Hello, my name is Shoenagh Mackay, and I am the founder of LEAF – Lives Enriched and Fulfilled.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have known from a very young age what I wanted to be. My journey into nursing began with a little girl called Alice.
As a child, I spent periods away from school because I was often unwell with asthma. During one of those times, I became friends with Alice, a little girl who lived across the road and was the same age as me. Alice was living with infantile late-onset Batten disease, although as a child I did not understand the nature or seriousness of her illness.
I did not see Alice through the eyes of a diagnosis. To me, she was simply my friend.
We would sit together on the sofa, play, chat and sing. I particularly loved winding up her Fisher-Price radio and filling the room with music and conversation. Those moments were simple, but they were filled with companionship, joy and connection.
What I remember most vividly, however, were the wonderful women who came to care for Alice. I did not understand their job titles or everything they did. I only knew that they were kind, gentle and caring. They made Alice feel special, and they always included me too. They would talk to me warmly and even let me use their stethoscope.
To a little girl, they seemed extraordinary.
I remember thinking:
“I am going to be one of Alice’s ladies.”
For a time, I stopped playing with Alice because I thought she had gone back to school. I did not understand why I was no longer seeing her. Later, Alice's mum gave my mum the Fisher-Price radio we had shared. Alice had not gone to school.
That experience stayed with me.
Although I was very young, Alice taught me something that has remained at the heart of everything I have done since: care is about far more than meeting someone's physical needs. It is about being present. It is about kindness, patience, communication, laughter and human connection. Most importantly, it is about seeing the person — not their condition — and recognising the individuality, personality and value that make them who they are.
That early experience shaped the path I would take. I went on to pursue nursing and have now worked in healthcare for over 30 years, with a particular passion for Learning Disability nursing.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working across the NHS, independent and third sectors, in a wide range of clinical, leadership and service management roles. I have led charities and care organisations, overseen care services, supported individuals and families, and worked alongside professionals and teams to improve the quality of care and support provided to people with learning disabilities.
I am proud to be a Queen’s Nurse, reflecting my commitment to high-quality nursing practice, professional development and improving the experience of care for those with learning disabilities.
My experience spans clinical practice, staff training, leadership, consultancy and service development. Through these roles, I have seen first-hand both the difference that compassionate, skilled and person-centred care can make and the challenges that individuals, families, carers and professionals can face.
These experiences have strengthened a belief that has remained constant throughout my career:
Everyone deserves to be seen, heard, valued and treated with dignity, kindness and respect.
I believe people should never be defined by their disability or diagnosis. Instead, we should take the time to understand the whole person — their strengths, communication, relationships, experiences, wishes, interests and aspirations.
I also believe that families and carers hold an invaluable understanding of the people they love and support. Their knowledge and experience should be welcomed and valued, and the best outcomes are achieved when individuals, families and professionals work together with openness, trust and a shared commitment to what matters most.
