We interview our fabulous Director of Service, Lesley Watt, as she celebrates being with McFarlane Trust for 30 years. Lesley has been working in the learning disability field for 37 years. She trained as a Registered Nurse in Learning Disabilities and spent 11 years working in a hospital setting before moving to McFarlane Trust when it opened its first service in 1995.
Thirty years with the McFarlane Trust is an incredible achievement. Looking back on your journey with us, what moments or milestones stand out most to you personally?
Without doubt, one of the moments that stays with me is the opening of our first service, Netherlee House in Clarkston. I clearly remember Alan Paterson and I sitting on the floor in the living room (the couches hadn’t yet been delivered), eating mini pork pies. It was a Friday and the staff were due to start the following Monday for two weeks of training. I could not have imagined that I would still be here after 30 years or how McFarlane Trust has flourished and progressed. I’ve had many moments and milestones but mostly I remember the people that I’ve supported throughout the years and how they influenced and shaped my work life.
What has kept you motivated and passionate about your work here for so long, and what does working for a charity like this mean to you on a personal level?
This is an easy one to answer. It’s the people we support who keep me motivated. Spending time chatting and catching up is still the best part of my job. Unfortunately, as the charity has grown, I don’t get to spend as much time as I would like with our people but that just means that when we do meet up, it is even more precious. I feel very privileged to have spent most of my career with McFarlane Trust. When Alan and I were handed the keys to the first service, it really did feel like it belonged to us and our vision was clear. I am proud to have played a small part in the evolution of McFarlane Trust.
As you reflect on your 30 years of service, what hopes do you have for the future of the Trust—and what message would you like to share with supporters, colleagues, and the wider community?
My hope for McFarlane Trust is to continue to provide a high standard of care for the people who need it. We didn’t set out to be a huge organisation; our focus was always on the quality of support we delivered. We have the best Managers and staff teams who constantly evaluate the work we do and look at ways to improve it. We know who is important and we know who to focus on. To my colleagues I would say, keep the person at the centre of everything you do, and you won’t go far wrong.
