Chair – Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives
Julia is a Non-Practicing Chartered Legal Executive, having retired from private practice as a lawyer with a local Solicitors in August 2010. Julia represented predominantly parents with children in care and specifically learning-disabled parents. Julia is passionate that every family must be given the opportunity to have a fair assessment of their parenting skills before permanent arrangements are made for their children’s future.

Julia feels that her legal experience has come full circle since joining the Board at Trevi in September 2017 and is developing a greater understanding of the effects of addiction on parenting ability. Julia is passionate that the work Trevi undertakes with women should be recognised nationally. Julia believes that the model used to support women at the Sunflower Women’s Centre should be franchised and is supporting management in achieving this. Julia believes that Daffodil Family Centre can be the leading service in terms of residential assessments for Court purposes and strives to ensure that this service can be the best there is in the UK.

Julia has previous experience as a Director/Shareholder of the largest independent training provider in the South West advising on child protection and safeguarding matters relating to learners aged 16-24. Julia therefore has business experience as well as training and education knowledge relevant to that sector.

Julia is also passionate about animal welfare and is currently a volunteer dog walker with the Cinnamon Trust assisting the elderly, vulnerable and terminally ill take care of their beloved pets.

Service Line Cluster Manager – Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Derriford Hospital

Colette has worked in the NHS for 27 years with roles in provider and commissioning organisations.  She is currently the Manager of Cardiothoracics and Vascular Surgery at University Hospitals Plymouth.  She is passionate about health services for women and children and was delighted to join the Trevi Board in the Autumn of 2017.

Colette was really keen to be involved in Trevi after a visit to the organisation where she saw and heard first-hand the positive impact that the organisation had on the women and children that were resident.  She is able to support Trevi with her management experience and has enjoyed working with all staff across the organisation since joining the board of trustees.

Colette has Masters in Healthcare Leadership and lives in Plymouth with her family.

Children’s Guardian – Retired
Gerith is a retired social worker and Children’s Guardian, having worked extensively in the family court arena for most of her professional life. As a Children’s Guardian, she often represented children who were the subject of care proceedings, many of whose parents had issues with substance misuse. As such, she has a comprehensive understanding of the emotional impact upon children of separation from their parents. She has always been a keen advocate of, where possible, children remaining in the care of their parent(s) whilst they undergo rehabilitation, providing the children’s needs are safeguarded.

Operations Manager – AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse)
Sarah Dangar is the Operations Manager/Deputy CEO at AAFDA, a centre of excellence for reviews after domestic homicide and for specialist peer support. Sarah has extensive experience supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Sarah is a 2020 Churchill Fellow and is currently part of the Clore Social Leadership: Emerging Leaders Women and Girls program.

Sarah is passionate about supporting women to recover using trauma informed practice. She is privileged to be a trustee of an organisation empowering women to support other women.

Corporate Lawyer & Lecturer
Bethan trained as a solicitor working in commercial and private client litigation. Since moving away from London she has sought opportunities to use her legal expertise and commercial know-how in a way which supports the local community and serves others. She is able to assist the Trevi team with contract review and negotiation, as well as routine corporate governance issues. Bethan fell in love with Trevi shortly after moving to South Devon and joined as a trustee in 2019. Since then, she has developed a deeper understanding of the issues facing the women who use the services at Trevi, and how women – in particular mothers and those struggling with addiction – are judged harshly and treated poorly in our society. She is passionate about the work carried out across the Trevi charity, engaging with women to offer them help and compassion when they need it most.

Trevi Treasurer
Gina started her career in banking and after taking a break to have her children, joined the University of Plymouth Students’ Union in 1994. Gina trained as an accountant and worked her way up through the organisation to eventually becoming the UPSU Chief executive in 2013.

Gina’s comments on her journey “It was never my intention to become a CEO, all I wanted was a job that stimulated me and one that I enjoyed. As a CEO, I embedded a learning culture so that our organisation was totally committed to developing its staff and supporting them with flexible working policies. We also tried to support the staff within our organisation to manage their work life balance. We were an Investors in People Gold organisation and one that I was very proud of. If I could give advice to any woman in the workplace or those re-entering the workplace after having had a family, it would be to never think that you are too old or that it’s too late in life to seize an opportunity and develop in your career. Always commit to your own development, learn whenever you can and never give up. If I can do it having left school at 16 and after re-entering the workplace at 37 after a 7-year gap, then anyone can achieve their dreams with a little self-belief and determination”.

Gina really believes in empowering and supporting women and was delighted to join the board at Trevi. Gina’s areas of expertise are in finance, charity governance and risk management.  As a committed trustee of Trevi, Gina hopes that she can support the amazing work of the charity wherever she can.

Childcare Lawyer, West Sussex

Samantha Dunn is a solicitor for West Sussex County Council and has been in this role for the past 4 years. Before this, Samantha represented parents in care proceedings and therefore has a strong understanding of the impact substance misuse can have on both parents and children and also the support that parents need to address such issues.

Samantha has noticed throughout her professional career that there is a lack of services that allow mothers to seek support for their substance abuse issues alongside children remaining in their care and this is what drew her to Trevi. Samantha feels Trevi’s approach to addictions, trauma and supporting women, whilst children remain in their care, is second to none and really focuses on positive outcomes for both mothers and their children.  This ethos is what drove Samantha to want to become part of such an amazing charity.  Samantha has a strong view that children should remain with their mothers, if safe to do so.

In her spare time Samantha loves going on countryside and beach walks with her husband and two dogs and also spending time with friends and family.

Kasia is a professionally qualified HR Manager, currently working with Westcountry Rivers Trust, she has previously worked with the University of Plymouth and the NHS. She has demonstrable experience of working with leadership teams, providing business focused strategic HR advice as well as support with operational issues.

Kasia is aware of the challenges a growing charity can face and was pleased to join the Trevi Board earlier this year. She is passionate about promoting mental health and wellbeing and maintaining a people centred approach.

She is able to support Trevi with her HR experience and being a keen advocate for wellbeing in the workplace. Kasia wanted to be involved with Trevi following a visit and meeting some of the extraordinary people who worked for Trevi who she recognised as being incredibly passionate and dedicated to the work they do. There is something very special and unique about this wonderful group of people and the cause which unites them.

Kasia holds a degree in Personnel Management, is a member of the CIPD and is CIPD PQS qualified. She is also studying for a Coaching Diploma with the Institute of Leadership and Management and European Coaching and Mentoring Council. Kasia lives in Plymouth with her two young sons.