Trainers

CPAG is committed to ensuring that all the trainers used on our courses are experts in their areas of work. Most are experienced welfare rights workers.

Ellie Bergin works for London Advice Services Alliance (LASA) as a welfare rights worker in the advocacy team. She previously worked for the Disability Alliance.

Giles Charter has been a local authority welfare rights officer for over 15 years in various settings, and has extensive experience of appeals, training, and advice, to individuals and groups.

Tim Cowen has been working in welfare rights for over 15 years. He currently works part-time in a community advice centre in Stevenston and also as a freelance trainer.

Steven Craig has been working in welfare rights since 1987. He has been a welfare rights officer for Queens Cross Housing Association since 1993.

Ellenor Currie is a management and training consultant, specialising in organisational development and trainer training. Previously she had a career in education and the voluntary sector.

Moira Escreet has been involved in advice work since 1993, mainly within housing associations. She is currently a welfare rights worker for Hillhead Housing Association 2000.

Marian Gell has worked in welfare rights for 18 years. She currently works for Contact a Family, providing advice to parents and carers of children with additional needs.

Alison Gillies is a welfare rights worker at CPAG in Scotland, specialising in tax credits advice. She has worked in welfare rights since 1985.

Rachel Hadwen is a Rights Adviser on the Working Families helpline, and a freelance writer and trainer. She has worked with organisations including One Parent Families/Gingerbread and CLS Direct.

David Kelly is a welfare rights worker with CPAG in Scotland, concentrating on benefits for disabled children and their families. He previously worked as a welfare rights officer in a variety of housing associations.

Maggie Kelly is a welfare rights worker at CPAG in Scotland and a freelance trainer. She has worked in welfare rights since 1990, specialising in disability and HIV issues and now in tax credits.

Simon Osborne is a welfare rights worker in CPAG’s Citizens’ Rights Office, and was previously a rights worker with the Disability Alliance. He is a consultant editor and an author of the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook and contributor to the Welfare Rights Bulletin.

Judith Paterson is a welfare rights co-ordinator with CPAG in Scotland. She was previously editor of the Disability Rights Handbook. She is an author of CPAG's Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

James Pearson is manager of the welfare rights service for Alzheimer Scotland – Action on Dementia.

Carol Scott is a trained psychiatric nurse and has worked in welfare rights in a mental health resource centre. She is currently a benefits adviser for The Maggie’s Centre in Glasgow.

Aida Shoush is a welfare officer based at St Christopher’s hospice in South London. She is an experienced welfare rights adviser and trainer.

Jane Smith has been a local authority welfare rights officer for over 15 years in various settings and has extensive experience of appeals, training and advice to individuals and groups. She currently works for Inverclyde Council.

Pat Smith is a welfare rights officer and has been working in advice for 18 years. She is currently employed by Glasgow City Council.

Lesley Stirton is a welfare rights worker who works for South Lanarkshire Council.

Angela Toal is a welfare rights worker on a benefits for students project with CPAG in Scotland and is an author of CPAG’s Benefits for Students in Scotland handbook.

Rebecca Walker is a freelance trainer. She was previously a welfare rights adviser for Refugee Outreach and Advice Partnership and the Terrence Higgins Trust, and a trainer at London Advice Services Alliance. She contributes to the Disability Rights Handbook.

Mark Willis has worked in welfare rights since 1991 for CAB, MS Society, Carers UK and Glasgow City Council.Heis currently a welfare rights worker with CPAG in Scotland’s tax credits project.