About Us
Home-Start Caithness provides friendly, confidential, and practical support to families who are finding parenting challenging for any number of reasons. Our aim is to offer both emotional encouragement and hands-on help within the comfort of a family’s own home.
We’re a small but dedicated team, made up of 1 Chief Executive Officer, 4 Coordinators, 1 Office Manager, 1 Administrator, 1 Fundraiser and Events Coordinator, and 10 Family Support Workers.
Alongside our staff team, we recruit and train volunteers who visit families in their homes, offering understanding, reassurance, and practical support to help parents build confidence and create a positive environment for their children.
Fiona Carlisle
What I do:
As CEO, I’m proud to guide and grow a service that truly puts families first. I support our brilliant staff, trustees, and volunteers, build connections with funders, and ensure we’re always working towards meaningful goals. I love getting out into the community, running events, and supporting families, those moments remind me exactly why this work matters so deeply.
Fun fact:
I’m sometimes known as the Soup Queen, I have a deep love for cooking and baking, and I’m happiest when sharing food and laughter. Life at home is full on I am married to Ian, have three children, and two lively dogs who are bursting with energy and mischief. If there’s country music playing, count me in.
Moira Smith
What I do:
I’m often the first person families speak to or meet.
I love the variety of my role, getting to meet so many new faces and watch each family benefit from our support in their homes, at groups, workshops and even digitally.
It’s such a privilege to be part of the families journey and growth, it’s amazing what friendship and kindness can achieve.
Fun fact:
Outwith work I’m a proud mum to two grown up children, both away from home making their own way in life.
Yoga helps me relax and walking my dogs makes me happy.
I love to cook, eat, wear comfy clothes and get lost in a book.
I’m the person most likely to ask you what you’re having for your dinner!
Vikky Gordon
What I do:
I oversee the running of our groups & also head the Parents under Pressure Parenting Program.
I also support families within their home.
I’m known as the Mum of the team, you will often find me in the kitchen making sure everyone’s fed.
Fun fact:
I’ve a crazy busy family life! Married with 5 children and 5 beautiful grand-children, I love nothing more than spending as much time as possible with my family.
I love to be in the kitchen cooking & baking.
I love to decorate; you will often find me up a ladder with a paintbrush in hand!
Donna Scott
What I do:
I recruit, train and support our team of lovely volunteers. This involves having regular catch ups (lots of cups of tea!) and having a chat about everything that’s going on for them. I also go along to events to promote the service and love attending all the events for our families, it’s so much fun!
I run a weekly group for Kinship carers and provide home visiting family support too. This all means that I get to spend a lot of time chatting to lovely people, it’s the best job!
Fun fact:
I love everything crafty and really enjoy doing craft activities at home with my daughter. I’m also the one most likely to be singing in the office!
Ian Carlisle
What I do:
As the Office Manager for Home-Start Caithness, a third sector charity, I keep the wheels turning behind the scenes. My role is all about making sure our team has what they need to support families in our community — from managing the day-to-day operations and handling admin, to coordinating with partners and keeping everything running smoothly and efficiently.
Fun fact:
When I’m not in the office, you’ll most likely find me on the water. I absolutely love anything to do with the sea — sailing, powerboating, paddle boarding — if it involves waves and a bit of adventure, I’m there!
Oh, and fun fact: I have a bit of a phobia when it comes to lightbulbs. Don’t ask me why — I just steer clear of them!
Fiona Sinclair
What I do:
I visit families at home or get out and about, blether about life, cuddle babies, toddlers and sometimes mummy’s 
I run sunflower project with the lovely Kirsteen 
this group is a space for adults and children to explore their neurodiversity’s in a safe, friendly space
Fun fact:
I am a mum of four myself so in my spare time my favourite thing to do is to spend time with my own family usually outdoors at forests, parks or beaches. I love nothing more than getting home at night and putting on my pj’s.
Chloe Gillot-Davies
What I do:
I work with families to offer a listening ear, helpful advice, and practical support to make everyday life a little easier.
I’m here to walk alongside you through the ups and downs of family life.
Fun fact:
I love wild swimming and exploring the beautiful outdoors.
Judith Scott
What I do:
I support and visit families in their home.
I help families with all sorts of things like getting out and about, making and attending appointments, playing with their children, filling in forms, signposting to other services and most importantly being a listening ear. My job is so varied, and I love it!
