Alisha

Senior Criminal Justice Support Worker

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2019.
Alisha has extensive experience of customer service having worked in the retail industry for over fifteen years.   With good interpersonal and communication skills developed during a period volunteering at a charity Alisha is ideally suited to supporting women that come through the probation service.

Brianna

Acting Project Manager

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2016.
Brianna has spent the majority of her career working within and alongside the Criminal Justice System. She has worked with a wide variety of people including young children, children with disabilities, those with multifaceted needs and both male and female offenders. With Derby University, Brianna has completed all 4 strands of the Smart and Inclusive Leadership Programme, including; Inclusive Leadership, Developing Your Inner Leader, Leading Through Challenge and Change and Leader as Coach and Mentor. In addition, Brianna is trained in Suicide Prevention and Intervention and Coaching Skills.

Claire

Counsellor

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2022.
Claire initially started volunteering for Women’s Work back in January 2018, working with the service users inspired her to pursue study in counselling and she has since achieved CPCAB Level 2 Certificate In Counselling Skills, CPCAB Level 3 Certificate In Counselling Studies and CPCAB Level 4 Diploma In Therapeutic Counselling for which Claire completed a placement at Women’s Work, before joining the team officially as a qualified counsellor in 2022. Claire has recently achieved her BACP accreditation.

Debbie

Office Manager

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2018.
Debbie has over 40 years experience working for social care organisations in Administration and/or Management roles.  She has experience of working for older people’s services in both public and private sector and children and young people’s services within the public sector.  Debbie holds the Level 5 Institute of Leadership & Management and NVQ Level 4 in Management qualifications.

Emma

Domestic Assistant

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2022.
Emma was previously a peer mentor for Women’s Work before joining our team officially and still volunteers for us too. Emma is currently studying towards her Foundation Pathways to Psychology Course at Derby University.

Gabby

Domestic Assistant

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2024.
Gabby was previously a peer mentor for Women’s Work before joining our team officially as a domestic assistant. Gabby continues to be a great support to the women who come to us.

Gemma

Criminal Justice Support Worker

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2023.

Gemma has over 20 years’ experience within the care sector, including community-based settings, The National Health Service, and voluntary organisations. In 2007 Gemma completed a level 2 apprenticeship in Health and Social Care, followed by an advanced level 3 Apprenticeship in Adult social care with a focus on the care of children and young people in 2017. Committed to continuous professional development, Gemma has successfully completed the Own My Life Course facilitator Training and holds a Diploma in Psychology.

Hayley

Counsellor

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2023.
Hayley is a qualified Person Centred Therapist and a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). Hayley was originally a volunteer counsellor with Women’s Work before joining the staff team in 2023. Hayley has worked in the third sector for 20 years, including a children’s charity and a bereavement charity.

Jacqui

Senior Project Worker

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2022.
Jacqui has over 20 years’ experience working within educational organisations and supportive roles, and has valuable knowledge in supporting behaviour, employability and community development. Jacqui is a Mental Health first aider for teens and Freedom programme facilitator for Men, Women and Teens. She also co-ordinates and delivers PHSE training and programmes to 16-18 year olds about drug and alcohol, sexual health, mental health, confidence & self-esteem and healthy relationships. She also has Level 3 Information Advice and Guidance.

Jacquii

Finance Manager

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2021.
Jacquii has been working in accounts and finance for over a decade, and has previously worked as a project accountant in a subsidiary of a global engineering company in Chesterfield. Jacquii has previous experience and knowledge in administration and systems development. Qualified up to AAT Level 3 and NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration, and currently studying towards AAT Level 4.

Karen

Acting Project Manager

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2015.
Karen has over fifteen years experience of working with children and families, including eight years working in a refuge for women fleeing domestic abuse, Karen has gained a 2:1 BA(Hons) in Social Work, is a trained facilitator for the Freedom Programme and has recently completed Level 3 Award in Education and Training.

