Carers of East Lothian was started in 1996 and is a registered Scottish Charity (SC027000). In 2009 we became a Company Limited by guarantee (SC366908).
CoEL employs a number of paid staff and is overseen by a Board of Directors who are either current or former carers. Carers or former carers can apply to be members of CoEL and members can vote on who will be on the Board of Directors at our AGM which is usually held around around October.
Membership is free and open to all. If you are interested in becoming a member or joining our Board or please contact our office for more information.
Copies of our Accounts can be accessed below:
- CoEL Accounts – 2024-25
- CoEL Accounts – 2023-24
- CoEL Accounts – 2022-23
- CoEL Accounts – 2021-22
- CoEL Accounts – 2020-21
- CoEL Accounts – 2019-20
- CoEL Accounts – 2018-19
- CoEL Accounts – 2017-18
Copies of our Annual Reports can be accessed below:
- CoEL Annual Summary 2025 – 2026
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2024 – 25
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2023-24
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2022-23
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2021-22
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2020-21
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2019-20
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2018-19
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2017-18
- CoEL Annual Summary – 2016-17
A copy of our Strategy can be accessed here: CoEL Strategy – 2022-25
Board of Directors
Jim Conway – Chair
Jim is now in his fifth year in the role. He has served on the Board in two separate periods, previously contributing nine years before stepping down during the COVID restrictions to focus on caring responsibilities at home.
Married for over 40 years, Jim has four daughters, two of whom have severe and complex needs.
With a background in finance, he retired early to help care for his daughters.
His lived experience as an unpaid carer strongly shapes his commitment to supporting carers across East Lothian.
Dorothy Bartholomew
Dorothy is a retired teacher, who decided to retire over 10 years ago from being the Headteacher of one of East Lothian’s secondary schools. She had wanted to travel more extensively, but the disability of her husband put paid to these dreams, and she found herself propelled into a full time caring role. Dorothy was totally unprepared for the challenges which came with that role and, fortunately for both her and her husband, she was given the number for CoEL. Dorothy explains that it took a bit of courage to phone, but many tears, tantrums and 3 years later, she feels that she is a better carer and in a much better position, mentally and socially, because of that contact. In 2024, Dorothy joined the Carers Panel to try and help with their mission of supporting all carers in East Lothian.
Dorothy was proud to become a member of the CoEL Board of Trustees in 2025.
Jackie Tagg
Jackie has over 20 years’ experience working in the industrial welfare sector – providing health and social/emotional care to employees in a variety of settings. The death of her brother and subsequent move of her elderly parents to live in North Berwick near her, prompted a change of life. At first, she worked part time locally [you may recognise her from the Westgate Gallery and the Harbour Office] but then became a full-time carer for her parents at home.
Now on her own she has joined the board of CoEL, an organisation that helped her navigate the difficulties that a caring role brings.
Jackie is also a volunteer driver for the North Berwick Volunteer Car Scheme and regularly makes soup for The Beacon lunch club in St Andrew Blackadder.
In her spare time, she loves meeting friends for gentle walks and lunch or a cuppa of course. It took her a year of mourning before Jackie felt able to enjoy getting out and about again.
Jackie joined the board in 2025, looking forward to contributing in some small way to helping CoEL go from strength to strength.
Ashley Galloway
Ashley has a professional background in health and social care, with experience in change management and delivering high quality, person- centred services. She is passionate about social justice and committed to amplifying issues that are often overlooked or under-presented in society.
Alongside her professional experience, she brings lived experience as a carer. She understands first- hand the impact caring responsibilities can have on individuals and families, including the emotional toll and the challenges of navigating complex and unfamiliar services. This perspective strongly informs her approach and motivation to contribute meaningfully to the CoEL board.
Ashely lives in East Lothian with her family and enjoys spending time along the beautiful coastline.
Arlene
Arlene has worked in fundraising for 20 years, holding senior roles with charities including Marie Curie, the NSPCC, Leuchie and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. She is currently Head of Fundraising for Scotland at Marie Curie.
Having been a carer for both of her parents, Arlene brings personal experience of caring alongside her professional experience in fundraising, strategy and income generation to the Board.
Arlene lives in East Lothian with her dog, Hamish. Outside work, she enjoys spending time by the coast, travelling, getting stuck into home improvement projects and, when time allows, training to become a celebrant.
Caroline
Caroline has a professional background in financial services and housing, including risk management, compliance, IT, budgeting, procurement and governance.
Alongside her professional experience, caring for her late mother for over 20 years, and her late brother, Caroline found out first – hand the impact caring can have on individuals as well as the challenges faced when navigating services and support. It was Caroline’s GP who suggested she contact Carers of East Lothian. She eventually swallowed her pride and reached out and is indebted to them for the help, support, guidance and advice received during a challenging time. Caroline feels it made her a better carer, and is now passionate about supporting unpaid carers.
Caroline lives in Dunbar, is a founding member and secretary of the Dunbar Medical Centre Patient Participation Group and she actively supports and helps her husband in managing Dunbar in Bloom.