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Our Team

Meet the CADAS team. We meet every person and project with acceptance and compassion.

Our team is made up of Trustees, Staff and Volunteers.

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Gail Jenson
CEO

Gail has 30 years of experience in the 3rd sector, public and private organisations bringing with her a diverse range of skills and experience in people and operational leadership, human resources and safeguarding.

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Joining CADAS in 2021 as a Service Manager and throughout 2025 has been working as Interim CEO. Her leadership has been invaluable, helping shape the foundations for CADAS and the team who remain committed to helping people in Cumbria with problematic substance use.

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For over 30 years on the frontline and as a Manager, I have been driven, committed and passionate about supporting people and assisting them to make changes and realise their individual potential. 

 

Over the last 3 years at CADAS I have been inspired everyday by the amazing achievements of the people we support and the Team who are continuously committed to making a difference to people’s lives.  

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While CADAS was established in 1979 and is a constant in the community helping people; I am looking forward to the next chapter with the team, providing quality support, making change possible and exploring how we can further evolve to meet the needs of people who use our services.   

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Alexander Scott
President

Born in Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria, Alex attended the Lakes School in Troutbeck Bridge before leaving for university.

 

In July 2023, Alex was appointed His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria.

 

His early career was in finance and corporate communications in London and briefly Hong Kong before he joined his family’s business, headquartered in Kendal.  His subsequent career involved the sale of that business and the creation of new entrepreneurial initiatives in the financial services sector.

 

Alex is a Trustee of the Grosvenor Estate, chairs Grosvenor Food & AgTech and a is a Non-Executive Director of several private companies including the holding company for the  Westmorland Family.

 

In the not-for-profit sector, he was previously a Director of the Family Business Network International, co-founded and is Joint Life President of Family Business UK and a Trustee of the Kendal-based Francis C Scott Charitable Trust , which was established by his family.   Alex is President of both Cumbria Addictions Advice and Solutions and of Cumbria Scouts.

 

Alex graduated from Exeter College, Oxford with an MA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics and holds an MBA from IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland. He lives in Windermere on the family’s organic farm with his wife Sam. They have  three adult children.

 

He enjoys hiking, country sports, cycling (including round Cumbria, John o’ Groats to Land’s End and across France) sailing on Lake Windermere, skiing, expedition travel (he has walked the final degree to the South Pole and crossed Baffin Island twice in winter) and follows rugby union (and represented Cumbria as a schoolboy).

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Phillippa Williamson
Chair of Trustees

After university and gaining a Masters in Business Administration, Phillippa pursued a career in finance and as a Senior Civil Servant.

 

A strong advocate of CADAS, Phillippa is deeply committed to the charity’s compassionate, impactful work with families across Cumbria.

 

Phillippa enjoys all aspects of rural life and when not in the office, you’ll likely find her looking after her bees. 

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Colin Robertshaw
Treasurer

I am Treasurer of CADAS. I was first appointed as a trustee in 2025. My work life was mainly with Barclays Bank where I retired as head of Corporate Business for South Cumbria and North Lancashire. Since my retirement from Barclays I was an Area Fundraising manager for RNIB and spent a short time as head of fundraising at Lancaster University. I have also been a governor of three local schools. I am married with four children and six grandchildren.

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Rik Kershaw
Trustee

Rick Kershaw is Chief People Officer at love holidays. He previously led HR for EMEA Technology at Meta and held senior HR roles at Expedia Group and PepsiCo. Born and raised in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, Rick holds a Business degree from John Moores University in Liverpool.

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Susan Berriman
Trustee

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Ian Burns
Trustee

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Suzanne Wannop
Service Manager Cumberland

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Emily Ludwick
Project Team Leader

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Angie Milfull
Family Support Team Leader

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Emma Horrobin
Quality and Improvement Lead

Suzanne, Cumberland Service Manager at CADAS, leads services promoting wellbeing and resilience. She oversees funding projects, tracks KPIs, and serves as Designated Safeguarding Lead. Collaborative and people-focused, Suzanne values integrity, inclusion, and growth. Passionate about positive impact, she balances work with jogging, swimming, and walking, reflecting her commitment to wellbeing.

