THE inspirational leader of Juno Women’s Aid – Nottingham’s largest domestic abuse organisation – has announced she is stepping down after more than six years at the helm.

CEO Yasmin Rehman, who has worked in the women’s sector for 40 years, has steered the charity through significant changes in which it has doubled in size and extended its range of services to help women and children deal with the impact of abusive relationships.

She will hand the reins to her current deputy, Paula Clarke, who will step up as interim CEO from April 1. Yasmin, who began her career as a refuge worker in 1985, said she had loved every minute since.

Of her role at Juno, Yasmin said: “It’s not an easy job. It’s damned hard work, and it can get quite frustrating. But I’ve worked with the best team, the most amazing women and incredible statutory and voluntary sector partners.

“I’m really sad to go – I will miss it but I know I’m leaving Juno in good hands. And I will still be working in the field of violence against women and girls in some capacity.” Yasmin revealed that she and her husband are moving to Wales to be near their son and his family, who have returned to the UK after he worked overseas for 12 years.

Under Yasmin’s leadership, Juno – which receives more than 16,000 calls to its helpline each year – has doubled staffing numbers to more than 100. The charity’s latest figures for 2023-24 showed it had worked with 2,980 women – an increase of 9% on the previous year – and 501 children, a rise of 6%.

“In my interview I said I wanted to achieve two things – for our team to be established in a professional office space as we were spread across different sites, which we have done,” she said. “The other was to buy our own refuges to help women and their children start new lives free from domestic violence, which has been incredibly rewarding.”

Juno has bought  ten safe homes across the city and county to help families to set down roots in new communities and rebuild their lives. The move was part of an overall plan to buy 28 properties, made possible through a ‘life-changing’ £3m social investment loan.

“That was a dream come true for us, to move away from an emergency, sticking plaster approach,” said Yasmin. “I remember taking a mum and her son to see one of the houses and seeing the look on their faces – I’m going to hold on to that memory.”

The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 2.3 million people aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024.

“We’re in dark times – not just for feminism, but for women in general,” said Yasmin. “There’s been a surge of the far right and populist movements that are very clear about a woman’s place in the home – it’s certainly not around the decision-making tables, as we’ve seen on the international political scene.

“But when things are tough, we need to hold on to how far we’ve come. These services were set up by women who’d had enough and demanded change. I think as women we’re creative, determined, resolute and resilient. We will continue, whatever the funding or political landscape looks like.

“We lose women and children every single day, but we keep on going because we know that what we do is so important, we keep the goal in mind and we do make a difference.”

Charity sector funding has been an ongoing pressure but Yasmin praised the support given to Juno by its board of trustees, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner and central government.

“We have had incredible support and though we live in uncertain times, I’m in no doubt that Paula will adapt and shape the organisation and do a fantastic job,” said Yasmin. “She is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, particularly about children and young people.”

Yasmin added: “I must also give Nottingham a shout-out – my husband and I moved here when we wanted to leave London and it’s just such an amazing city and county – I don’t think it shouts loudly enough about itself.”

Paula, who joined Juno in 2011 to deliver the Stronger Families Programme after roles in local authority children’s services, including as a senior parenting practitioner, said Yasmin had been instrumental in changing Juno’s approach.

Part of her legacy would be the ground-breaking move to buy the charity’s own properties, said Paula. “That’s been a massive thing for families – seeing their eyes light up at the opportunity to move into a quality, safe home. They can’t quite believe it’s going to be theirs.

“I’m looking forward to keeping the ship steady and building on the opportunities that Yasmin’s leadership has given us. All our survivors will continue to receive an excellent quality service.

“I’m interested in expanding our children and young people’s services, especially with the Domestic Abuse Act highlighting children as victims within their own right. We have developed our Juno Voices youth forum to give young people that survivor voice.”

Paula added: “I will really miss Yasmin. She might seem quite unassuming with the softest voice but you listen to what she says because it comes from her wisdom, experience and passion for the sector.

“As I described her to someone recently, she is a real powerhouse of a person.”

Sue Gregory, the chair of Juno’s board of trustees, added her thanks to Yasmin and the strong legacy she leaves.

“Yasmin brought a real vision and enormous energy to her role and has dragged us kicking and screaming into the 21st century – we are so proud of the direction she has taken us in and shown how we can grow and extend,” said Sue, whose three-year tenure as chair is completed at the end of March. She will remain as a board member, while current vice-chair Wendy Henderson takes over the role.

“Yasmin has made a big difference to people’s lives, particularly by now offering women their own accommodation. Paula has played a major role in Juno’s success and our position on a national scale. I’m sure she will continue to develop as a strategic leader – and we wish them both the very best of luck.”