Meet the team - SHE UK

Meet the Staff

Lisa Lenton

Chief Executive

It’s my privilege to lead the great work that we do at S.H.E UK. I am responsible for ensuring that S.H.E UK delivers our mission and vision and ultimately that the organisation is in the best position to deliver our specialist services, is sustainable and impactful. Outside of work, I love spending time with my friends and family, listening to music (getting to the odd concert when I can) and exploring – I love to travel.

Rachael Cumberland

Operations Manager

I am the Lead Therapist at S.H.E UK and I am responsible for managing our team of therapists and managing our trainee placement programme. I am also a course facilitator and lead the running of our weekly peer group. In addition to this, I work closely with our CEO, Lisa, to develop our services and support funding applications to keep our charity going. Outside of work, my favourite thing is spending time with friends and family. I also love doing all kinds of crafts, such as crochet and scrap booking, and a reading a good book.

Paula Palmer

Operations Therapist

I am a qualified therapist and my role at S.H.E UK is varied – I lead our telephone support service, support people attending our peer group each week and volunteer to support S.H.E UK projects – for example, supporting non-abusing family members. Outside of work, I’m a “foodie” and love cooking; I enjoy travelling and particularly love all things Spanish. I also enjoy going to the cinema and theatre, and I’m a regular church goer and busy grandma!

Linda Burt

Support Worker

My role is to support our weekly SHE-roes peer group. I help by facilitating creative activities and I am a keyworker, supporting our clients with their short-term goals. Outside of work, my family are everything and I enjoy spending time with my friends.

Tina Sharpe

Outreach Therapist

I am a qualified therapist and I provide 1:1 therapy to our clients who live in the Bassetlaw area. I also work in our SHE-roes lounge group each week and focus on empowering our clients reaching the end of their time accessing our services, to link to local activities and community services. Outside of work, I love watching films and true crime documentaries. I am an avid heavy metal fan and love live shows and gigs when I can get to them. Time with friends and family is always a bonus too so I do that as often as I can.

Jill Alexander

Counsellor and Therapeutic Facilitator

My role in S.H.E UK is as a volunteer qualified therapist (and Trustee), working with clients in one-to-one therapy sessions as well as creating and running lifelong learning courses as a part of our weekly peer group. My interests are my family and friends, music and films, and I enjoy spending time in the countryside. I’m all for lots of fun and laughter.

Ben Roper

Therapist and Support Worker

I am a qualified therapist, providing 1:1 therapy to clients across the Mansfield area (as well as far and wide). I also assist with the telephone support service, as well as working on a few background projects within the charity. Outside of work, I enjoy time with friends, listening to music, reading fiction or poetry books, walks, and travelling.

Jane Bellamy

Office Administrator

I am responsible for ensuring all our paperwork is organised and I support the team with any queries - essentially my role is to ensure that the office side of things run smoothly. Outside of work, I love sport, almost all sport, watching and participating. I enjoy the cinema and like to read. But my favourite thing is to travel and see new places.

Meet the Trustees

Maria Peggs

Chair

I joined the Board in June 2022 and was delighted to move into the role of Chair in December 2022. Over the last 10 years, I have been a Business Coach, non-exec board advisor and Mentor to business leaders in areas such as strategic planning, sales and marketing and people development. I love applying my skills and experience to support S.H.E UK. In my spare time, I enjoy attending live music events, ceroc dancing, Pilates and occasionally I get my golf clubs out and quickly put them away again!

Jacqui Lewis

Founder Member

I am a Trustee and the Founder of S.H.E. I see myself as a catalyst bringing different people together to create change. I will always be the Founder and aim to stick around to offer whatever help and support I can. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, arts and crafts and spending time with my grandchildren.

Jenny Lewis

Trustee

I am a Trustee and joined S.H.E to give whatever I could to help the charity develop and progress. It is so important to give survivors the time to heal from the devastating affects of abuse, so they can get the life they deserve and keep reaching and blossoming – and I want to do all I can at a governance level to support S.H.E UK’s vision. In my spare time, I enjoy singing, writing short stories, catching the latest films, yoga & chocolate testing.

Debbie Porter

Trustee

I joined the Board in February 2023. I have spent over 25 years in the internet industry, so wanted to support the charity with all things communications by drawing upon my experience in my corporate life, but also as a small business owner for the last 16 years. When not at work, I spend almost all of my spare time in the garden, looking after a large allotment. I also enjoy cooking the food I produce, as well as reading, films and spending time with my family.

Bijal Ruparelia

Trustee

I was delighted to join the Board in December 2023 and am inspired by the work of S.H.E. in directly supporting survivors of sexual abuse. I have worked in child and adult safeguarding since qualifying as a social worker in 1990. Through this, I am aware of the long-term overwhelming effects of sexual abuse on survivors and their families. I hope to use my experience as a safeguarding social worker, manager, trainer and consultant to support S.H.E’s continuing success in helping survivors of sexual abuse on their healing journey. Outside of work I enjoy reading, live music, theatre, films, travelling, creative writing, walking, bird watching, gardening and socialising - but not all at the same time!

What survivors say

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I have been able to start to rebuild my life and start to trust people again. I am still building positive relationships with those around me and trying not to let unhealthy habits come back through. I have better ways of copying with my feelings. Instead of turning to sell harm I try to journal or draw or paint or do something that let’s out how I feel.

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I’m forever grateful for my therapist. We had a connection from day one. {I’m} finally not feeling like I’m crazy and that it’s perfectly normal to feel the way I do and knowing I can always come back if I need to is a big relief.

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Slowly I am building up my self-esteem, finally realising it was not my fault and that I was the victim of a psychopath and a sociopath, {someone} very clever in how they destroy someone. However I no longer want to be his victim. I want to survive, I want to find me again and find a life. I want to re-join society, learn to trust again, and rebuild my life. I won’t let him win. I want to live…and I will.

Thank you for listening to me, for believing me, for supporting me and for the wonderful care and love you have given me.

I am now a survivor.

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I feel worthier than I did. I have some hope for my future. I’m more myself than I was, outside SHE with other people. I have a social life with other people who are decent and kind.

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My self esteem is higher. I feel supported and less isolated. I feel I have a future.

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I am slowly feeling more comfortable to open up and talk, and as I do {I’m} releasing some of the things which I would normally keep to myself. This helps me to feel more comfortable talking to others in general about how I feel where before opening up about anything felt impossible. I have started to exercise again and {am} eating healthier. I am more focused and calmer in myself and less anxious. I am starting to feel there is hope for the future.

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