We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new CEO, Daisy Anderson. Taking up post in March, Daisy succeeds Lesley Devonport, who had been in post as CEO since 2016.

Daisy joins RASASC Guildford from leading children’s mental health charity Place2Be where she was most recently Area Manager for London Central, overseeing project delivery to young people in schools, and prior to that Cluster Manager, supporting both the managerial and clinical work of a team of school-based practitioners.

She has also previously been a counsellor both at Rape Crisis South London and within her own private practice, bringing with her a wealth of experience in dealing with intense trauma, such as that suffered by victims of rape and sexual abuse.

Daisy said: “I’m thrilled to be joining RASASC Guildford as CEO. Firstly, I’d like to wish Lesley a warm farewell and thank her for her incredibly generous handover, she will be greatly missed.

“I’m looking forward to working with the team at RASASC Guildford in supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey, as this has been a long term ideological and professional interest. If survivors are given the right support at the right time – such as through the services offered by RASASC Guildford - then recovery from sexual violence and sexual trauma is absolutely possible and can minimise the impact both to the individual and to society.

“The recently published Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) once again highlighted the ongoing and urgent need to tackle this national and global crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic served to exacerbate national safeguarding, emotional and mental health needs and a ‘call to arms’ has been sounded.

"I know there are challenges to address, not just at RASASC Guildford, but sector-wide – such as looking at waiting times for service users - but I am passionately determined to raise awareness, create opportunities for a dialogue around these topics and to improve the skills and confidence of individuals and organisations supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse.”

RASASC Guildford Chair, Simon White said: “I’d like to thank Lesley for all the incredible work she has done to grow and develop RASASC Guildford over the past six and a half years, she is a tough act to follow but I'm truly delighted that Daisy is joining us to lead RASASC Guildford forward.

“Since the pandemic, we have seen such an upsurge in demand and awareness around rape and sexual abuse services, and Daisy joins us at a time when the vital services we provide to survivors across Surrey are never more needed. Daisy brings with her the experience and passion needed to ensure we can continue to meet the challenges ahead."