TCF News, Spring 2021

Spring 2021 - TCF Newsletter | www.tcf.org.uk 3 We are delighted to announce that Sharryn McKelvie will be joining The Compassionate Friends as Regional Coordinator for Scotland and Northern Ireland with effect fromMarch 2021. Sharryn will be working from her home office in Biggar in Scotland and her working days will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays to start. She is hugely keen to continue to learn more about our charity and to begin to offer support to our local and group volunteers located in Northern Ireland and Scotland. We, in turn, are very much looking forward to welcoming Sharryn to the team. Sharryn has written some words about herself by way of an introduction: I will be joining the TCF staff team in March 2021 as the Regional Volunteer Coordinator (for Scotland and Northern Ireland), working on a part-time basis from home. My only child Rory died suddenly aged 19 in December 2017, from what is believed to be Brugada Syndrome, a rare previously undetected genetic heart condition. Being acquainted with TCF has been my lifeline. I attended TCF’s Scottish Gathering in early 2018 just a few months after Rory’s death. The anguish I felt on first walking in there was replaced with hope, support, and such comfort from those further along in this new journey of life. Working at the University of Edinburgh for many years has given me a well-developed range of skills and experience. I encourage, motivate, and coach people in being the best they can be, by working together in a calm and pro-active manner. I love to see people step out of their comfort zone and learn new experiences, often surprising themselves with their own ability. I am hoping that I can use these transferable skills to support, complement and enhance the volunteers currently helping in Scotland and Northern Ireland. I regularly attend the Glasgow TCF group and during these COVID times have been participating in both this group and some others arranged by TCF via Zoom. I live in a small market town in Scotland with my husband and our two pugs Rubi and Roxi. They really are a pair of pampered pooches. I am looking forward to being able to return to Old Trafford and following Manchester United in the football. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to contribute further to an organisation that has been a lifeline to me. All of us at TCF hope very much you will join us in welcoming Sharryn to our team this spring. Welcome to Sharryn McKelvie Volunteer Coordinator for Scotland and Northern Ireland