New Staff Member – Eleanor McKie

Meet Eleanor McKie,
our new Community Engagement Coordinator

A fresh face at Norton Park is already bringing energy, creativity and a listening ear to the heart of the community.

Since joining the team last month, Eleanor McKie has set about the people-first work of strengthening connections, sparking new ideas and building on the popular initiatives that make Norton Park more than just a workplace.

Originally from Dumfries, Eleanor has made Edinburgh her home for study and work and now brings her passion for human connection to her new role as Community Engagement Coordinator.

Though she’s only on site two days a week, Eleanor’s impact is already being felt across the Norton Park hub. Whether chatting to tenants in the lounge, gathering feedback on activities or pitching in with events planning, she’s determined to make her time count.

Her appointment signals a continued commitment to the community-building work led previously by Tristan, whose legacy includes the popular book club, yoga classes and cinema nights – all of which Eleanor is keen to strengthen and evolve.

Alongside these initiatives, Eleanor has her eye on creating new experiences for tenants and visitors alike, blending creativity with curiosity as she listens, learns and experiments.

Eleanor’s professional journey has taken a few turns, from a degree in English and History to work in tourism and an internship with the Halo Trust, she’s now finding her stride by pairing her current postgraduate study in Human Resources with this on-the-ground community role.

In her short time so far, she’s already been busy getting to know faces across the site and beginning to shape what the next chapter of engagement at Norton Park will look like – and we can’t wait to see what she’ll bring to life next.

Q&A with Eleanor

We sat down with Eleanor to find out more about her background, what brought her to Norton Park, and what she hopes to bring to the role.

Q: What drew you to Norton Park and this role in particular?

A: I was looking for something meaningful, a role that would connect to what I’m studying and offer the chance to be part of a community. I’m currently doing my postgraduate degree in Human Resources and when I saw the opportunity at Norton Park, it just really resonated. I’ve always had that interest in the charity sector and I wanted something that allowed me to get creative while making a difference.

Q: Tell us a bit about your background before this.

A: I did my undergrad in English and History in Edinburgh and I’ve worked in a few different areas, I even had an internship with the Halo Trust when I was still in school, which left a lasting impression on me. More recently, I was working in tourism and customer service, and in one of those roles I created and facilitated a mental health workshop. That experience showed me how much I enjoyed creating something valuable and seeing the positive impact it could have.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you at Norton Park?

A: Currently, a lot of my time is about meeting people, understanding the building and the community and absorbing as much as I can. I’m only in on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so I try to be visible spending time in the tenants’ lounge, saying hello to people and hearing what ideas they have. I’m also looking at what similar organisations are doing and what’s worked here before, so I can build from a strong base.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you here?

A: It’s still early days, but I can already see the variety in the role. It’s more customer-facing than most people might expect. From the moment I walk in, I’m engaging with tenants and visitors. It’s hands-on and people-focused – which I love.

Q: How would you sum up your job in one line?

A: I’d say it’s all about listening, connecting and creating – bringing people together and making space for ideas to grow.

Q: What are your top priorities for the next few months?

A: First and foremost, relationship building. Even just saying “Hi, I’m Eleanor, what do you think about this?” has already sparked so many great conversations. I also want to continue what Tristan started, making sure the book club, yoga and cinema nights are supported and successful. Then I’d love to bring in some new ideas of my own. So I suppose it’s: build relationships, strengthen what’s working and get creative.