I am passionate about championing healthier, more resilient communities; supporting and developing staff so they feel safe, confident, and able to thrive; and contributing to meaningful, long-term change by reducing the harmful impact of substance misuse on individuals, families, and wider society.

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I value compassion, respect, empowerment, integrity, collaboration, and creating safe, supportive environments for both clients and staff.


My interests include spending time with my horses, being outdoors in the countryside, walking with my toddler, crafting, personal development, travel, and learning about different cultures.

The wellbeing of children locally has long been well aligned with my own values and belief system.

Within my role, my passion to help improve family relationships, and thereby children’s  lived experiences is the thread that runs throughout everything that I do at CADAS.

 

Outside of work, I have my own family and dog and love getting out into nature.

I quality‑check our coaching, turn insights into better training, and help coaches grow in confidence. I raise awareness of addiction and challenge stigma in our communities through training & workshops. I love CADAS for its genuine care and compassionate approach to recovery.

 

Outside work, I’m fuelled by books, family, good causes, and staying active.

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Louise Allen
Family Support Team Leader

Family Support Team Lead at CADAS, committed to strengthening families and improving life chances for children. Passionate about early intervention, trauma-informed practice, and empowering parents through practical, compassionate support. Driven by collaboration, community connection, and creating meaningful, sustainable change for families facing complex challenges.

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Sarah Alty
Group Team Leader

As a former mental health nurse with a passion for group work and lived experience of recovering from addiction, I am very proud to be Group Team leader for CADAS.

I am married, have an adult son who lives in London, 3 adult stepchildren and 2 grandchildren. I moved to Cumbria over 30 years ago to complete my degree in Fine Art and absolutely love the quiet Cumbrian landscape.

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Judith Beck 
Finance & Fundraising Team Leader

A Finance and wellbeing professional passionate about supporting recovery and wellbeing through both personal insight and professional expertise.

 

With a strong background in finance, I combine analytical skills with a deep commitment to helping others achieve stability and purpose in their lives.

 

My love for horses and dogs inspires my approach to life, grounded, compassionate, and dedicated to building trust and connection.

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Marisa Hartshorn
Marketing & Communications Officer

I am passionate about connecting people affected by addiction with the invaluable support that CADAS provide.

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The CADAS team’s compassion, empathy and support changes lives in our community – to be part of this fills me with pride.

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My hobbies and interests are cooking, gym and gigs!

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Eleanor Goode
Design and Social Media Officer & Fundraising Officer

My background in storytelling aids me in making an impact digitally and engaging audiences across channels from all ages and backgrounds. I care about making people feel seen and heard in a supportive and accessible way.

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When I am not at CADAS, I am either teaching acting, theatre and creative classes to adults, leading my Rainbow and Brownie Unit, taking a bajillion photographs, gaming, or delivering freelance digital marketing. 

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Pete Taylor 
Administrative Assistant

I am passionate about CADAS helping people recover and positively move forward.

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I’ve had mental health issues and want to give back now I’m in a good place.

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I enjoy creative writing, reading and watching films. I like walking around Carlisle and hiking in the Lakes.

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Martin A
Gambling Harms Coordinator

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Carrie B
Service User Coordinator 

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Louise W
Young Peoples Education & Support Coordinator

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Jen M
Young Peoples Worker

I’ve always had a passion for helping people who are looking to change their lives in a positive way.

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Here at CADAS, I get the chance to support people and their families that are struggling with any type of gambling issues.

I love getting to witness our clients’ full journey with us, from start to finish. Seeing how people change and grow will never stop being amazing to me.

It’s important to me because it reminds me that the work we do truly matters, and that real, meaningful change happens when people feel supported every step of the way.

I love spending time with my dog Elvis

I love working with young people because it's an exciting and crucial age, where getting the right support and information can really make a difference. I offer a flexible, person‑centred approach, taking time to understand each individual and helping them make choices that positively shape their future.

What inspires me to work with young people is that they are among the most engaging and most intriguing audiences you can work with.

