Volunteer Case Study 1 – Scottish Asian Counselling Services

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Professional Development | Volunteering | Opportunities

I began volunteering with Scottish Asian Counselling Services (SACS) in 2023 and it has been a genuinely valuable and formative experience.

As a University 2nd year Psychology student, having the opportunity to volunteer with an organisation like SACS has been especially meaningful. I have supported a range of events, including the SACS networking event, which has given me insight into how a community-focused mental health organisation operates in practice.

I have also been fortunate to be selected to currently undertake the COSCA counselling skills course through SACS. This has been an eye-opening and enriching experience, supporting the development of my counselling skills, confidence and self-awareness and helping me bridge theory with real-world practice.

Overall, volunteering with SACS has significantly supported both my professional development and personal growth. I have learned so much that will continue to benefit me as I progress in my career, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities and support provided. I wouldn’t have been able to access this experience without SACS.

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Gursharan Kaur

Trustee

What you do in your position?

My role involves acting in the charity’s best interest, providing the checks and balances to ensure the charity is compliant with the OSCR’s rules and regulations and provides the service in accordance with the same. This includes contributing to the development of a clear strategy and delivery plan, having an oversight of the governance and risks and ensuring any conflict of interest is managed appropriately.

Why is culturally sensitive mental health support important for South Asian communities in Scotland?

Mental health still carries a significant stigma in its name alone. This creates an invisible barrier in accessing the right type of support when needed. The South Asian communities have additional barriers in accessing the mainstream services due to issues in acknowledging the problem, delayed access, language barriers, transport etc. Culturally-sensitive service is critical to address these barriers to ensure support can be provided in the right format and at the right time. This helps to reduce waiting times and further deterioration of health.

What skills, experience, or perspective do you bring to the board of Scottish Asian Counselling Services?

I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology, PGd. in Health Studies, PGd. in Senior Healthcare Leadership, a Level 7 Senior Leader award with Distinction and acquired the prestigious City and Guilds of London Institute post credentials MCGI. This is supported by my 20 years of knowledge, experience and expertise as a Senior Leader in addition to my previous roles in Public Health, Strategic Commissioning and Management Consultancy in the NHS. My Associate Chartered Management Consultant (ACMI ChMC) award involves meeting multiple competencies in multiple domains of Consultancy demonstrating my expertise in governance, risk management and accountability.

I am also a Coach and Mentor, the Founder and Chair of Sikhs in Healthcare and a Magistrate at Sikh Court. I have recently been selected for the NHS 100 Leaders programme. This is an initiative to identify and support high potential leaders aspiring to be CEOs and Executive Directors to build a diverse and capable pipeline of Senior Leaders.

I am currently completing my MSc. in Healthcare Leadership (September 2026).

What motivates you to continue supporting the work of Scottish Asian Counselling Services?

SACS has created a holistic space to access professional support in a timely manner. The wide breadth of this support enables the conversations on mental health to be normalised and reduce the stigma and barriers currently prevalent in our communities. I am passionate about reducing health inequalities and ensuring all population groups have an equitable access to health services. I am motivated by the passion of the whole team in bringing this culturally-sensitive service to the local communities and helping them on their journey to recovery.

Indleeb Walayat

Trustee

What you do in your position?

I serve as a Trustee and my role is to serve on the board to ensure the charity is run well and stays true to its mission of providing culturally sensitive counselling. Fundamentally, I am legally responsible for all of the decisions and actions taken by SACS, as stipulated by the Scottish Charities regulator OSCR.

Why is culturally sensitive mental health support important for South Asian communities in Scotland?

It’s important because it builds trust and helps lower the sense of shame and stigma around mental health. When support is culturally appropriate, therapy becomes more effective and people feel truly understood without having to explain cultural norms, family expectations, or community pressures from scratch. This makes reaching out for help feel safer.

What skills, experience, or perspective do you bring to the board of Scottish Asian Counselling Services?

I bring a mix of professional, business, community and lived experience. For many years, I’ve worked as a Class Teacher and Acting Principal Teacher. Currently I’m the Director of two Kip McGrath Tutoring Centres, which involves strategic planning and day today management.

I’ve served on other boards, such as ELREC (Edinburgh Race Equality Council), EIS Ant-racist Sub Committee, STUC Black Workers’ Committee and have been actively involved in local community work. All of these roles require collaboration, active listening, policy implementation and working with diverse groups. This experience has increased my understanding of the issues facing the South Asian Community.

I have a keen interest in Social Justice and Inclusion and have studied at Post Graduate level in this area.

Personally, my South Asian background helps me understand sensitive issues like shame, stigma, and family honour from the inside. I’m bilingual in Urdu and Punjabi, which also highlights for me how vital it is to offer support in languages people are comfortable with.