Laura

Family Support Worker

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2025.
Laura initially engaged with Women’s Work as a service user, gaining valuable insight into the support the organisation provides. Motivated by this experience, she began volunteering on the Healthy Emotions programme, where she developed key skills in supporting others. She later joined the Child Contact Team, working Saturdays, and eventually progressed into a full-time role as a Family Support Worker.
She holds a Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care and is due to begin her Level 3 Diploma next month, further building on her professional development. Prior to working in the support sector, she gained administrative experience in the motor trade industry, where she developed strong organisational and communication skills that continue to benefit her current role.

Lorraine

Operations Manager

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2023.
Lorraine has extensive management and leadership experience having worked in the NHS for 18 years leading teams at Burton/Derby Hospitals and Birmingham Women’s/Children’s Hospitals. Lorraine has worked within bereavement for over ten years dealing with extremely sensitive/complex issues and supporting families at their most difficult times. Lorraine has psychology and counselling qualifications. She has been a volunteer for Cruse bereavement completing many courses enabling her to support families along with management and leadership qualifications and has many years experience working alongside a range of multi-agency teams.

Lyndsey

Senior Project Worker

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2003.
Lyndsey has been part of the Women’s Work team for over twenty-two years and has counselling skills, NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, NVQ Level 2 in Health and Safety, vocational qualification in Business Development, Registered First Aider. Qualified facilitator of the ‘Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities’, Parenting Programme and ‘The Freedom Programme’.

Nadia

Senior Criminal Justice Support Worker

Joined the Women’s Work Team in 2021.
Nadia holds a 1st class degree in BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Therapy, 2:1 BA (Hons) in Performing Arts and Music, HNC in Business Management and she is a Member of the National Council of Psychotherapists. Nadia previously worked as a head of music department at the International School of Schaffhausen in Switzerland, where she staged musicals and plays.

Natalie

Project Worker

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2021.

Rachel

Counselling Co-Ordinator

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2023.
Rachel initially started as a volunteer whilst studying for a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. She has fifteen years’ experience working for the NHS prior to joining the Women’s Work team in 2023. Rachels experience working as an advanced practitioner within a community-based therapy team has informed her practice as a counsellor, enabling her to understand the close relationship between Psychological and Physiological wellbeing. In 2022, Rachel completed further study achieving an advanced diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling. She is a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and is actively working towards her accreditation.

Sally

Project Administrator

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2013.
Sally brings a wealth of experience from working abroad with specialities in numerical, quality control and a vast experience with members of the public and all staff levels within large organisations.

Sarah

Volunteering and Project Administration Coordinator

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2018.
Sarah has many years’ worth of experience within HR, leading and managing teams in previous roles.  Sarah has a wealth of experience within administration, auditing and implementation of core business strategies.  Sarah has a degree in Psychology from Lancaster University, and is currently looking to complete her basic counselling skills qualification.

Sharon

Family Support Worker

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2024.
Sharon gained an International Montessori Diploma with distinction in 1997 followed by music kindergarten and piano teaching certificates. Sharon set up Melodies & Lullabies, providing childcare services to families and then later piano lessons. In addition, Sharon has worked as a court reporter and has experience working with the most vulnerable members of society, supporting children, young people and adults in her role as an Appropriate Adult.

Tracey

Project Worker

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2022.
Tracey previously worked as a mental health support worker with over nine years of experience working in the community with Metropolitan, supporting clients in collaboration with organizations such as the YMCA, Radbourne Unit, and St Andrew’s House. Prior to that she worked in the care sector, where she provided compassionate support to individuals with disabilities and mobility challenges. In addition to her professional background, Tracey holds an ITEC Diploma in Anatomy, Physiology, and Body Massage, and is a qualified Reiki practitioner.

Vicky

Child Contact Co-Ordinator

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2025.

Žaneta

Project & Communications Co-Ordinator

Joined the Women’s Work team in 2023.
Žaneta holds a Joint Honours degree in Criminology and Psychology from the University of Derby. Since 2019, she has gained experience in conference coordination, digital marketing, project and events management and administration through her work with the University of Derby Business School on various projects, most recently the Help to Grow Management Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises. In 2023, she also completed Project Management and Digital Marketing courses as part of the EU-funded Reskill and Recover programme.