Our people

Natasha has extensive leadership, policy influencing and communications experience in the charity sector. She spent 11 years as Chief Executive of Become, the national charity for children in care and care leavers. She has served as an advisor to two Children's Commissioners and has sat on the advisory boards of two national inquiries into the criminalisation of young people in care and on several government taskforces. She was awarded an OBE for services to children and families in 2019 and has been a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts since 2007. She is a trustee at Catch22, a charity and social business that designs and delivers services that build resilience and aspiration in people of all ages and within communities across the UK.

Helen has 19 years’ teaching, training and programme management experience in the education and charity sectors. Before joining Working Chance she managed wellbeing programmes for care leavers and other vulnerable groups and has worked in youth offending and prison settings.

Before joining Working Chance, Aoibhinn worked at a hostel supporting people experiencing homelessness in Ireland, and in a role delivering workshops to youth groups. She is a trained Samaritans volunteer and is currently studying for a master's in counselling and psychotherapy.

Before joining Working Chance, Rebecca worked for a women’s charity in the West Midlands, supporting women who were subject to or at risk of sexual exploitation. She was the lead for their women’s justice service, for women in contact with the criminal justice system. She previously volunteered for their evening street outreach and drop-in provision, supporting women who were selling sex. She has completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and an MSc in Forensic Psychology and Mental Health.

Prior to joining Working Chance, Amanda completed a PhD in Fine Art, working with an archive of women's mental health testimonies to produce a multichannel sound installation. She has worked as a university lecturer and for various charities, particularly within the criminal justice and migration sectors.

Richard has 25 years’ experience working in criminal justice for voluntary, public and private sector organisations, including prisons and probation. As well as his extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system, Richard has an extensive and well-established network of UK and international professional contacts. His career has always been driven by a desire to support people to become the very best they can be. Richard is a trustee of POPS (Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group).

Before joining Working Chance, Joanne worked for over 30 years in local government. She has held roles at CAFCASS (Children & Family Court Advisory and Support Service) dealing with families involved in care proceedings as well as having extensive experience within children’s services and the education sector. She is committed to equality and fairness, and ensuring women affected by the criminal justice system are effectively represented.

Before joining Working Chance, Lucinda worked in childcare for 20 years, ranging from caring for infants right through to 16 year-olds. She has also worked supporting adults with learning disabilities and women in recovery. Lucinda joined Working Chance as an Employability Coach and has recently embraced a new challenge in the Employment Services team. Her lived experience of the justice system allows Lucinda to bring a unique and empathetic perspective to her work.

Before joining Working Chance, Mandy worked as a community and social research assistant, connecting women facing barriers or disadvantages with resources and opportunities to help them achieve their goals. She has also worked within retail management, focusing on people development, succession planning and commercial growth. Mandy is committed to making a positive impact and helping women to achieve their full potential.

Before joining Working Chance, Katherine was a teacher of English and has a Master’s degree in education; she is currently studying for a research PhD on education in women's prisons, exploring how gender-responsive and trauma-informed practice could improve the experience education for women in prison, and how this could reduce reoffending. Katherine is also our Education Lead, supporting women with convictions to explore education and training opportunities.

Lizzy has led on communications and marketing for a range of not-for-profits and social justice causes. She was formerly Head of Strategic Communications at STOP THE TRAFFIK, a charity disrupting global human trafficking.

Alex has a degree in political science and international relations and over five years of experience in careers and employment support. She started out at Working Chance in our Employment Services team and now uses that knowledge to work with policymakers, sector organisations and the government, pushing for better services and support for women with convictions.

Vanisha has a degree in criminology and has worked on national projects for care leavers. She spent just under four years on our frontline team, and has taken her insights from this and joined the communications team, helping us to ensure that we consider women’s aspirations, skills and any challenges they face in our communications work.

Steph is an experienced charity professional, specialising in fundraising. She has worked across multiple sectors in both paid and voluntary roles. She has a degree in criminology and social policy, and is a trustee of KeshetUK. Steph has served on EDI committees and engagement groups, and is passionate about creating environments where people feel welcome, included and valued.

