

Pauline McLean: Clerical Officer

I am part of the admin team, as a Clerical Officer. This is a shared resource over the 3 projects: Money Advice Project, Children’s Rights Project & Advocacy Project.

I have worked in DMAC for 9 years. I consider myself very lucky to have a job within my own community as I have lived in Drumchapel all my life. It feels good to be a part of an organisation that is here to help people, whether it’s with benefits or other issues. We have a good team of people with a wide knowledge.

My role consists of covering all aspects of admin duties for all projects, being the initial contact for our clients, and making appointments and assigning them to the appropriate member of staff.

Mary McBain: Finance Officer

Hi, my name is Mary McBain and I am the Finance Officer at Drumchapel Money Advice Centre.

I have worked with the organisation since 1988. I began as a clerical assistant, then became administration officer.

In 2002 I became the Finance Officer and have been working in this post since then.