Our people

Our work wouldn’t be possible without our trustees, specialist volunteers and staff who lead and guide us.

Our Trustees

Val Baxter

I feel very privileged to be a member of the team of Trustees. I spent my professional career in the arts in various roles in dance, theatre and film. Access to all forms of artistic expression has been key to my work and I have collaborated with a wide range of community groups to encourage enjoyment of and participation in the arts, and to challenge personal and societal expectations.

Thinking outside the box and using the power of creativity to imagine, to question, to innovate and to help solve individual and collective problems has been at the heart of both my artistic output and my personal life.

Susie Braithwaite (Chair)

I have lived in York since 1979, graduating in Politics from the University and developing my career as a fundraising professional in Higher Education and the charitable sectors; I worked with Scope, Marie Curie and latterly the University of York where I was Deputy Director in the Office of Philanthropic Partnerships.

Passionate about connecting people and projects to build support and transform lives, I joined the Trustees in 2019, bringing with me skills in fundraising operations, data processing and organisational development. I feel privileged to work with a dedicated team of volunteers who help vulnerable women overcome often complex problems.

Anjelica Finnegan

I moved to the York area at the end of 2023 and I've been looking for the right opportunity to give back to my new local community. As a qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, I am a passionate advocate for the safety, health and wellbeing of all women, especially those recovering from trauma. I was excited therefore to see that York Women's Counselling Service was looking for trustees.

Rather than follow a linear path, I've been lucky to be able to consciously pursue employment opportunities that best enable me to affect positive change.

I have held management and strategic positions within policy, research and frontline practice. Through these opportunities I have been able to, for example, build coalitions with external partners that resulted in national policy change improving the operating environment for small charities, create accessible content to help charities better manage their finances, and create and project manage a new service that re-imagines the way that a local authority responds to domestic abuse. I am excited to bring the skills and knowledge that I have gained throughout my career and volunteering to the YWCS trustee board and ensure that we can continue to deliver our vital work.

Sally Jude

I’m excited to join YWCS as a newly appointed trustee. I believe in people, their extraordinary ability to love, teach, share with and aid others, that kindness brings joy and everyone has something to offer.

I started out in the private sector covering industries from retail to fireworks, moving to the public sector where I got to develop my love of food, cooking and sharing it with others. Nearly 9 years ago I made the move to the third sector where I’ve been able to call upon my management skills as a service manager and work as a lifelong learning tutor teaching cooking of course.

Along the way I have grown my working knowledge in many areas including health and safety, data protection and then on a strategic level fundraising raising and business planning. I’ve also been a volunteer with the same organisation for over 25 years, training supporting other volunteers and keeping all involved safe. When I’m not working or volunteering I’m out walking Casper our Wheaten Terrier.

Laila Hamade

I have always been interested in working in services to support mental health, and currently work as the Operations Manager for students' mental health at the University of York. I have previously worked in commissioning and service development of NHS mental health services for children and young people.

As Counsellor, I find it an honour to work with people on their personal journeys, and incorporate my passion for mindfulness into my counselling work. Originally from Leeds, I have been living in York for seven years, I enjoy walking with my two dogs. Joining YWCS as a Trustee is a great opportunity for me to use my skills and experience for women in York.

Liza Miller (Deputy Chair)

I have spent my professional life as a social worker and family therapist committed to working with children and families. After working at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital for many years I moved to York and worked at York Hospital and as a lecturer at the University of York.

I then joined up with colleagues from Great Ormond Street to set up and run an organisation providing training in working with children and families. I have also chaired adoption panels for many years.

I am married to a bookseller and have two sons and a stepson and daughter and three lovely grandchildren. I believe YWCS provides a vital counselling service for women in need in York and I feel privileged to be able to play a role as a Trustee in supporting the work of the charity.

Anna Reader

I have a background in equality, diversity and inclusion, leadership development and coaching psychology. I have worked in the UK and Australian Higher Education sectors for more than 20 years and am currently Co-Head of Equality and Diversity at the University of York, a role I moved into after many years working in gender equality. I also coach and mentor people to help improve their working and personal lives, and I believe strongly in the power of talking therapies to bring about positive change.

The support that YWCS provides for women in York is invaluable and I’m delighted to be part of its skilled, supportive and dedicated group of Trustees.

Sarah Williams (Treasurer)

I am looking forward to working with everyone at Yorks Women’s Counselling Service.

I have worked in finance roles for most of my career, ranging from Bass Breweries in the 80’s to a special school in West Yorkshire where I am currently. I have also worked with West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service as a freelance accountant.

I am relatively new to York having moved just before lockdown so it has been an interesting experience watching the city come back to life. The role YWCS plays in supporting women’s mental health is vital now, more than ever, and it is a privilege to be part of such an inspiring organisation.

Specialist volunteers

Joy Cullwick - Counselling consultant

I am passionate about promoting access to high quality and affordable counselling and psychotherapy so am delighted to be involved with YWCS as a specialist volunteer.

