About Us
Trustees
Chair
Shirley Ferrier
Shirley was appointed Chair of Trustees in January 2024.
Shirley started volunteering with us in mid 2021 and she is often seen in The Depot. She also gets involved in other activities including welcome and social events and preparing housing for incoming refugees.
Shirley has recently retired from a long career in the Corporate World, specialising in HR. Shirley has been actively involved with Charities for the homeless and refugees for several years. Prior to moving to Dumfries, this included collecting and sorting donations for refugees as well as frequent trips to Calais to distribute aid and donations to asylum seekers.
Trustee
Liz Dawson
Liz lives on a small farm outside Castle Douglas. Liz trained as a Montessori teacher in London and taught for a number of years before training in ceramics.
In 2017, Liz went to the Greek island of Chios to help in the Norwegian run organisation called “A drop in the Ocean”. They were feeding, clothing and giving tents to around 900 Syrian refugees who had fled Syria, crossed Turkey and arrived on Chios by boat.
Since retiring from working in schools in the area, Liz wanted to get involved in volunteering again. She is delighted to be working for us as a volunteer and in furthering the Education Programme.
Trustee
Julie Smith
Julie has worked in drama education for over 30 years. She now works freelance for the Scottish Qualifications Authority, and as a drama consultant. She retrained 7 years ago as a Swedish massage therapist and reflexologist, specialising in oncology massage.
Julie has been actively involved with charities over many years, including MUMs and Smalls For All. She found ‘the joy that is The Depot’ when it was just starting up. She has been to Calais twice, working with refugees, and works as a depot volunteer and on the Education Programme.
Trustee
John Crosby
Although trained in ceramics, John’s working life consisted of furniture and public art design, make and installation.
One of a number of travel interludes resulted in a 3-year stint in the mid-1980s as part of an international presence in Colomoncagua, a Salvadorian refugee camp In Honduras. The Gringo became slightly less green when confronted with 8,500 unskilled and illiterate people from a political and socio-economic system directed by the United States, specifically designed to frustrate justice and opportunities for change.
John enjoys his retirement and discovering the immense pleasure of volunteering. This has been with migrants in Northern France, with the fab folk at The Depot.
Staff
Operations Manager
Lydia Burnett
Lydia joined MOOL in November 2022, having spent a number of years working in both the Third Sector and Health and Social Care.
With a background in quality improvement and organisational support and development Lydia is looking forward to building on the great work that MOOL has achieved and supporting the organisation through its next phase.
Happiest in her garden, Lydia also loves a good book and a cuppa with friends.
Depot Manager
Tatyana Bondarenko
Tetyana has been working as Depot Manager since June 2024, having spent many years working in the healthcare and pharmaceutical business, where her area of responsibility was the protection of patients’ rights and interests.
Having experience in various volunteer organisations in Ukraine and Scotland, Tatyana tries to be useful in the crucial activities that The Depot is engaged in.
Tetyana draws inspiration from socialising with new Scottish friends, attending choir and walking her dogs along the seaside.
Volunteer Co-Ordinator
Georgie Bullis-Gray
Georgie started work with us in December 2024.
Georgie has been working as an ESOL teacher and English curriculum designer for second language learners for the last 5 years. She has recently been teaching English classes at the Depot and is excited to find more ways to promote English language practice through our activities in the upcoming year!
She is currently one of the organisers of the Climate Kitchen events in Dumfries.
Georgie is looking forward to working with the wonderful community which the Depot has created and hopes to help continue this amazing work!