Kelly-Anne Melrose — Senior Childcare Practitioner

Kelly-Anne Melrose brings warmth, dedication, and a deep love of early years education to her role. As an RAF wife and devoted mother, she first discovered her passion for childcare while volunteering at her own children’s 2–3 group. What began as a simple way to support her little ones soon grew into a meaningful and fulfilling career path.

Inspired by the joy of helping children learn and flourish, Kelly-Anne went on to study early years education, building a strong professional foundation to complement her naturally nurturing approach. She later became a volunteer coordinator, developing leadership skills and a deeper understanding of how to support families within a community setting.

Kelly-Anne eventually joined the nursery team as a practitioner, specialising in the important 2–3 years development stage. Drawing on both her personal experience as a mother and her professional training, she creates a warm, encouraging environment where children feel safe, confident, and excited to explore. Her thoughtful guidance helps each child grow at their own pace, celebrating every step along the way.

With her compassion, experience, and heartfelt commitment, Kelly-Anne plays a treasured role in supporting the early learning journeys of the children in her care.

Kayleigh Rutherford— Senior Childcare Practitioner 

Kayleigh began her journey in early years education at the start of adulthood, inspired by becoming a new mum. Wanting to understand how best to support her son’s learning and development, she started volunteering with the 2–3 group — and quickly discovered a natural passion for working with young children.

Recognising that this was the path she wanted to follow, Kayleigh began her formal qualifications in early years education and childcare, gaining valuable experience working across various nurseries. Despite exploring different roles, she always felt drawn back to the 2–3 age group, where she felt most connected and confident.

She returned to volunteering while the 2–3 group was based in the Youth Café playgroup and also became involved in new community sessions, including art, wellbeing, and cooking classes. Her enthusiasm led her to train further so she could eventually run these sessions herself, sharing creativity, confidence, and practical life skills with families.

When the newly established 2–3 group opened, Kayleigh’s dedication and experience were recognised, and she successfully stepped into the role of Senior Childcare Practitioner. Alongside her work, she continues to volunteer in the Community Hub, delivering classes that support and inspire local families.

Kayleigh thrives in her role, forming warm, engaging relationships with the children she supports. Her blend of personal experience, professional training, and community involvement makes her a valued and trusted member of the team.

Joanne Woods — Childcare Practitioner

Joanne rediscovered her passion for community and childcare after the pandemic. Having spent several years focused on raising her two children, she was eager to reconnect with others and find meaningful ways to contribute. When she came across the Art & Wellbeing classes looking for volunteers at the Youth Café, she decided to get involved — a choice that would open the door to a whole new career.

While volunteering, Joanne became familiar with the playgroup staff, who invited her along on a day trip as a helper. From that moment, her journey truly began. Her enthusiasm, kindness, and natural connection with the children meant she was regularly asked back, and she quickly realised how much she enjoyed supporting young learners.

As the group transitioned into the childcare service it is today, new funding became available to help people return to work. This created the perfect opportunity for Joanne to begin formal training in a field she had grown to love. Over the years, she has brought exceptional energy, patience, and compassion to her role, making a genuine difference to the children she supports.

Joanne’s dedication led her to complete her qualifications, and this year she proudly became a fully qualified Childcare Practitioner. Her journey is a wonderful example of how a small step into volunteering can grow into a rewarding and fulfilling career.

Angela Campbell — Childcare Support Worker

Angela is a mum of two boys, and her connection with the 2–3 group began when her eldest attended the playgroup at the Old Community Centre. Even while raising her children, Angela always felt drawn to helping and supporting little ones, but she initially followed a different career path.

As her children grew older, Angela felt a stronger pull toward early years work. Around six years ago, she made the decision to follow her passion and began working as a support worker in other nurseries, gaining valuable hands-on experience.

When a position became available at the 2–3 group, Angela knew immediately that it was where she wanted to be. She joined the team with a clear goal: to work closely with young children and progress toward becoming fully qualified. Angela is naturally hands-on, warm, and engaging, and she has a wonderful ability to connect with the children in her care.

She is now working towards her childcare qualifications, taking every opportunity to grow and develop in a job she truly loves.

Jade Green — Childcare Support Worker

Jade first connected with the 2–3 group when her young son joined the sessions. Through this, she became part of the Hub community, enjoying the chance to meet new people, learn new skills, and watch her son thrive in a supportive environment.

Jade attended many groups and quickly realised that this was a place where she could develop herself, especially during the Confidence to Cook course — where she was fully engaged and later trained to become a session leader herself. Volunteering became a meaningful part of her life, and it allowed her to reconnect with an early passion: childcare. Having originally studied the subject and earned several qualifications, Jade hoped to eventually return to the field when her son was older so she could work towards her SVQ.

While volunteering, the group was awarded funding that allowed Jade to step back into work formally, supporting the community while following a career path she genuinely cares about. Her enthusiasm, kindness, and commitment to learning make her a valued member of the team.

Denise Souter — Childcare Support Worker

Denise brings a wealth of life experience, warmth, and dedication to her role. Having raised her own children and become a proud grandmother, she has spent many years surrounded by young people and has seen firsthand how childcare and education have evolved over time.

Before joining the group, Denise worked at Lossiemouth High School in the school canteen, giving her experience with children and young people of all ages. She first applied for a role supporting the breakfast club and helping with lunches, but her enthusiasm and natural connection with the children quickly expanded her responsibilities.

Denise is passionate about learning and personal development. She volunteers regularly, engages in the board meetings and participates in various groups taking on additional learning, and continually seeks out opportunities to build her knowledge of early years development. Her commitment to keeping up with the needs of a constantly changing childcare environment makes her an invaluable member of the team.

Louise McBride, Community Development Manager

At the heart of The Lossie Community Hub is Louise, our dedicated Community Development Manager — the driving force behind the vision that started it all. It was Louise’s determination, creativity, and compassion that transformed a small toddler group into a registered charity and ultimately into the thriving community hub we know today.

From the very beginning, Louise’s passion and belief in people have inspired others to join her mission. She built a strong board of volunteers who shared her vision and worked tirelessly alongside her to turn dreams into reality.

Louise brings a wealth of life experience and knowledge to her role. As a mother of five, she understands the challenges of balancing family life, work, and personal growth — and continues to inspire others by studying toward a further degree in her spare time.

Her journey began after the birth of her youngest child in 2016, when she personally experienced the impact of isolation. Recognising that many parents felt the same, she started a local toddler group — a welcoming space where families could meet, connect, and support one another. Through these early conversations, Louise became increasingly aware of the lack of community facilities in Lossiemouth, especially following the closure of the town’s original community centre.

Determined to make a lasting difference, and with the backing of local organisations and residents, Louise led the effort to secure charitable status for The Lossie 2–3 Group in 2019 — paving the way for the creation of a new playgroup and family centre that would grow into something much greater.

As an active member of the Lossiemouth Community Council, Louise also played a key role in coordinating the community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Working alongside the Council, local churches, and volunteers, she helped organise essential support for over 400 families, older residents, and vulnerable individuals through food deliveries, shopping vouchers, and wellbeing initiatives.

In recognition of these remarkable efforts,The Lossie 2–3 Group received a Letter of Commendation from the Lord Lieutenant, and Louise was personally honoured for her outstanding service. She was later invited to attend the Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey, celebrating organisations and individuals who went above and beyond during the pandemic.

Today, Louise continues to lead with the same warmth, dedication, and vision that started this journey. Her mission remains clear — to reduce isolation, build confidence, and strengthen community connections.

Under her leadership, The Lossie Community Hub has become a thriving, inclusive environment  where everyone feels welcome, supported, and valued.