Lucy has a degree in sociology and criminology and has experience in the charity sector through paid and voluntary roles. She has worked as a charity fundraiser for two years, specialising in criminal justice causes. Having dedicated time to the improvement of women’s lives in her voluntary roles, she is excited to combine this passion and her expertise in criminal justice and fundraising in this role.

Ruth is a qualified accountant who has worked in a range of senior finance roles in charities including The Prince's Trust and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. She completed her accountancy training at KPMG in the not-for-profit sector.

Erusi is an HR professional, educator and qualified coach with 15 years' experience across technology, retail, hospitality and not-for-profit sectors. As a Chartered MCIPD, Erusi has led and supported business restructure and change processes, as well as championing EDI and employee experience initiatives. Alongside her role at Working Chance, Erusi works part-time as an associate coach for a digital coaching platform.

Dan has 12 years’ experience in charity monitoring and evaluation across a variety of projects including advice, community development, and financial exclusion. He has developed and delivered multiple impact evaluation frameworks and is committed to understanding the impact projects and organisations have in order to improve them.

Vicky has been a Patron of Working Chance since 2014. She is an economist and former Joint Head of the UK's Government Economic Service. She is passionate about how the criminal justice system impacts women's lives and the economy, and has written books including 'Prisonomics: Behind Bars in Britain's Failing Prisons' and 'Women vs. Capitalism'.

After spending her early career working as a teacher and social worker, Lin trained as an educational psychologist and was principal educational psychologist at Coventry City Council. Since then, she has held many senior roles in government and public bodies including at the Ministry of Justice and as Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board. Lin is also Chair of Make-A-Wish UK and Home-Start UK.

Joanna is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and won a national award, Finance Director of the Year, Growing Business in 2005. She is a highly experienced and versatile finance director with extensive board experience in both the private and charity sectors.

Renata is a Director at the Shaw Trust, where she oversees a portfolio of 27 social enterprise sites including charity shops and garden centres. She's passionate about intersectionality and is a senior sponsor for Shaw Trust's Race Equality Network. Renata's career to date has been focused on supporting people to develop their employability. She puts people at the heart of everything she does, with an intrinsic quality of wanting to help others. Renata mentors others on a regular basis, many of whom have been from underrepresented groups.

With nearly 20 years' experience working in recruitment, Ami has in-depth experience of delivering talent solutions for a wide range purpose-led commercial businesses, social enterprises and charities across the UK and globally. As Director of People Beyond Profit, Ami finds the right people for the right roles, alongside a social mission to support leadership development of underrepresented groups.

Clare is currently a charity consultant focusing on campaigning, communication and coaching. She has worked in policy and campaigning in the charity sector for over 15 years including at charities such as Pause, Young Lives Vs Cancer and the Family Planning Association. Clare also managed campaigning at Women’s Aid where she worked on campaigns such as making coercive control a criminal offence. Clare has over a decade of trustee experience. Outside work Clare enjoys walking her dog Alan, running, cooking and listening to podcasts. She can be found chatting charities, dog walking, what’s in the news, running and tea on Twitter at @ladylaxton.

Kat has worked in the charity sector for 13 years delivering services in early years education, children's literacy, and criminal justice. She is currently a mental health advocate at the charity Women in Prison, supporting prison leavers. She is passionate about prison reform and user-led services that provide women with lived experience of the criminal justice system the opportunity to thrive.

Kate spent her early career as a lawyer before joining the people profession in 2000. She was an HR business partner before specialising in diversity, equity and inclusion in 2013. She has worked at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and management consultancy McKinsey & Company and has led the creation and delivery of DEI strategies locally, regionally and globally. Throughout her career she has supported wider societal change through collaborations with the charitable sector. Kate is particularly passionate about creating environments that enable people to thrive and reach their potential. She is also a trustee for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

Alex has worked in the charity sector for 12 years across a number of areas including data, compliance, innovation, events and individual giving and is currently the Deputy Director of Supporter Experience and Engagement at Teenage Cancer Trust. She has previously been on the board of directors for Pride in London, where she helped introduce and grow a sustainable fundraising stream. Alex is also Chair of the National Autistic Society, Sutton Branch which supports families and individuals. She is passionate about EDI, recently setting up a Pride network at Teenage Cancer Trust, and is dedicated to creating and elevating women's voices within the workplace.