22/09/2026
Team Spotlight: Meet Jean! 🌟
Meet one of the incredible faces behind The Open Door.
When asked about the best part of her role, Jean said it’s all about the personal connection: "Sitting beside the group members chatting, and when we have singing sessions (I can't sing, but I'm afraid I do sing)." 🎶
With an amazing 12 years of total service—including 10 years on our Board and time spent as a hands-on volunteer—Jean says that as a Trustee she helps to decide, along with the rest of the Board, all sorts of issues to do with the governance of The Open Door, its finances, its staffing, its premises, and so on.
Jean finds volunteering a great deal more rewarding and much more fun. Helping to care for the members of the group, serving tea and biscuits when they arrive, and then lunch, helping them with the day's activities, and just chatting with them as friends. She is also one of the group that run the Pop Up Cafe once a month serving coffee and home baking and taking donations rather than fixed prices from the customers.
Outside of The Open Door, you’ll usually find Jean with a book in hand. She previously volunteered with book-based charities, including the former St Columba's Hospice bookshop down the road, and these days keeps active with a couple of gentle exercise classes a week to "keep the old bones going."
Jean’s big dream for our future?
"That I win really big on the lottery and am able to donate enough for fabulous purpose-built premises in the heart of Morningside so we can expand the service to more people who need it. OR - that we find less spectacular but sound ways of doing the same thing on a smaller scale."
We are so grateful for Jean's dedication and everything she brings to our community. Drop a ❤️ in the comments to show your appreciation 🤗
