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Mark Cassidy

Older Adult Advisory Board

Mark is retired and lives in a small village in the west of Scotland. He spent 15 years working as an officer in UK Customs, followed by 25 years in IT for the UK Forestry Commission in Edinburgh, before retiring for a quieter, simpler life - although 6 grandchildren have ensured that ambition has never been realised! Since retirement Mark has indulged in several passions including good literature, history, and music. As a volunteer, he has taken part in a number of  research projects and engaged in personal study with their excellent . With his parents, he has witnessed the almost inevitable need for assistance and advice as older people gradually become more vulnerable to all sorts of external factors over which they have little control. Mark hopes that he can assist in some ways with the COPE project in making that assistance or advice a little more useful.

Maggie Paterson

Older Adult Advisory Board

Maggie’s career in community learning and development, along with her background in community-focused approaches and co-production, brings valuable experience and a network of useful contacts to the project. Now retired, Maggie's experience leading initiatives to improve the wellbeing of older people, in collaboration with health and social services partners and the voluntary sector, leaves her well-placed to contribute to COPE's success.

She hopes to draw on the knowledge and experience from her working life, combined with personal reflections on the challenges of growing older in a changing climate, to help COPE have a meaningful and significant impact.