The Somewhere To Go Foundation Team

Leaving is only the beginning. These are the people who help with what comes next.

Strong governance and accountability sit at the core of everything we do.

Your safety comes first. Always.
Women trust us with their stories, their children and their safety. We don't take that lightly.
Every member of our team and every volunteer holds a Blue Card and has signed a confidentiality agreement.
It's all on file, no exceptions.
We're a registered charity, and we answer to the community that backs us.

A small local team, a lot of heart

  • Yentl Skewes

    Founder & Managing Director

    Yentl built Somewhere To Go from lived experience. She is at the Centre every day doing intakes and packing hampers with the team. She is driven by a desire to be what she needed when she spent years rebuilding post DFV.

  • Shelley Spencer

    Bloom Program Lead

    Shelley built Bloom, our six-week recovery program, from the ground up. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science and a Bachelor of Social Work, and will hold her Masters in both by mid 2027. She is passionate about helping families restore.

  • Jean Chopping

    Restore Studio Lead (BCouns, MMH, AThR)

    Jean is a trauma-informed counsellor and registered art therapist. She has her own business - Brighter Pathways Counselling & Art Therapy. Every Tuesday she gives her day to Restore Studio, running two groups of eight women.

  • Emma Makepeace

    Operations Manager

    Emma is an essential member of the team who keeps the Centre running so the women walking in don't have to think about any of it. She coaches privately in reclaiming your power, and is also part of the Mums Gone Mild team.

  • Mardi Morris

    Volunteer and Wellbeing Lead

    Mardi holds a Masters in Guidance and Counselling. Mardi manages our volunteers and keeps a steady eye on the wellbeing of all who enter. She is constantly thinking of ways to make each woman’s experience warmer and safer.

  • Megan Zischke

    Systems & Set-up Consultant

    Megan is passionate about setting up the systems that actually suit a not-for-profit. She also runs her own business assisting other not-for-profits and businesses through Spring Forth Co.

Volunteers are the heartbeat of a charity like ours. Many hands really do make light work, and as Somewhere To Go Foundation continues to grow, we need more people willing to give a little of their time to help us keep the Centre running.

Whether you can help every week or just once a month, there is a place for you. Our volunteers can join a regular weekly or monthly roster and assist with the practical, everyday things that make it possible for us to continue showing up for women and children rebuilding after domestic and family violence.

A few hours of your time can make an enormous difference.

LEARN HOW TO HELP

Our Board and Advisory

Yentl Skewes

Founder and Managing Director

Yentl built Somewhere To Go from almost two decades of lived experience of domestic and family violence and the systems surrounding it. She leads with deep understanding, clarity and purpose. Her vision drives the foundation's mission to bridge the gap between crisis and long-term recovery.

Matthew Vale

Director and Secretary

Founder of the Mount of Olives Foundation and a qualified teacher, Matthew brings hands-on charity leadership and grant writing to the board. He contributes strategic oversight and a solutions-focused mindset, ensuring strong decision making and organisational direction.

Lisa Bruton

Director

As the Director of Arise Sanctuary, creating transformative spaces where women find strength and direction. A speaker, author and international retreat director, she brings thoughtful, values-driven leadership and a board presence that reflects both compassion and accountability.

Jenny Gilpin

Advisory

With a decade of leadership across a UK anti-trafficking charity with ten safe houses, Jenny brings transformative experience in restoring women's lives. She offers a steady, grounded approach and a deep commitment to community, supporting the foundation's growth with integrity and care.

Luke & Grace Wightman

Advisory

Multi-franchise owners of Tommy Gun's Original Barbershop, Luke and Grace bring business acumen, scalability insight and operational discipline. Known for their people-first approach and community involvement, they support our long-term vision for sustainable growth and national expansion.