The Staff Team is led by Nick Lovick as the Service Director. He is responsible for the day to day running of the organisation, basically, looking after the finances, staff rotas, service delivery and future planning. Nick has had many roles at the Blide over the years, starting as a volunteer, then fundraiser, which led to becoming a board member, and finally he joined the team as a Mental Health Support Worker in 2024.
I have a long history with the Blide, one of the standout moments for me was completing a cycling challenge to raise money and awareness, riding 1000 miles from Lands’ End to John o' Groats. Pedalling down Victoria street to finish this epic journey at the Blides front door is a fond memory that will stay with me forever.
It’s a real privilege to be involved in the day to day running of the organisation as well as being part of shaping the future direction of the Blide and to do so with the support of the Board of Directors, the talented and dedicated staff team and of course all of the Blide members.
He is ably assisted by Sandra Tait in her role as Senior Mental Health Support Worker. She brings more than 20 years of experience in working with people with lived experience of mental ill health. She started work at the Blide in housing support and continues to give one to one support, heading up our Distress Brief Intervention Service and supporting people with her SMART Recovery Training.
Jaden-Marie Browne heads up our Young People project, supporting people aged 16 to around 30, started in 2022. In April 2025 we were delighted to receive grant funding from the Robertson Trust to extend this successful project for up until 2028. The project is for Young People who are Care Experienced as well as those who spent periods in their childhood an the ‘edge of care’ or had significant adverse childhood experiences. Jaden has a background in sectors such as care and education alongside qualifications in: Organisational Approaches to Trauma, HNC Counselling and a degree in Psychology.
Kate Irving-Lewis is one of our Mental Health Support Workers, Kate has a background in nursing and is well known in the community for her involvement with KAOS (Kirkwall Amateur Operatic Society).
Sam Stringer has recently joined the team as a Mental Health Support Worker and is known to some of our members already from leading Species on the Edge RSPB nature sessions with us. Outside of work Sam volunteers with Cruse Bereavement Scotland, as a grief support worker with children and young people and their families.
Tanya Wood is a mental health support worker and our Befriending Co Ordinator. She joined the team in August 2023. She has previously worked in several different care sectors throughout Orkney. Since starting she has been working on a small information handbook that is now complete. This can be foundin the Befriending section of this website.
Eve Shepperson is a vital member of the team providing administration support for the whole organisation. Eve works alongside Clare to keep the accounts in order. She is keen to support people who come to the Blide and will help them with some tasks and with open days.
Our catering team provide Coffee, Tea, soup and home bakes in the kitchen of our Haven Cafe.
Carol Majendie is the Saturday drop in worker, she also runs the cafe on this day.