What motivates you to continue supporting the work of Scottish Asian Counselling Services?

SACS is filling a major gap in mental health support for the South Asian community here in Scotland. Seeing what’s been achieved so far, as demonstrated in their recent Impact Report, is truly inspiring.

As a teacher, I’ve noticed the increasing need for mental health support, especially amongst parents in the South Asian community who struggle to find suitable help for their children.

Having grown up in the South Asian community and encountering some of these challenges myself, I feel a strong sense of pride and privilege in being able to give back by being a Trustee, to serve my community

Andy Gray

Trustee

What you do in your position?

My role at Scottish Asian Counselling Services is that of a Trustee. The role involves responsibility for providing strategic leadership and governance to ensure the charity fulfils its mission of delivering culturally sensitive counselling and mental health support to minority ethnic communities in Scotland.

This involves:

Setting and overseeing the charity’s strategic direction
Ensuring legal, regulatory, and financial compliance
Safeguarding the charity’s values, beneficiaries, and reputation
Supporting and constructively challenging senior management
Acting in the best interests of SACS and the communities it serves

Why is culturally sensitive mental health support important for South Asian communities in Scotland?

Culturally sensitive mental health support is important for South Asian communities in Scotland because cultural beliefs, family structures, language, religion, and experiences of migration and racism strongly shape how mental distress is understood, expressed, and managed. Without cultural awareness, symptoms may be misunderstood, stigma may prevent help-seeking, and services can feel unsafe or irrelevant.

A Culturally sensitive approach helps our Counsellors recognise issues such as shame and honour, intergenerational conflict, gender roles, faith-based coping, and the impact of discrimination. Our Counsellors improve communication, trust, and engagement by respecting cultural values and reducing barriers such as language and fear of judgement, leading to earlier access, more effective support, and better mental health outcomes.

What skills, experience, or perspective do you bring to the board of Scottish Asian Counselling Services?

I have worked as a Psychotherapist for over 25 years, have managed various counselling services, have been founder, director, and owner of a counselling/psychotherapy organisation. I have also worked as an academic lead at various education institutions across the United Kingdom. This has provided me with skills in governance, accountability, policy creation, business planning, strategy, as well as a solid ethical awareness.

What motivates you to continue supporting the work of Scottish Asian Counselling Services?

My motivation to support SACS is that the organisation delivers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed mental health support to communities who often face barriers to accessing mainstream services. Witnessing the impact on individuals, families, and wider community wellbeing, alongside the organisation’s commitment to equality, social justice, and reducing mental health stigma reinforces my sense of purpose, values, and social responsibility.

Amirah Khan

Trustee

What you do in your position?

As a trustee at Scottish Asian Counselling Services (SACS), my role is to provide strategic leadership, governance, and oversight to ensure the organisation delivers safe, ethical, and high-quality mental health support to South Asian communities. I contribute to setting the organisation’s direction by helping define its mission, priorities, and long-term plans in line with community needs and sector best practice.

A key responsibility of my role is governance and compliance. This includes ensuring SACS operates in accordance with charity law, OSCR requirements, safeguarding standards, GDPR, and organisational policies.

Why is culturally sensitive mental health support important for South Asian communities in Scotland?

Culturally sensitive mental health support is essential because mental health is shaped by culture, faith, family systems, and lived experiences. Many South Asian individuals face stigma, language barriers, and fear of being misunderstood, which can delay help-seeking. Culturally informed services build trust, reduce shame, and recognise issues such as migration stress, racism, and intergenerational trauma. When support reflects cultural realities, people are more likely to engage, feel understood, and benefit from therapy, helping to reduce inequalities in access and outcomes.

What skills, experience, or perspective do you bring to the board of Scottish Asian Counselling Services?

As a counselling psychologist, I bring clinical expertise from delivering therapy and conducting assessments, alongside a strong understanding of ethical practice, safeguarding, and risk. This allows me to contribute informed insight into service quality and client safety. I also bring a culturally responsive perspective and an ability to connect governance decisions with frontline practice. I value reflective thinking, evidence-based approaches, and collaborative challenge to support SACS’s mission and long-term sustainability.

What motivates you to continue supporting the work of Scottish Asian Counselling Services?

I am motivated by SACS’s commitment to addressing mental health inequalities and providing culturally responsive support to underserved communities. The organisation creates safe spaces for people who may not otherwise access mental health care. Seeing the positive impact on individuals and families, alongside SACS’s strong ethical values, motivates me to support its sustainability and growth. I am proud to contribute to an organisation that combines community insight with professional standards and meaningful social impact.

Dedicated to improving mental health within South Asian communities

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