Katherine has worked in the domestic abuse sector for over 10 years and is a professionally qualified and highly experienced Domestic Abuse Professional.
Having worked as a frontline practitioner in domestic abuse risk assessment, crisis intervention and psycho-educational programmes she knows the importance of interventions in helping survivors recover from the trauma caused by domestic abuse.
Katherine is a specialist in delivering training in Domestic Abuse, Trauma Informed Practice, Vicarious Trauma, Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment and Well-Being to other frontline practitioners
Katherine chaired the Ipswich Domestic Abuse Forum for three years and has been an expert member on Domestic Homicide Panels and Police Domestic Abuse Scrutiny Panels across Suffolk.
Katherine has seen the impact of utilising education and training to break the cycle of abuse. She shares her valuable experience and skills via training, consultancy, advocacy and public speaking services on behalf of Restore Women’s Aid.
Derek is a qualified accountant (FCCA) and has had a long career in business and charity finance having worked with many small local charities since the early 1990’s in various roles as advisor, trustee, treasurer, audit manager and independent examiner.
He was appointed Finance Manage to oversee the Charity’s finances in December 2018 having previously helped audit and advised the Charity. A major part of that role is the constant job of securing funding to ensure consistency of our service provision.
Our Young Persons Support Worker runs our Young Person’s Programme. She visits local schools and colleges around West and Mid Suffolk, delivering sessions and drop-down day workshops, looking at Healthy Relationships, Domestic Abuse, Consent, The Effects of Pornography and Sexual Myths and Expectations.
She also does 1-1 work with YP safety planning, self esteem and confidence building. She delivers Escape The Trap & Expect Respect Programmes.
She is passionate about educating Young People to keep them self safe when navigating their relationships, with partners or peers.
In more recent years she volunteered for a charity supporting families, a role she absolutely loved and it led to paid role within that charity. As a volunteer she worked with families that had experienced domestic abuse and was honoured to be able to support those who needed it.
Now at Restore Women’s Aid as our Outreach Support Worker she gives support even more families empowering every client she works with and providing each one with the tools to make informed decisions and take control back of their lives.
Our Housekeeper role is so much more than cleaning – our housekeeper liaises regularly with our refuge clients to help them maintain routines and advise on any practical housekeeping matters.
Our Housekeeper has a wealth of experience in the care industry.
Nicola lived in Italy for over 30 years where she was local Chair of the Italian Red Cross in Novara and, subsequently, National Vice Chair in Rome. She also worked as the Open University representative for Central and Southern Italy.
On her return to the UK in 2002, she worked as a Senior Contract Manager for the East of England Development Agency (managing R&D grants) and then for DEFRA. She was a Trustee of the Spinal Injuries Association for three years, beginning in 2014. She became a Trustee of Restore in 2021 and Chair of the Board of Trustees in 2023. She has been a Town Councillor in Bury St Edmunds since 2019.
Elizabeth has been a Trustee and Treasurer of Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid (now Restore) since 2009.
She brought a wealth of business experience and financial acumen to our Board having worked as a Clerk at Lloyd’s Bank, a company accounts Clerk and Office Manager and Health and Safety Officer in a large Consultancy Firm.
Elizabeth has considerable administrative experience and a wealth of valuable knowledge about the historical workings of our organisation from which we all draw on a daily basis.
Charlene was born and raised in North London where she also trained to be a solicitor.
Jackie is a Former Assistant Head, Head of English and Leader in Teaching and Learning.
At present she is Trustee of the Bury Drop In and Safeguarding Lead, Trustee of the Bury Literature Festival. Member of the Bury Water Group and Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership.
Sue has been a Trustee since early 2023.
She started her career working in Practice Management before moving into the Art Industry where she curated exhibitions for private clients. She went on to form the CIC, Women in Art, and the prestigious Women in Art Prize. She now works as a Funeral Celebrant.
Sue is our website editor and handles our social media.
Tina has been with been us for approx. 25 years.
She joined Bury St Edmunds Volunteer Centre in 1986 and served on various committees as minute secretary mainly dealing with homelessness and the setting up of Britannia House.
On being made redundant she joined the Refuge as a Volunteer Housekeeper. But a year later entered the HR section of the Police Force.
However, she maintained her involvement with the Refuge by becoming a committee member and has since served as Chair and Vice Chair.
In her current role as a Trustee she is responsible for the Pastoral Care of the Refuge Staff.
Pat has been a trustee since 2019 and brings with her a wealth of experience from her work within the Public Sector.