I bring to this role the skills and experience gained from over twenty five years as a psychotherapist, counsellor, supervisor and trainer. I was a Senior Accredited Member of BACP and UKCP registered Gestalt Psychotherapist working in York NHS, Relate and private practice. My training work includes over ten years as a senior lecturer on the BACP accredited MA/ Diploma course in counselling and psychotherapy at Leeds Metropolitan (Leeds Beckett) University.

I am committed to the highest standards of ethical and professional practice and worked with the Clinic for Boundary Studies (formerly ‘The Prevention of Professional Abuse Network’) to educate health and social care professionals about the importance of professional boundaries.

In the 2021 - 22 civic year I had the privilege of being Lady Mayoress of York. It was important to me to host an event at the Mansion House to say ‘Thank you’ on behalf of the city to those who were addressing the tsunami of need for mental health support created by the pandemic. As a keen supporter of women’s empowerment it was also a joy to celebrate women with an event to mark International Women’s Day.

Chloe Haines - Trauma and neurodiversity Consultant

After an undergraduate degree from York St John in Performance, I completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. I spent over a decade as a mainstream and special needs teacher, but began to feel that her passions lay more in welfare of children and their families.

I graduated with a Master's (Merit) in Dramatherapy from The University of Roehamoton. Since then, I gained broad clinical experience, most recently in Early Intervention in Psychosis and as Lead Therapist for a Children's Bereavement Service.

I have always been involved in community charity projects and organisations and felt very fortunate to stumble across YWCS in 2018, when I joined as their only Dramatherapist. I have recently joined the board of trustees and I am passionate about continuing the vital work of the charity into the future.

Kate Frusher - income generation

Having started my career with a focus on child rights and international development, I have built up 20 years' experience of fundraising, strategic planning and charity governance. I have a degree in Law and Anthropology from The LSE and, over the course of my career, have worked with organisations right across the not-for-profit sector to help deliver vital services to vulnerable people with complex needs.

I have lived in York, with my partner and three young sons, since 2012. As a passionate feminist and advocate for the benefits of talking therapies, I am thrilled to be supporting the staff and Board of Trustees with income generation. I look forward to supporting this inspiring network of partners and volunteers to continue to deliver a positive impact for women in our community.

Our staff

Emily Douse, Director

Having joined YWCS in 2024, I am one of the organisation's newest members, I am delighted to be representing YWCS and helping to continue it's highly regarded work across the city.

I have worked in adult social care for most of my career, and having accessed support myself I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that truly person centred support can have on an individual. It’s a privilege to represent an organisation that weaves womens values through everything that it does.

I have a degree in Forensic Psychology, a qualification in higher education and training and certification in Autism and ADHD.
I love York because of its rich history and moved with my son in 2020, quickly adding to the family with a little Sausage dog in 2021.

Alongside my role with YWCS I also provide study skills and mentoring to neurodivergent students. When I’m not doing that, you’ll find me at the local history group, in the library archives, or fuelling my interests in local archeology (in a hole somewhere in York). If I’m not in York – I’ll be travelling somewhere in the world with my son, teaching him the lost art of getting lost.

I’m a strong advocate for equality of opportunity. I believe that every individual has the ability to contribute positively in the world, and that each of us have a responsibility to enable others to do so.

Emma Drake, Counselling Manager

I am a qualified counsellor, born and bred in York and involved professionally with YWCS for 3 years.

My working background is financial services, 25 years of hard toil in banking and insurance! Lack of fulfilment lead me to retrain as a counsellor, a long held ambition. I first became involved with YWCS around 10 years ago when I engaged with counselling; as such, during my training it became important to me to give back to the organisation which had helped me so much.

YWCS is a natural fit as I have a keen interest in women’s issues and continually want to increase my understanding of what York women are facing and how I can help them as a counsellor. Being able to give vulnerable women the opportunity to access and benefit from affordable counselling is extremely important to me; I was one of those women.

Alongside YWCS, I am also a counsellor in private practice.

Fiona Hills, Office Administrator

I moved to York in 2005 with my partner and our newborn daughter. I’d always loved the city as a visitor and felt that it would be a great place to raise a family. We now have two teenage daughters and, as a mum of girls, I have a passionate interest in the rights and needs of women.

My background is in primary education and, for over twenty years, I worked as an Early Years teacher supporting children and families in settings across York. I gained a wealth of experience during this time and learned about the issues facing mothers and carers of young children.

I completed an MSc in Psychology in 2020 which led me down a new pathway into the world of mental health provision. I spent some time working as a treatment coordinator in a private mental healthcare company which gave me an insight into the therapeutic process and the role of the practitioner. Now at York Women’s Counselling Service, I provide admin support to the counsellors and trustees. I am really pleased to work for an organisation which prioritises women’s mental health needs and to be part of a wonderful team where women support women.