Hover over the images to read more about our Staff

Glyn Morris

CEO

A family trip to the theatre ended in disaster, after Glyn’s son was asked to leave as a result of his disability only 10 minutes into the performance of ‘Wicked’ at the London Victoria Apollo in July 2011, it captured the hearts of many across the UK. Rather than pointing the finger of blame, Glyn’s focus was in creating a platform for the UK Theatre industry to discuss ways forward and ensure a positive experience for everyone to enjoy, regardless of disability or condition. As a result, Relaxed Performances were catapulted into mainstream theatres across the UK and remain in place today. Glyn continues to work closely with The National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep and Eden Court.  Believing that, “whilst an impairment cannot be changed, the environment often can, thus making the environment the disabling factor”, Glyn created Friendly Access in 2014, a charity with a holistic approach aimed at improving accessibility across Scotland through Technology, Sport and Education. “We live in an evolving society where we are see a growing trend towards improved access, and although this is greatly welcomed, we also see many situations over engineered, bogged down through thought process. What gives the greatest pleasure, is seeing how sometimes the smallest changes can carry the biggest impact. There is also a pressing need for better access under ‘reasonable adjustments’ for people with disabilities/conditions less apparent. It should never be assumed someone requires any less support dependant upon the visibility of their disability or condition.”.  Glyn also states, “I welcome the day the word ‘inclusion’ will no longer be required.”

Angela Drummond

Administration and IT Manager

Angela lives in North East Scotland with her husband Roddy, 2 boys, 2 cats and an assistance dog in training too. Angela’s oldest son has had an autism diagnosis since the age of 9. School has been a struggle for him and it was through Angela’s wish for understanding of the autism spectrum that she came to Friendly Access.

She says “In 2014 I was at an Autism conference in Elgin and met Glyn and Kev. They were talking about surfing for those on the Autism spectrum. Our son had had a particularly hard year in Primary 7 and surfing came along at just the right time for him. He really enjoyed it and I knew then that I would like to be involved with helping peoples lives become better regardless of their disabilities.”
Angela now looks after all the administration, accounts and all things to do with the Web site, including the booking system.

Kev Anderson

Sports Development Manager

Kev has a passion for swimming and surfing and loves to share that passion with others.
Kev started his training as a pool lifeguard in 2009 where he quickly became a swimming instructor. He greatly enjoyed teaching sport and activity to young kids through to youth club swimmers and adult improvers. Kev says that it’s here he first discovered that sport is an incredible way to engage with people and improve lives.

With the aim of building upon that pool-based training he travelled on a bus to Cornwall to test his experience in a new environment on a beach lifeguard course.
With previous training in swimming and lifeguard rescue many aspects of the course were familiar but the power of the sea and the unfamiliar skills and equipment were an eye opener into an incredible way of life with surfing and water sports.
Becoming an instructor for beginner and improver athletes with conditions and disabilities was a natural progression for Kev as he began his training with a natural approach to inclusion and enabling opportunities. After gaining industry experience it became clear to Kev that there was a huge gap in the provision for accessible sport and the opportunity to work with Friendly Access was an opportunity to work for a great team and organisation where it’s athletes at the very heart of what it does.
Kev has said that “it is an incredible privilege to work and engage with the SwimABLE and SurfABLE Scotland athletes and a joy to be a part of the amazing progress they make.
It’s Kev’s aim in the future to continue promoting and developing opportunities for those in the community who sometimes don’t always have the same opportunities as others to whom access to sport can be an essential form of therapy as well as fun, fitness and access to the community around them.

James Whiteside

Sports Development Coach

James lives in Elgin and has been surfing for 13 years. As a teenager James was introduced to skateboarding and this progressed into his love of surfing.

James has travelled the world in search of surfing venues, his favourite ones being the Isle of Lewis here in Scotland and Hossegor in France.

James started his working life as a driving instructor and transferred those teaching skills over to surfing, and now teaches all ages and abilities to surf.

Robert Paterson

Swim Instructor

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Emma Barber

Swim Instructor

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