The Community Ownership Support Service Team

Linda Gillespie

Programme Manager
Argyll & Bute.
Phone number: 07579 008467
 
Following an early career in the private sector during which she was responsible for multiple retail sites in areas across the UK, latterly managing large scale visitor centres, Linda moved into local economic development.   Initially as business adviser to a portfolio of high growth companies before moving on to manage a range of business and social enterprise programmes.
 
Over the years Linda has worked with 100s of community led organisations and social enterprises and has seen at first hand the positive benefits ownership of assets can bring to communities; improving the sustainability of their organisations, protecting and developing services and creating jobs.  Within her current role at COSS she has a particular interest in exploring the underlying enterprise models and innovative options for sustaining community assets into the future.
 

Lynn Molleson

Advisor
City of Edinburgh, Dundee, Fife, Scottish Borders, Perth & Kinross, Angus, East Lothian, Midlothian, Dumfries & Galloway (East)

Phone Number: 07985 211428. (Usual working days Wednesday-Friday)

Lynn is a COSS Advisor working part-time in our Edinburgh office, supporting the development of community assets largely, but not exclusively, in 

City of Edinburgh
Dundee
Angus
Fife
Scottish Borders
Perth & Kinross
East Lothian
Midlothian
Dumfries & Galloway (East)

Lynn is passionate about people and places and being a Director of a community anchor organisation where she lives, she has learnt first-hand the positive power of ‘folk working together with a common purpose that benefits many’.

Lynn has worked for 15 years in the voluntary sector for a range of charities and has particular expertise in enterprise development, community participation, skills development, outcomes evaluation and action research, as well as a strong interest in renewable energy.  She has experience in community shares and co-operative models and sits on the board of three local organisations covering youth work and community energy.

David Henderson

Advisor
West Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Stirling, West Lothian, North & South Lanarkshire

Phone Number: 07496 957019. (Usual working days Monday-Wednesday)

As an adviser for COSS, David provides support in 

Dumfries & Galloway (West)
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow City
Inverclyde
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayshire
West Dunbartonshire
Clackmannanshire
Falkirk
Stirling
West Lothian
North Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire

In his other roles David works with Midlothian Voluntary Action supporting the third sector with governance and funding issues and a consultant with his own firm where his clients include the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise amongst others. He is also on the Board of SCOREscotland which works with black and ethnic minority groups in South West Edinburgh.

His previous experience includes support for social enterprise including spells with Fife Employment Access Trust, Social Enterprise Midlothian and the WHALE Arts Centre in Wester Hailes. During his time at WHALE, David established a business incubator unity for new start creative businesses and founded a network of crafters.

 

Felix Spittal

Advisor
Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Moray, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands
Phone Number: 07539 743392
Felix joined DTAS after working in the public sector, where he ran a programme of innovation and entrepreneurship support for businesses and social enterprises. Prior to that he has over 15 years experience working across the voluntary sector in Policy Officer, Development Officer and Information Officer roles. He has also volunteered on boards for a number of social enterprises and has been an Advisor in a Citizens Advice Bureau. 
 
In these roles Felix has developed skills in areas such as programme and project management, setting-up and running voluntary organisations, governance and business planning. He enjoys working with people and helping them to deliver successful projects.  When not at work, he can often be found wandering around the Highlands with a camera.

Felix is based in Forres and covers 

Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Highland
Moray

Na h-Eileanan Siar
Orkney Islands
Shetland Islands

 for the COSS project.

 

 

Elspeth Mathieson

Legal Advisor
Based in Edinburgh office

Phone Number: 07857 625 716 (Usual working days Monday, Wednesday and Thursday morning)

Elspeth is the legal adviser for COSS, and provides legal assistance and advice to community groups seeking the transfer land and buildings into community ownership or management. She has many years of experience as a solicitor, working mainly in property. With her background of working in the private sector Elspeth brings a different perspective to the challenges faced by community bodies.  Elspeth also facilitates the Scottish University Land Unit (SULU); a collaboration between COSS and Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow Universities that gives students with an interest in land reform the opportunity, in conjunction with COSS, to provide practical support to community groups looking to exercise these rights.

Anna Bavington

Research and Administration Intern
Glasgow

Working days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Anna holds a Master of Arts in English Literature and History. She has previous experience working with a housing association, managing GDPR compliance and assisting in the creation of tenancy databases. 

Anna assists COSS in the development and undertaking of research projects and in the analysis, reporting, and maintenance of internal data. She also assists in the organisation of COSS events and administration and communication via the COSS website and social media.

Denise Havard

Facilities Management Advisor
Edinburgh

Working days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Denise is a part time advisor specifically supporting groups throughout Scotland on facilities management. She is originally from South Wales and has lived in Scotland for over 15 years, as well as working in China and Lithuania. Denise worked for the City and County of Swansea for many years managing services including supporting local communities to manage their community building and most recently delivered a capital build community asset transfer for Age Connects Morgannwg. In Scotland Denise worked with EDI as Community Development Manager, supporting groups on meanwhile use and community asset transfer as well as delivering community engagement and consultation for the company.

Denise is a strong advocate for communities knowing best for what is needed in their area and has been a volunteer for most of her life. From counselling with Childline to trustee roles with Play Scotland, Queensferry Care and most recently Circus Eruption.