Our people

The High Backs is everyone who makes it

The High Backs site is what it is today because of our people. So it is not just the buildings or the garden - it is the people in it.

There is no hierarchy here. Staff, volunteers, board members, community members - everybody chips in, everybody belongs. The page below introduces the people who keep the High Backs going day to day. But the full list of who makes this place what it is would fill the whole website.

Our team

The High Backs has a small, dedicated staff team - three people who between them keep everything running, welcome everyone who comes through the gates, and make sure the place is always open, always warm, and always ready.

Founder & Project Coordinator

Lizzy McDonald

Lizzy grew up in Burnhill and has spent the last six years turning a locked, overgrown space into something the whole community is proud of. She started with a litter-picking group during Covid and a belief that the kids in her community deserved somewhere safe to go.

She has knocked on every door, fought every battle, and welcomed every single person who has walked through the gates since. The High Backs exists because Lizzy would not take no for an answer - and because she has always believed that the people of Burnhill are capable of something extraordinary.

"The minute you walk through our doors, I'm going to greet you and speak to you as if I've known you 100 years."

Julie-Ann stands in the High Backs community garden in front of a colourful mural of a mural of a Scottish loch scene painted on the side of a shed. Houses on Penman Avenue, Burnhill are in the background.

Community Engagement & Support Worker

Julie-Anne

Julie-Anne also grew up here in Burnhill, and that shapes everything about how she works. Knowing this community from the inside means she understands the need - and it's what pushes her to go that wee bit further for the people she supports.

At the High Backs, Julie-Anne helps connect folk from across Burnhill and beyond, creating a safe and welcoming space through groups, events, and no shortage of laughter. She brings real energy and compassion, and a deep commitment to making sure everyone feels at home.

"The High Backs isn't just a place - it's a community. It's the people, the laughs, and the support that keep me coming back every day."

Community Engagement & Support Worker

Courtney

Courtney was one of the original young people on the very first litter-picking group that started the High Backs.

Now she works here. That is the whole story of what this place does, said in two sentences.

“I’ve been part of The High Backs from the very beginning, and I love working in my own community. It means a lot to help shape this place for the better, especially for the next generation. Being here from day one and seeing the difference we’re making is something I’m really proud of.”

Our volunteers

The High Backs would not exist without its volunteers. They are the people who turn up week after week - to run sessions, tend the growing space, welcome newcomers, and make sure nobody ever feels like they are on their own.

Many of our volunteers came to the High Backs nervous about joining something new. Some had never volunteered before. Some had real social anxieties that made even walking through the gate feel like a challenge. Now they are some of the most important people here - leading sessions, supporting others, and giving back to the community they belong to.

If you would like to find out about volunteering at the High Backs, visit our volunteer page.

Jim the volunteer, fixes a hanging basket to the fence at The High Backs.

Gardening & Handyman Volunteer

Jim

“I like volunteering because it gets me out of the house, and it’s rewarding seeing the work that’s been done - the progress from start to finish on a project.

My favourite thing is seeing how far The High Backs has come. I wanted to volunteer because I wanted to get involved and give back to my local community.”

Volunteer knitting group lead

Margaret

“I wanted to meet people in the community who were keen to learn to knit. I thought it would be better to give up my time, get out of the house, and help people. I’m a people person, and I wanted to give back.

I believe that if enough people care for their community and the people in it, then we’ve succeeded. I want to share my skills and knowledge with others.”

Digital & Systems Lead Volunteer

Alicia

"The High Backs is more than you might expect - and so is volunteering. Whether you want to learn something new or use your skills, it's worth a chat. I'm building and managing the website - which I never thought of as a volunteering thing!

I live down the road from Burnhill, in Bankhead and I have never felt more welcome than at The High Backs."

Our board

The High Backs is a registered Scottish charity, governed by a board of trustees who give their time voluntarily to help steer the organisation and make sure it stays true to its values. Thank you to Kim Jackson, Jan Taylor, John Maclennan, and Jane Horn.

Our board members give their time freely because they believe in what the High Backs is doing. We are grateful to every one of them.

Our young people

The High Backs was started by children. A child asked the question that set everything in motion, and children have been at the heart of it ever since.

Young people have cleared this space, planted in it, campaigned from it, and presented on its behalf to councillors and MPs. Some of the young people who were part of the very beginning are now part of the team. Their energy, their ideas, and their belief in their own community are what make the High Backs what it is.

We do not name our young people here - their privacy matters to us. But everything we do, we do with them in mind.