Crisis Numbers
For immediate or out of hours crisis support please contact the following national helplines:
To talk to someone now:
Samaritans
116 123
The National Domestic Violence Helpline
0808 2000 247
Shelter
0808 800 4444
Governance
Lancashire Women is a charity (Registered Charity Number: 1100976) and company limited by guarantee (Company Number 4777720) and is regulated principally by the Charity Commission, the Companies Acts, the Fundraising Regulator and the Office of the Information Commissioner.
The Board recognises the value of diversity (in all its forms) on the Board and in its trustee recruitment process seeks to identify imbalances and gaps in expertise and experience to make sure that the Board best reflects the interests and needs of LW’s stakeholders, its charitable objects, and of wider society. It is committed to removing or reducing practical obstacles to trusteeship in terms of accessibility of meetings and information flows; payment of reasonable expenses; and the recruitment process.
Our most recent accounts can be viewed here.
Read about our impact in our latest Annual Report
Read about The Charity Code of Conduct
Lancashire Women Trustees
Lynette Harwood
Chair
Lynette is an independent health and social care consultant who has been part of the National Maternity Transformation Programme with NHS England and led on the implementation of several Maternity Programmes for Greater Manchester.
She worked for the NHS for 27 years prior to this and has experience in senior management, commissioning and public health. She has commissioned mental health, substance misuse and children’s services across East Lancashire.
Laura Brown
Trustee
Laura is a social justice professional with over 20 years of experience in programme design, funding and management, strategic planning and capacity strengthening in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Laura is also a creative trainer and facilitator and has extensive experience in external representation and network co-ordination.
She has specific technical expertise in women’s rights and gender justice programming with women’s rights organisations including projects to end violence against women and girls, women’s participation and leadership and strengthening feminist movements.
Rob Dickinson
Trustee
Rob Dickinson is Head of Fundraising at The Scar Free Foundation and a Consultant with Warren Larkin Associates. With over 15 years of experience in the charity and health sectors, he specialises in income generation, strategy and trauma-informed practice. Rob has held senior roles at The Children’s Society and Child Action Northwest, and previously served as a trustee of Khulisa. He is also a committee representative for the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. Rob is passionate about helping charities build financial independence through strong, sustainable fundraising.
Maggie Lishman
Vice Chair
Maggie represents the ward of Briercliffe as their Liberal Democrat councillor. She is retired from the NHS where she worked as a senior manager.
Maggie is also vice chair of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS. She enjoys the role of Vice Chair and the challenges that brings in these uncertain times.
Charlotte Barrow
Trustee
Charlotte has been an academic at the University of Central Lancashire since 2001. Involved in the University’s work around equality, diversity and inclusion, she is Co-Chair of the University’s Women’s Network, and her specialism is around inclusion in education.
Charlotte was a volunteer for the past Red Box project in Preston, and is currently a school governor. A qualified yoga teacher, Charlotte has taken huge pleasure in sharing wellbeing practices in early years settings and the workplace and is also a Mental Health First Aider.
Howard Hamilton-Smith
Trustee
bio coming soon
Pauline Geraghty MBE
Trustee
Pauline is a registered social worker, currently working as an independent consultant. She has worked in children’s social care and children’s rights for 38 years both in statutory and voluntary organisations. Prior to this she was a teacher.
Pauline has experience of working in leadership roles, strategic development, risk management and also has many years as a practitioner in frontline services. In 2011 she was awarded the MBE from the Queen for services to children and young people. She is also currently the chair of trustees for a Lancashire domestic abuse charity.
Sue Biggs
Trustee
All of Sue’s working life, and now in retirement, she has been involved in the voluntary sector particularly in the areas benefitting women and young people. She retired from teaching in 2015, having spent her career in the 11-18 sector in different managerial roles.
Sue has also been the chair of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS (2018-2023) and chair of PAC (Positive Action in the Community) (2019-2023). Outside of teaching, Sue has been a member of the Soroptimist International Organisation, whose focus is improving the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally. She served as Federation President from 2017-2018 and was a member of the Soroptimist International Board for several years.
The role of a Trustee
The Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for Lancashire Women’s compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The conduct of the Board is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Lancashire Women. The Board has a Chair elected by the trustees who shares collective responsibility and authority.
- To be committed to the mission of Lancashire Women and a willingness to provide leadership to help the organisation deliver its purposes most effectively for the public benefit.
- To have commitment to the values of the organisation.
- To understand roles and legal responsibilities as a Trustee.
- To have commitment to good governance and a desire to contribute to the organisation’s continued improvement.
- To be willing to challenge, and be challenged, in a constructive way.
- To work cooperatively with others; have a willingness to take time to understand each other’s motivations and to build trust within the Board
- To use experience and intelligence to make effective business decisions and recommendations.
- To have high ethical standards and sound practical sense.
- To be an ambassador for the organisation, representing Lancashire Women to individuals, the public and other organisations
- To look for opportunities to bring their relevant network to the organisation, in furtherance of Lancashire Women’s objectives
- To contribute to the organisation through participating in fundraising, supporting events, and/or volunteering.