We employ a team of highly skilled, dedicated refuge workers and children’s support workers who work tirelessly to support the women and children in their care. Our diverse staff team reflects the local population, can offer services in different languages, and can support women with additional barriers through understanding cultural issues.
The charity is governed by a board of committed trustees with experience across the wider charity sector, plus accountancy expertise:
Tahera Aanchawan, Chair is a management development consultant with experience in health and social care organisations and the voluntary sector in the UK and Africa. She has extensive links and experience of working with women, refugees and asylum seekers and black and minority ethnic communities. Tahera was awarded the Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Award in 2004 for her services to the Public Sector. In addition to being Chair at Women’s Aid in Luton she is Chair of Transform Africa, a capacity building project for community groups in African countries and trustee at the Noel Buxton Trust.
Perpertua Chagonda, Treasurer is an ACCA qualified Management Accountant with over ten years’ financial and management accountancy experience.
Siobhan McCarthy Morton is CEO at Adventure Ashram charity, which supports anti-human trafficking and education projects in India. Siobhan brings with her knowledge and expertise in communications, fundraising and general charity management. Siobhan is also Grants Manager at the Savitri Trust, a family foundation focusing on environmental and healthcare projects.
Dionne Nelson is Grant Programmes Manager at Turn2Us, which provides support and resources to individuals experiencing financial insecurity. Dionne’s background is in organisational development, project management and partnership development. Prior to Turn2Us (T2u) Dionne was deputy chief executive at Womens Resource Centre (WRC), the national membership body for women-led charities and community groups, advocating with Sister organisations for better representation and resources to address discrimination and inequity against women and girls. Prior to WRC she worked as Head of Income Generation at Association of Chief Executives for Voluntary Organisations. Dionne’s particular areas of interest are womanist practice, women in leadership, and dynamics of power and partnerships. She is currently working with co-production partners to redesign the Turn2Us Elizabeth Finn Fund to ensure grants and support reach the most marginalised communities.
Anoshe Waheed is head of people and culture at Macmillan Cancer Support. Prior to this, Anoshe spent 7 years at the social work charity Frontline in several roles, most recently as head of people, before that she was head of programmes for Firstline and coaching, and worked as a project manager on the Frontline programme. Before joining Frontline, Anoshe held project management roles at a range of international development charities, including Virgin Unite and Save the Children.
Laura Jopson is an experienced major donor fundraiser, with over 13 years’ experience of working in the third sector. Before running her own fundraising consultancy, Laura worked for a host of charities and institutions, including Friends of the Earth, The Open University and The British Library.
Anne Whalley is a qualified lawyer with 30 years’ experience, most of which has been spent in-house working for companies advising them on all aspects of business, strategy and law. Anne recently joined Womens Aid having stepped down as a trustee of the Royal British Legion.
Carina Cyril has worked in-house for over 14 years in commercial contracts and property, particularly in infrastructure development. Having worked on various governmental projects in the central and local government, she has helped deliver the government 2020 target for renewable energy distribution: building schools for the future through to the successful delivery of the Crossrail project, operational as the Elizabeth Line. She currently leads supplier contracts and manages the team to deliver track maintenance works for transport for London. In her spare time, she runs two start-up businesses in sustainable luxury fashion and self-care and holistic wellness.