About us
We’re reshaping the way we discuss
Sex
relationships
sexual health
mental wellbeing
kink and fetish
feelings
Pillow Talk Scotland is a community-led charity creating spaces where adults can learn, share and connect around sex, relationships and wellbeing. We believe these conversations belong to everyone, not just experts, not just schools, and certainly not behind closed doors.
We do this through three main strands of work:
1. Community conversations and events
We run reading groups, workshops and creative sessions where people can talk openly about intimacy, identity, consent and connection in a friendly, informal setting. These spaces help break stigma and build confidence.
2. Inclusive learning with experts
We partner with sexual health educators, therapists and community organisations to offer accessible, evidence-informed sessions that people rarely get elsewhere, especially as adults.
3. Independent journalism and storytelling
We publish stories, investigations and weekly wrap-ups that centre real experiences and amplify underrepresented voices in Scotland. Our journalism helps people feel informed, seen and connected.
Across all our work, our approach is simple: community-led, shame-free, inclusive, and rooted in everyday life. Whether you join us at an event, read our stories, or take part in a project, Pillow Talk is a place to learn, feel supported, and connect with others.
We champion a sex-positive, people-centred culture where open and respectful conversations are the norm. Together, we create inclusive spaces to talk about relationships, identity, mental health, intimacy and sexual wellbeing, free from stigma, judgement or pressure. These conversations make communities stronger: they help us understand each other, build empathy, and live more connected lives.
By blending community events, peer-led discussion, and independent journalism, we help people build confidence, connection and knowledge. Our work is rooted in Scotland’s diverse communities and grounded in the belief that open, shame-free dialogue strengthens wellbeing, relationships and the social fabric around us.
We are not just sharing information — we are fostering an environment that encourages ongoing dialogue, challenges stigma, and supports personal growth.
Scotland is facing rising loneliness, mental health pressures and deep inequalities in access to sexual wellbeing support. In this context, safe, inclusive spaces for honest conversation matter more than ever.
Pillow Talk creates environments where people can be heard and understood, places where empathy, connection and learning can flourish. By bringing people together, we’re helping build stronger, more compassionate communities across Scotland.
Meet the team
Editorial responsibility for Pillow Talk Scotland lies with Iris Pase, our founding editor, who leads the creative direction, content production, and programming. Oversight of the organisation’s governance and administrative compliance is carried out by our board of trustees, who ensure we meet our responsibilities as a Scottish charity.
Iris Pase (founding editor)
Iris Pase is an Italian journalist and certified sex educator based in Glasgow. She founded Pillow Talk Scotland to create space for open, sex-positive conversations that bring together storytelling, education, and community.
At Pillow Talk, Iris also leads The Bold Type Fellowship, a free nine-month programme offering mentorship, paid writing opportunities, and workshops for self-identifying women in Scotland who have faced financial barriers to entering the media.
Alongside Pillow Talk, Iris works as a freelance journalist, social media producer, and engagement editor. Her writing has appeared in The Independent, Metro UK, Positive News Magazine, and The Fuller Project, and her women’s health videos for BBC The Social have reached audiences of over six million on Facebook alone.
Carys Roberts (Chair)
Carys is a sexual health and sex positivity enthusiast and third sector professional. She has volunteered for sexual health charities Brook and Sexpression, contributing to both practical delivery and campaign work. Carys brings a wealth of third sector expertise to the board, with skills in partnerships, volunteer coordination, outreach and project management.
Kristina Saunders (Secretary)
Kristina has over 10 years of experience teaching and researching sociology at the University of Glasgow. Her interests and expertise lie in sociological approaches to sexual and reproductive health and justice, gender studies, and feminist theory. She is passionate about the power of storytelling, and ensuring that accessible sexual and reproductive health information is widely available in different formats and that it meets the needs of, and is informed by, diverse communities.
Alessandra Vescio (Treasurer)
Alessandra is an Italian and London-based freelance journalist covering health, gender and social issues. With bylines in Al Jazeera, DIVA Magazine, The Fix Media, Marie Claire Italy, Valigia Blu, and more, she is also the author of “La salute è un diritto di genere”, a non-fiction book about the gender health gap published in Italy in 2023.
Laura Dudley-Smith (Safeguarding Lead)
Laura is a qualified youth and community worker with over 7 years’ experience in delivering sexual health education across diverse communities. Her passion for addressing inequalities in Relationship & Sex Education (RSE) was inspired by teaching with Sexpression at University and finding her own sex ed lacking in LGBTQ+ , disabled and neurodivergent experiences (to say the least!). Laura currently works in the third sector and brings extensive experience in facilitation, training and community learning and development (CLD) to the board.
Evelyn Robertson (Trustee)
Evelyn is a current student at the University of Strathclyde studying for a Masters in Applied Gender Studies, a new devotee to burlesque and nerd at heart. Having initially come from a science background, her experience navigating long misdiagnosed health issues has spurred her to investigate how medical narratives of bodies impact women’s health. She is eager to promote and facilitate more open dialogue around sexuality, bodies and sexual health, believing frank and empathetic conversation has the potential to be life-changing.
Common Pillow talk Questions
1. Is Pillow Talk only for people in Scotland?
No. Pillow Talk is based in Scotland and most of our reporting focuses on Scotland and the UK, but anyone can read, follow and learn from our work. If you live elsewhere, some of the practical info might not apply where you are, but the bigger conversations about sex, relationships and gender are relevant far beyond Scotland. We’re also always keen to collaborate with people and organisations from all over the world!
2. Why is Pillow Talk 18+?
We talk openly about sex, relationships, consent and gender, sometimes including content that’s explicit, distressing or not suitable for younger audiences. For that reason, Pillow Talk is aimed at adults aged 18 and over. We try to give clear content notes so you can choose what feels right for you. If you’re under 18 and looking for support, we recommend contacting a trusted adult or specialist youth service rather than using Pillow Talk as your main source of help.
3. I am a person / organisation who wants to work with you. How do I do that?
Great – we’d love to hear from you. If you’re an individual, you can:
– share a story or tip
– offer expertise for interviews or fact-checking
– collaborate on events, workshops or resources
If you’re an organisation, you can:
– partner on reporting or campaigns
– commission workshops or talks
– support Pillow Talk through funding or in-kind support
The best first step is to email us at contact@pillowtalk.scot with a short description of who you are, what you’d like to do together, and any timelines we should know about. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
