About us.
Our people.
CRASAC is powered by a dedicated team of specialist practitioners, support staff, managers, volunteers and leaders, all contributing to our mission in different ways.
Together, our people bring a wide range of professional expertise, experience and perspectives to ensure survivors receive safe, specialist and survivor-centred support.
Meet our key contacts.
The colleagues featured here are some of the people you are most likely to work with if you are a funder, partner, professional, supporter, commissioner or member of the community.
They represent the wider expertise and commitment of the CRASAC team.
Natalie Thompson.
Natalie Thompson has been Chief Executive Officer of CRASAC since 2019 and brings extensive experience across the charity and sexual violence sectors.
She is passionate about improving support for survivors, challenging misconceptions surrounding sexual violence, and driving meaningful systemic and cultural change. Under her leadership, CRASAC continues to strengthen its services and impact across Coventry and surrounding areas.
Chief executive officer.
Julie Sperling.
Julie Sperling joined CRASAC in 2024 as Head of Finance & Operations and brings over 25 years of experience in finance and operational leadership within the charitable sector.
She plays a vital role in ensuring CRASAC's services remain sustainable and effective, helping the organisation continue to support survivors across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Head of finance and operations.
Cara Brookes joined CRASAC in 2012 as a therapist and has since held a range of roles across outreach, training, and service delivery. Now Head of Services, she leads the development and delivery of CRASAC's specialist survivor support services and is passionate about ensuring survivors receive compassionate, trauma-informed care in safe and supportive environments.
Head of services.
Cara Brookes.
Kiren Birdi joined CRASAC in 2026 as Advocacy & Outreach Manager and leads the ISVA team, supporting service development and continuous improvement. Drawing on experience in education, safeguarding, and supporting vulnerable individuals, Kiren works closely with partners and local communities to increase awareness of CRASAC's services and improve access to support. She is passionate about delivering trauma-informed, compassionate support for survivors across Coventry and surrounding areas.
Outreach manager.
Kiren Birdi.
Donna Jones joined CRASAC in 2026 as Development & Partnership Lead and brings over 20 years of experience in partnership development, communications, and community engagement. She leads on strategic partnerships, organisational communications, and engagement initiatives, helping to strengthen CRASAC's impact, visibility, and long-term sustainability across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Development & partnerships lead.
Donna Jones.
Our teams.
Behind every service is a wider team of people with specialist skills and expertise.
Our teams work together to provide direct support to survivors, develop and improve our services, build partnerships, and ensure CRASAC is a safe, effective and sustainable organisation.
Counsellors.
Our Counsellors provide specialist therapeutic support to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
They work with survivors on an individual basis, using trauma-informed approaches to help people understand and process their experiences, develop coping strategies and support their recovery.
ISVAs.
Our Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) provide specialist, practical and emotional support to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
They advocate for survivors and help them navigate the criminal justice system and other services, ensuring their needs, rights and choices remain central throughout their journey.
Business support team.
Our Business Support Team provides the essential infrastructure that enables CRASAC to deliver safe, effective and sustainable services.
The team supports the organisation across areas including finance, HR, administration, data, IT, facilities, governance and other operational functions.
While these roles may not always be visible to survivors, they are fundamental to the smooth running of CRASAC and the delivery of our services.
Volunteers.
Our volunteers make an important contribution across CRASAC, giving their time, skills and experience to support our work.
Volunteers contribute in a range of ways across the organisation, extending our capacity and helping us reach and support more people in our communities.
Client services team.
Our Client Services Team provides an important first point of contact for people accessing CRASAC’s services.
The team supports survivors to navigate our services, provides information and practical support, coordinates access to appointments and helps ensure people experience a safe, welcoming and responsive service from their first contact with us.
Group facilitators.
Our Group Facilitators deliver and support specialist group-based work for survivors.
They create safe, supportive environments where survivors can connect with others, share experiences and develop skills and strategies that support their wellbeing and recovery.
Board of trustees.
Alison Drury.
Alison Drury has had a long career in brand marketing, strategic planning and market research specialising in recent years in research with a social purpose and research amongst stakeholders in education, health and the third sector. She is also a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor working with women affected by the trauma of sexual violence and domestic violence. She has been a longstanding trustee at CRASAC and is a former vice chair of governors for a large successful Further Education College in the Midlands.
(Board member since March 2010)
Julie Sullivan.
Julie was a local government Community Safety Manager specialising in domestic abuse and sexual assault and rape issues. On retirement she joined the board of CRASAC.
She also chairs the board of a Multi-Academy Trust of five schools locally (three of whom are outstanding) and is vice chair of a successful local charity who oversees the assessment of vulnerable families from all over the country.
(Board member since May 2013)
Rachel Hinde.
Chair (Board member since September 2008)
Rachel Hinde until December 2024 worked for the NHS, leading an improvement programme focusing on primary care, improving access for patients to general practice. She has previously worked in local government in the Midlands and in London and for other statutory bodies. She has expertise in change management, quality improvement and a range of leadership and management skills. She has been committed to CRASAC as a trustee for many years, supporting the organisation through changes.
Mary Hawkins.
Treasurer (Board member since January 2014)
Mary had a long career in Local Government, finishing as a Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, during which time the Council she worked for, achieved an ‘Excellence’ rating. After this she was the Head of Operations for ENTRUST regulating the Landfill Communities Fund. Mary has a keen interest in Finance, Corporate Governance and Risk Management.
Mary has been retired a few years, she is a keen golfer and is on the Committee of her Ladies Section, and has been instrumental in achieving the ‘Women in Golf’ status. Her other hobbies are her allotment and travelling.
Laura Fisher.
Laura brings both lived and professional experience to her role on the Board of Trustees, having first engaged with CRASAC as a service user. She is the Founder and CEO of Survivor Sanctuary, a grassroots by-and-for organisation providing peer support and community to survivors of sexual violence.
Laura is also Team Leader for Shifting Power at Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire, where she leads community organising teams focused on tackling injustice and creating systemic change. Her work spans trauma-informed leadership, campaigning, and strategic influence with a strong focus on ensuring that lived experience drives policy reform and decision making at all levels.
Laura’s approach is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and the belief that those most affected by harm should be at the heart of shaping solutions.
(Board member since June 2025)
Diversity and inclusion.
We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we serve.
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is respected, valued and able to thrive, and to removing barriers to recruitment and progression.
We recognise that survivors’ experiences are shaped by identity and circumstance, and that a diverse workforce helps us better understand and respond to those experiences.