After 37 years as chief executive officer (CEO) and company secretary of Refuge, Sandra Horley is retiring.
She officially leaves her posts at the end of October, but ended her CEO duties at the end of July due to planned leave.
Refuge said Horley tirelessly worked for the needs of women and children escaping domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence since taking on the leadership role in 1983.
Horley was awarded the OBE in 1999 for services to the protection of women and children and CBE in 2011 for services to the prevention of domestic violence.
Refuge’s chairwomen Hetti Barkworth-Nanton thanked Horley for her long and renowned career and vowed the board, staff and volunteers “will do our absolute best to build on her legacy” and increase support for domestic abuse survivors. The charity currently supports more than 6,500 daily.
Describing now as the right time to retire, Horley said Refuge has also been at the forefront of the campaign to change social attitudes to domestic abuse and gender-based violence in the past 37 years.
Carole Easton has been appointed as interim CEO while the board of trustees recruits a new CEO.
