Meet our childcare professionals and support staff
Louise Gourmelen
Playgroup Manager
As Playgroup Manager, I provide mindful leadership to ensure that our values of 'Community' and 'Play' underpin our service provision for children, and that children stay at the heart of everything we do, in partnership with their families and carers. I work with parents on the Committee to continually improve and develop the service to meet the needs of families.
I bring diverse professional experience and education to my role, including a specific practice qualification in Childhood Practice. My practice is child-led, playful and kind, always respecting the rights of the child as an individual. My special research interests are in play, children's participation and creative arts practice in Early Learning and Care.
I live in the local community and, also as a parent, care about preserving our community spaces for children of all ages.
Carol Malkin
Lead Early Years Practitioner
I joined the team at Holy Corner after completing my SVQ in Social Services (Children and Young People) and have been the Lead Practitioner since 2022. I work 5 mornings. After a successful 17 years working as a Cabin Crew for Virgin Atlantic I was inspired to retrain in Early Years after watching my son thrive in a child led and nurturing environment at Playgroup, and have now been working with young children for several years in community settings.
Spending most of my childhood outside has fostered a lifelong love of the outdoors, and all things muddy. I spent many summers working in children’s outdoor adventure camps and was a Girl Guide Young Leader and am now a Rainbow Leader. I enjoy facilitating play in the natural environment and embracing the seasons. I love to cook and bake and believe it’s never too early to involve the children in the preparation of healthy snacks.
Fahmida Yasmin
Early Years Practitioner
I am a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the Holy Corner Practitioner team. I work 5 mornings at the Playgroup.
Through my work experience in many nursery schools and after-school clubs I have built strong relationships with parents and children.
During my time in nursery schools, I have worked with a vast range of people from different backgrounds and I have worked closely both with my colleagues and stakeholders daily.
I have great communication skills with the ability to communicate with people of all ages from different backgrounds and cultures due to speaking four languages Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and English.
Frances Taylor
Early Years Practitioner
Manon Booth
Business and Development Manager
I joined the team in April 2023. My professional journey began in Physiotherapy, where I initially built my career. However, after going on maternity leave and experiencing the joys of motherhood, I discovered my true passion lay in supporting children.
This path brought me to Holy Corner Community Playgroup (HCCP), where my daughter thrived for 1.5 years. I couldn’t have wished for a better early years environment for her. Inspired by HCCP’s nurturing approach to children’s development, I began volunteering on the parent committee not long after my daughter started in 2022. During this time, I gained invaluable experience by actively taking on more than half of the committee roles, including Chair.
When the opportunity to become Business Manager arose, I immediately knew it was the right next step. With my knowledge of the playgroup, its staff, and the exceptional care it provides, joining the staff team felt like a natural and rewarding progression.
In my role, I support the playgroup with banking and payroll, build strong relationships with the parent committee, and act as a key link between HCCP, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies such as the City of Edinburgh Council and the Care Inspectorate.
I am delighted to be part of this dedicated team and look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of HCCP.