OUR PEOPLE
We are a charity made up of people with lived experience direct Our collective vision is to live in communities where people are empowered to live their life to the highest attainable standard.
OUR TEAM.
DEREK McCABE
BSc (Hons)
Psychology MBPsS
Derek has an interest in cultural capital and its influence on the social determinants of health and their relationship with health inequality. He has a particular interest in the mechanisms available to help redress the inequality leading to improved quality of life. Emanating from this is the notion of human rights and the capability approach were, capability entitlements are the physical and institutional resources made available by government to make rights realisable. Two important capabilities at the heart of human rights are health and education which are key for a flourishing life.
His role in the development of the Advocacy Practice Award was to pull together the shared experiences of people living with long term health conditions. The development of the award built on their knowledge on how to navigate systems and challenges during difficult times. This included how best to apply policy and legislative frameworks to reconcile issues. Derek incorporated the capability approach into this and viewed vocational education as a vehicle for increasing individual wellbeing, whilst being a mainstay in creating informed advocates utilising a human rights based approach to support others during times of difficulty.
JED BRADY
PG DIP / MBACP
Jed believes everyone should be able to learn how to apply a Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) and gain an accredited qualification through REACH’s SQA Advocacy practice award. He believes that HRB approach can cut through labels and discrimination and hold duty bearers accountable.
With a history of using services and trying to navigate all their policies and criteria as well as working within NHS and Local Authority structures, Jed believes the Human Rights Based Approach is a bridge for individuals/families and communities to exercise their human rights and responsibilities.
He says “ The work that we have devised, developed and have delivered is pioneering and should be available for anyone who has an interest in social justice and human rights, it’s not good enough just to talk about human rights from some lofty position. Individuals/families/communities have to learn how to apply them with Universal services, NHS, GP, DWP, Social work etc for us all to be equal in Society.”
FREYA BROCK
MA (Hons) Social Anthropology
Freya’s initial interest in campaigning for human rights issues was
initially sparked from her background degree in social
anthropology. With a focus on global political anthropology and
through extensive research on the topic of death in British society,
Freya developed an interest in researching social issues through
engagement and participation with place and person of interest.
Combined with her personal experience of caring for her father,
Freya discovered the many challenges people face from
government structures which, as she says," become narrow and
limited, creating minority and vulnerable groups".
From these experiences, Freya has developed a passion for making human rights accessible. Through delivering REACH’s course on human
rights, she aims to create a more equal society where everyone’s
voice is heard, and needs are more than adequately met.
NICOLE MEEHAN
BA (Hons) Disability Studies
MLitt (Hons) Theatre and Performance Practices
Originally from Canada, Nicole’s passion for advocacy began with
her sister and further grew through pursuing her undergraduate
degree in Disability Studies at Ryerson University. Having to
navigate services for mental health and learning disabilities
throughout her life, Nicole has experience of the systemic
imbalances and barriers that people face, and often became the
advocate for her friends, family and self.
Courses such as Strategies for Community Building, Leadership
for Social Action, Policies and Practices of Interventions, Mad
Studies and Writing for Disability Activism developed her
understanding of issues faced by marginalised populations and
her desire to learn more.
Through joining REACH Advocacy, and delivering the Reach
Advocacy Practice Award, Nicole looks forward to using the tools
and language of a Human Rights Based Approach to affect
lasting systemic change.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
JOHN
CAIRNEY
Diploma in Occupational H&S IOSH Tech level
John is a Prison Officer and has been since 2002. His current role is on the Scottish National Committee of the Prison Officers Association, a role he was elected into this 5 year post in May 2018.
In his role he represents members in all aspects of employment matters and also has an interest in Occupational Health & Safety to which he gained his Diploma in.
Prior to taking up his post he, on a daily basis supported Prisoners who were suffering from alcohol and substance abuse and helped support and maintain strong family connections with various members of their family.
SHONA
CRALLAN
LLM; LLB (Hons); Solicitor (Eng & Wales, New York); CEDR accredited mediator.
Shona is a lawyer and mediator, with a background in human rights and social policy. She developed an interest in the criminal justice system and social equality while studying at Glasgow University and worked on the NCH report into the Scottish youth justice system ‘Where’s Kilbrandon Now?’ in 2004. Following this she studied a law masters in New York focusing on international human rights. She has since lived and worked in London, qualifying as a solicitor in 2005, initially working in civil litigation before specialising in human rights and public law. She has worked for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Hickman & Rose and human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Newham Monitoring Project and INQUEST where she worked with bereaved families following a death in state custody. She is an accredited mediator in civil and commercial matters as well as housing and community mediation. Shona is a member of the Law Society, The Civil Mediation Council and Scottish Mediation.
DR IAIN
MCPHEE
Fellow of the Royal Society, Senior Fellow Higher Education Academ, PhD
MSc Pg. Dip Alc.Drgs (Practice) Pg. Cert TLHE
Pg. Cert Resch.
Cert. Counselling
BA (hons) Psychology & Sociology
Dr McPhee is a senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and is currently a Senior Lecturer based at UWS, specialising in addiction. Iain has acted as a consultant for both the Scottish and UK government. Prior to becoming an academic, Iain worked in a variety of drug services, residential rehabilitation Units, and addiction services. From 1996-2010 Iain taught at Scottish Police College Tulliallan on their specialist Detective drug training courses.
Iain is a consultant drugs expert witness in criminal cases, providing reports for High Court and Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland, and is external examiner for University of Liverpool, Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology programme, and external examiner for University of Limerick programme in Addiction.
For 30 years his practice and research activity has centred on enhancing understanding of stigma and discrimination in health and social care services with a clear commitment to social justice, health equity and promotion of rights-based advocacy for marginalised and vulnerable populations.
“I am a Director at Reach Advocacy because I thought I understood human rights-based advocacy, however my time with RA has made me understand that I knew very little, and supporting this organisation allows me to help promote and disseminate understanding of HRBA that can be applied to all individuals in our society”.
PARTNERS & FUNDERS.
