Befriend a Child is delighted to announce the appointment of three new staff members across its operations and fundraising teams, further strengthening the charity’s ability to support children, young people and families across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
The organisation welcomes Amy Kazmierczak as Befriending Co-ordinator, Lewis Mitchell as Youth and Group Activities Co-ordinator, and Susan Will as Senior Trusts and Grants Co-ordinator. The team at Befriend a Child is delighted to have them on board and looks forward to working together to make a difference in local communities across the North-east of Scotland.
Amy Kazmierczak joins the Operations team as Befriending Co-ordinator, bringing with her a strong background in education. Originally trained as a primary school teacher, Amy has worked in classrooms in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen, developing extensive experience in supporting children’s learning, confidence and wellbeing. Through her teaching career, Amy developed a particular interest in the impact that positive relationships and consistent support can have on children’s lives, both in and beyond the classroom, which led her to Befriend a Child and its focus on connection, trust and community.
Amy said:
"In this role, I’m most looking forward to getting to know our volunteers and children, creating thoughtful and meaningful matches and supporting those relationships as they develop. Being part of a service that helps children feel valued, supported and able to enjoy new experiences is something I feel genuinely excited and privileged to be involved in."
Lewis Mitchell also joins the Operations team, stepping into the role of Youth and Group Activities Co-ordinator. He brings a wealth of experience working with children and young people, including time spent in Japan supporting youth development. Closer to home, Lewis has worked at Albyn School as a classroom assistant and contributed to their after-school and holiday club programmes. As a trained teacher, he brings valuable skills and insight into engaging and supporting young people in both structured and informal settings.
Lewis said:
"In this role, I am excited to meet the kids at the youth groups who I've been hearing great things about. I am also excited to meet new volunteers for Befriend a Child and help them on their journey to providing a positive source of enjoyment and support to our children."
Susan Will joins the Fundraising and Marketing team as Senior Trusts and Grants Co-ordinator. Susan has been working in the charity sector across Grampian since 2012, beginning her career in service coordination before moving into fundraising leadership roles from 2018. She has previously worked with Cairns Counselling and Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association (GCRA), and is passionate about building strong relationships with supporters and sharing meaningful stories of impact.
Susan said:
"I am really excited to be part of the Befriend a Child team, and I am looking forward to helping secure grants to fund the charity's amazing youth and family support projects. Having previously worked with children through international community development projects I am thrilled to be part of such a high profile and respected local charity supporting young people and families to thrive."
As Befriend a Child continues to grow and respond to increasing demand for its services, these new appointments reflect the charity’s ongoing commitment to providing consistent, meaningful support to children and families across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. With a shared passion for making a difference, Amy, Lewis and Susan each bring valuable experience and energy to the team as the charity looks ahead to another impactful year.
For more information about Befriend a Child and its work supporting local children, young people and families, please visit the charity’s website here - https://www.befriendachild.org.uk/