Alternatives is a registered charity, governed by a board of trustees. Our trustees are all volunteers who give their time and expertise freely to the cause.

Following the immense growth of the charity, the management roles have been divided and the Trustees have appointed a Head of Charity Operations to manage the day to day running of the charity and a Head of Counselling Services to manage the Counselling agency within Alternatives. We have a team of part-time shop and admin staff plus a dedicated team of volunteers and we have a team of 5 qualified professional counsellors

Brief biographies of our Head of Departments and Trustees are as follows:

HEAD OF OPERATIONS: Laura Moreno

Laura joined Alternatives in 2023 as Head of Operations, having worked for a range of charities including Anthony Nolan and Home-Start. Her latest job was at Home-Start running their Peer to Peer programme. Not only does Laura bring with her a wealth of experience, she is also a qualified Post Natal Doula and trained Health Coach! We can’t wait to see what plans she has for Alternatives!

 
 

HEAD OF COUNSELLING SERVICES:  Angela Such DipHE MBACP

Angela is a qualified Counsellor and leads the Alternatives counselling team, as well as having active involvement within it. Angela has been with Alternatives for over 10 years and her previous roles have included the opening of two mother and baby charity shops and the launch of the Baby Box project. Angela has been instrumental in much of the growth of the charity over the years including many grant applications and fundraising successes.

When asked about her motivation for the cause, Angela said: “Sadly, pregnancy and motherhood is not a time of joy and excitement for everyone.  It is a tremendously painful time for some. The recognition of this fact – combined with the lack of dedicated services for those needing compassionate pregnancy-related care – gives me great passion for this charity and it is a pleasure to lead the Counselling Services.”

 

TREASURER:  Chris Strevens

Chris became a trustee of Alternatives in 2012, bringing a wealth of financial and business expertise to the Board. Chris has two decades of experience as a commercial banker, holding various senior roles and is credited with establishing a major bank’s move into funding for the healthcare sector. In 2000, Chris and a colleague purchased a UK dental services company. Various acquisitions and developments have followed and Chris is now at the centre a group of companies specialising in legal, sales and recruitment support for the dental and pharmaceutical industries. 

About joining Alternatives, Chris says “My wife, Gill, has been a dedicated Alternatives volunteer for many years and I’ve found the work of this charity particularly moving and inspiring. When I heard that Alternatives was looking for a Board member with experience in finance and business, I was delighted to have been able to offer myself”.

 

TRUSTEE: Elaine Hawkings MBACP

Elaine became a trustee of Alternatives in November 2014, having volunteered for the charity since 2006. Elaine is a retired physiotherapist and she is also a retired counsellor. She brings a decade of counselling experience to the Board, from both voluntary and private practices. In addition to volunteering as a Board member, Elaine continues to volunteer as a specialist post-abortion counsellor for Alternatives.

In her own words, Elaine says “It has been a privilege to have been involved with Alternatives for so many years. From volunteering at school lunch clubs, to bereavement and post-abortion counselling, I have seen the huge value of the work of Alternatives and the life-changing impact it brings to so many people.”

 

TRUSTEE: Becci Robinson BA (Hons), Midwifery

Becci joined the trustee team in September 2019. She has been a local midwife in the heart of Watford community for 11 years. During the last 5 years she has focused on a Safeguarding and mental health role within midwifery. Becci is mum of two and has recently commenced a counselling degree herself.  

‘As a midwife I have referred many women to alternatives counselling, women dealing with antenatal or post natal depression, birth trauma or loss. It has been an amazing and vital resource where the NHS is so overstretched. I’m honoured to now be a trustee of this worthwhile and crucial

 

TRUSTEE: Corinne Marchand BA (Hons) Eng Lit, Adv Dipl Human Resource Management (L7), Assoc CIPD

Corinne joined the Alternatives trustee team in 2023 whilst on maternity leave from her role as Head of People Operations at MAPP. With over a decade working in people development in the HR space, Corinne was delighted to be able to join the board and bring her expertise to the table. Day to day life sees Corinne working as part of an integral, strategic team within a progressive real estate environment and being able to transfer skills and support to another network of dedicated trustees, employees and volunteers at Alternatives has been a wonderful experience.

Corinne says "with two small children, I have long been a supporter of the Alternatives charity shop in Watford and have always received such a warm and caring welcome when going in to look for children's items. The employees have a specific gift in knowing whether to ask if things are ok, and having experienced maternity throughout the lockdowns of 2020 - 2021 I was grateful for the support. Alternatives offers a life giving service with its counselling and the sad fact is that for many women from all walks of life, maternity leave and raising small children can be the most joyous but also the toughest season. I am truly honoured to be able to support Alternatives in any way I can and look forward to being able to do a bit more hands-on volunteering in the coming months."

 

CHAIR OF TRUSTEES: Barbie Pocklington BA (Hons), BTECH NAT DIP

Barbie.jpeg

Barbie became a trustee in 2018, bringing more than 13 years of retail experience and creativity to the charity. She has worked for large retail companies including Wallis, TJX Europe and Ralph Lauren and holds a qualifications in Design and Display and Spatial Design. In her spare time Barbie leads pastoral work at a local church and has a passion for connecting, equipping and empowering women. In her own words:

“I feel very honoured to be able to be a part of the care and support Alternatives offers to the women of Watford and the surrounding areas.  I needed to use the services of Girl About [a former part of Alternative’s work] many years ago and the care and love I received left a resounding mark on me. Now, later in life, having had pregnancy struggles and a child myself I can’t think of a better charity for supporting women in need in such an amazingly accessible way.  No women should struggle alone and the work of Alternatives means this doesn’t need to ever be the case.”