I also run two busy groups: Family group and Baby group, where I get to meet lots of amazing adults and their children.
My favourite thing at groups is messy play! I love seeing the children have fun and exploring!
Fun fact:
In my spare time I like to get outdoors with my own family and go on adventures!
Chloe Cormack
What I do:
A helping hand and listening ear to the families that need me, this may be in the comfort of the family home or out in the community doing some fun activities with the children.
I also run a baby and toddler group in Thurso.
Fun fact:
In my spare time I love to be with my niece and nephews, I’m auntie of 4! I also love to chill at home relaxing.
Kayleigh Robertson
What I do:
In my role I spend a lot of time out in the community with families and have fun creating memories with them. I also visit them within their home and support with many different aspects of their lives including everything from appointments and paperwork to groups and everything inbetween.
Fun fact:
In my spare time I love to do activities with my own family and enjoy being outdoors with my daughter.
Kirsteen Campbell
What I do:
I support families by popping to their home for a nice blether, or by going out to play in a playpark or something else that the family would like to do. I also help Fiona S run the Sunflower group.
Fun fact:
I am a women’s health champion for Scotland.
Inga Bews
What I do:
I visit families at home, or out in the community, and support them in ways that they would like. This varies from being a listening ear, helping in practical ways with children, attending appointments with families and so much more. No two days are the same.
Fun fact:
Winter is my favourite season. I love a walk on the beach on a cold blustery day to clear my mind and then going home and getting all cosy with a hot drink.
Cola Whitworth
What I do:
I work with families in the rural communities out West. This is a new addition to the Home-Start Caithness offerings. We have started by setting up family groups in Bettyhill and Armadale, where families are welcomed with a friendly face, cuppa and a safe place for the little ones to run off some steam. Our activities vary week on week from messy play to chilled out sensory vibes. We are also just about to start delivering baby massage courses which I am super excited for as it was something I loved going to when my children were little.
Fun fact:
No, my parents weren’t crazy hippies! Cola is just my chosen shortening of Nicola, when I studied Art at Uni a friend called me it and it just stuck! I am a mum to 2 teenagers who constantly keep me on my toes. I love animals and would have a houseful if I was allowed but currently, we have 2 cats Teabag and Pompom and Merlin the bonkers border collie pup! I love all things art & crafty and often have multiple creations on the go at one time from knitting to silversmithing. If I’m not working or crafting you will find me knee deep in dust in our house renovation or reading fantasy fiction curled up under a blanket with a cup of tea.
Gemma Walker-Ham
What I do:
Rural Family Support Worker is a new exciting addition to Home start Caithness, and my role is to support families in the north-east area of Caithness. I provide a friendly face and support families emotionally and practically in their homes.
We are in the process of setting up family group sessions in Freswick where families can come with their children. Group provides a friendly, supportive, welcoming safe space with lots of fun activities for the children (and plenty of tea/coffee and biscuits for parents!) We are also super excited to be running a baby massage group here too.
Fun fact:
I love to spend time with my family. I am a proud mum of two teenagers. We love animals and have two gorgeous dogs and too many chickens to name! I love all things animals and crafts.
Anne-Marie Coghill
What I do:
You will see me out and about in the community, at local events and creating fundraising opportunities! I share what Home-Start Caithness is all about, what we do, how we support families, and how you, our community, can get involved with us too! So many people have such great skills that they might not realise is a real gift for us at Home-Start Caithness.
Fun fact:
Winter is my favourite time of year, being cosy at home, drinking tea and watching Strictly!
Chelsea Lightley
What I do:
I am often the first point of contact for anyone reaching out – I’m here to help and pass you over to our lovely team.
I’m the face behind the emails and the voice on the phone!
From paying bills and making sure the team get paid on time, to running our social media – to handling the all-important paperwork – I help with keeping everything smooth behind the scenes.
You will also most likely see me helping out at our events.
Fun fact:
My mum is Vikky.
I am a proud mum of a 2 year old little girl – who keeps me on my toes.
I love nothing more than spending time with my family and going away on adventures.
I’m most likely to have looked at the menu and picked what I’m having before arriving at a restaurant – usually our trips are planned around where we are going to eat 😂.
Liza Gordon
What I do:
My role is to set up groups from Helmsdale in the south to Bettyhill in the west, and to introduce our home-visiting service.
Fun fact:
I used to teach English in Cambodia.