Showing empathy, calmness, consideration towards feelings and needs along with a good sense of humour helps towards gaining rapport.

Singing is a great passion of mine.

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Julie M
Volunteer Coordinator (South)

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Nadia A
Volunteer Coordinator 

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Laura I
Recovery Coach Plus

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Clare R
Recovery Coach Plus & Health Promotion Worker

I work at CADAS because the values truly resonate with me. I believe that clients are the experts in their own lives, and at Cadas we walk alongside them, empowering choices that align with what matters most to them. Seeing others succeed and reclaim their lives back gives me a real sense of purpose.

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My hobbies include dog walks, running, crafting, comedy clubs and concerts.

I’m Nadia, Volunteer Coordinator. I’m passionate about creating a safe, inclusive environment where volunteers feel supported to continue to grow and thrive. My values include a non-judgemental approach to supporting the community and empowering those who access our service.

 

Outside work, I enjoy walking my dog, crochet and reading."

I am passionate about Addiction and Recovery as I have been through it myself. This allows me to empathize with others who are going through the same journey and motivates me to give 110 % to my role. 

 

My hobbies are walking with my dogs, Arts and Crafts and gardening.  

I’m dedicated to supporting people, families and young people through meaningful change, and my work with CADAS is rooted in compassion, respect, and hope. I’m passionate about creating safe, non‑judgemental spaces where individuals feel heard, valued, and empowered to take steps towards their own journey and take control of their lives.

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My interests are gardening, interior decorating, watching documentaries, cooking & walks in the lakes.

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Claire M
Recovery Coach Plus

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Lisa M
Young People’s Worker and Recovery Coach

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Toni F
Recovery Coach

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Suzanne C
Recovery Coach

I love the daily opportunity to create warm trusting relationships with a diverse range of people based on compassion, empathy and acceptance and find it so rewarding that the belief in people’s ability to change never disappoints.

 

I enjoy walking in the woods listening to music on my headphones.

I work with young people and adults in or affected by addiction. I love that my role is diverse with recovery work, going into schools delivering workshops and raising awareness around addiction. I value providing compassionate, person-centered support to help people build confidence, resilience, and sustainable life changes. I believe passionately in everyone’s capacity for change.

 

Out of work I enjoy spending time with my family, going on walks with my dog Freya and cooking.

I am passionate about supporting others in the journey. I really love the groups we do and the support this provides to those who need it. It's lovely to build relationships with people and see the trust forming.

Having lived with someone in addiction and them describing it as 'lonely', I have seen that meeting people in groups that are going through a similar thing as yourself, shows that you are not a lone which is amazing.

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 I love fell walking and going to rugby matches to watch my son. I have also started learning tattooing, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

In my role at CADAS, I'm passionate about supporting people on their recovery journey, empowering them to build confidence, resilience and positive change.

 

My values centre on compassion, honesty and non-judgement and treating everyone the same regardless of their path in life.

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Sam D
Recovery Coach

I am passionate about supporting individuals who are struggling with an addiction and individuals who live with persistent pain. My work is driven by a commitment to understanding each person’s unique experience and helping them navigate their journey with compassion and respect.

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Providing a safe space for people while using a collaborative approach to empower those to make change. 

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Devon M
Recovery Coach

I am passionate about supporting individuals to explore change in their life by working with them to build their confidence and encouraging them to use this to make their own decisions.

It is important for me to provide a welcoming, safe space for people where they can feel listened to and valued. Being compassionate and kind to every person.

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I enjoy running in my free time.

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Dawn Allen 
Recovery Coach

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Brian M
Recovery Coach

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June D
Recovery Coach

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Dawne W
Associate Recovery Coach

I am deeply passionate about supporting clients to help guide them towards a deeper understanding of themselves and the reasons they may have turned to substances or behaviours as a way of self-soothing.

 

Witnessing their growing awareness and learning that they can lead a healthier and more fulfilled life is incredibly rewarding. Treating people with compassion, dignity and respect, without judgement. Creating a safe space where individuals feel heard and understood whilst empowering them to take ownership of their recovery journey. 

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