Meet the local team 

Ems Harrington (she/her) Senior Partnership Development Officer 

Ems has over a decade experience working in the voluntary sector and has a background in oral history/heritage work, helping to share the voices of people from South Asian, Chinese, Nepalese, African/African Caribbean and White Scottish communities.  She joined the Edinburgh Trust in 2018 and during this time has worked as a Caseworker, Edinburgh Trust Manager and now Senior Partnership Development Officer. In her free time Ems likes going to the gym, loves all things interiors and is an avid podcast listener!

Fae Mira Gerlach (she/her) Grant manager (Co-production)

Fae joined the Edinburgh Trust team in October 2023. She comes with ten years experience in organising with and for people in displacement and asylum systems across Europe, a MA in Human Rights and Social Work and a fountain of passion for community-based work for structural change and Transformative Justice. If she is not wearing an Organiser hat she can be found gardening or strolling up and down Leith Walk.

Hannah Lawson (she/her) Edinburgh Trust Manager 

Hannah has been part of the Edinburgh Trust team since 2012, working initially as a caseworker and in more recent years as the Edinburgh Trust Manager. Prior to this she worked for over ten years in the voluntary and public sectors, for the most part delivering housing support and homeless outreach services in Edinburgh.  Hannah works three days a week and spends her time outside of work entertaining her young daughter, walking her scruffy dog and growing flowers and veggies in her small garden.

Miles (he/they) Grant Programmes Officer & Programmes Assistant 

Miles joined Turn2us Edinburgh Trust in 2023 as a Programmes Assistant and now combines this role with maternity cover as a Grant Programmes Officer. His previous role was with the Wales Hate Support Centre at Victim Support where he assisted the service delivery and training and engagement teams, alongside offering direct support to people who had experienced hate crime in Wales. Miles also works as a freelance illustrator and was the co-creator of Trans Pride Cardiff. In his spare time, Miles loves to play music, cook, write, and spend quality time with his boyfriend, friends, and family.

Patrycja Kupiec (she/her) Head of Edinburgh Trust

Originally from Poland, Patrycja moved to Scotland in 2006 to pursue a career in academic research. Passionate about community outreach she transitioned into the charity sector, leading a schools outreach programme at a Scotland's national academy of science and arts. She then developed her interest and expertise in co-production through her role at Young Scot supporting co-designing the Scottish Government's Year of Young People 2018 with young people of Scotland. Her last role prior to joining Edinburgh Trust saw her transforming a 150+ years old women's rights charity into the key national organisation for young women's leadership in Scotland. In her free time Patrycja loves going on long walks with her husband and young daughter, fungi foraging, wild swimming, listening to podcasts, vintage shopping, and cooring up with a book and her wee dog

Petra Kasparek (she/her) Grant Programmes Officer   

Petra joined the Edinburgh Trust in 2016, initially as a Casework Assistant and then as a Caseworker.  She has worked for over 13 years in the voluntary sector, and prior to grant-making, her work involved assisting refugees and asylum seekers to access key services including housing, welfare benefits, health, education and employment.  In her free time she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her two young children.  

Steph Neff (she/her) Grant Programmes Officer

Steph began her career in libraries and language-focused work, but soon realised she was more interested in people and communities! After seven years of supporting public and educational sector organisations using data to create a better job market, she joined the Edinburgh Trust team as a caseworker in 2022. When she’s not working, Steph can usually be found treasure hunting in a local charity shop, reading, or scouting for the nearest baked goods.