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Kara Olayinka, CEO
Kara is Tiny Changes’ CEO.
The Chief Executive is responsible for planning and directing the charity’s work and managing the operations team of staff and consultants.
Click here to find our more about Kara’s role and the young people who inspire her.
Find out more about how Kara worked with the Hutchisons and friends to build Tiny Changes, and her current work on her Instagram @kara.olayinka
Nina Abeysuriya, Head of Programmes Development and Operations
Nina is Tiny Changes’ Head of Programmes Development and Operations.
One half of our leadership team, Nina is fundraising and improving operations across the charity.
Most of Nina’s time is dedicated to leading the programmes team; currently co-producing and delivering six mental health projects for children and young people across central Scotland. It’s an exciting role at Tiny Changes, taking the charity in a new direction, and we’re learning from Nina’s professional experience in mental health work, grassroots community engagement, trauma informed training, programme and operational delivery.
Jasmine Smales, Project Leader
Jasmine leads the Young People’s Mental Health in Schools project, focusing on implementing early intervention strategies in school. She collaborates with educators and pupils to create workshops and resources that promote mental wellness and resilience among students. Jasmine’s project aims to complement a sustainable model of mental health education in the school programme, enhancing the overall well-being of school communities in Leith, Edinburgh.
Kieran Howe, Project Leader
Kieran leads the Young People’s Mental Health in Arts project, harnessing the therapeutic potential of arts to improve mental health among young people. He organises events and workshops integrating artistic expression and filmmaking with mental health education, creating engaging ways to tell stories, discuss and manage mental health. Kieran’s initiative has reached a diverse group of young people, encouraging them to express themselves and improve their mental health through creative activities.
Iffat Ahmad, Project Leader
Iffat leads the Young People’s Mental Health in Intersectional Communities project, which focuses on young people at the intersection of mental health issues and race, gender, class, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, or other marginalised communities. Through a tailored programme, she is addressing the unique challenges faced by these communities and ensuring that mental health resources and services are accessible to all, regardless of their backgrounds and identities.
Kayla-Megan Burns, Project Leader
Kayla leads the Young People’s Mental Health in the Music Industry project, leveraging the power of music and media to address mental health issues. They are producing a podcast series featuring discussions with artists who share their experiences and expert insights on coping mechanisms and support resources. This initiative seeks to destigmatise mental health issues in this creative industry and provide a platform for brave conversations.
Jack Dargo, Project Leader
Jack leads the Young People’s Mental Health in Universities and Colleges project, setting up peer-led support groups in university. He provides spaces for students to discuss mental health issues openly, access wellbeing support, and support one another. Jack’s initiative involves organising regular meetings, awareness campaigns, and events to foster a supportive community on campus. The project develops resources and tools to empower students to build student mental health groups and advocate for change in Napier University, Edinburgh.
Our Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall control and governance of our charity. They meet at least four times a year with the CEO and spend time with Wavemakers and team members in our work to help young minds feel better.
75% of our Board are women. Our Board is intergenerational and we’re proud to have trustees aged under 25 as it’s still so uncommon on charity boards, when it shouldn’t be.
We have 8 Trustees – Ami Anderson (Chair, STV), John Todd (Treasurer), Hannah Stakes (Secretary & works in operations), Amy Gunn (Head of Marketing & Supporter Experience, Worldwide Cancer Research), Dionne Hossack works in NHS Lanarkshire & Graduate), Aine Lovedale (National Lottery Community Fund), Kelly Flint (consultant), and Rasheeq Syed (NHS).
Photo: Board Chair Ami Anderson.
Volunteers
We’re not actively recruiting volunteers at the moment but do keep an eye on our instagram @tinychanges, for future opportunities.
Thank you so much to everyone who has volunteered for Tiny Changes to date. You’ve helped us raise lots of money, raise the charity’s profile, and help young minds feel better through grantmaking and now via youth-led community projects.
Extra Support
We’re currently working with finance and admin consultant Aleksandra Klis, embroidery and sales fulfilment business DOT DST, pro bono partner and design and architecture agency S+Co and others including press, marketing and design experts to deliver our work.
Are you a talented person looking for an exciting new project? Get in touch with us on info@tinychanges.com to register your interest as a volunteer, consultant or agency.
If you share our passion for improving young people’s mental health and have time, money or resources available to support the cause, we’d like to hear from you. We post every job and volunteer vacancies on our social media – so keep an eye on that too.
Together, we’ll make tiny changes to Earth.
