Helen Cantrell, Chief Executive, SOVA

Helen has 20 years experience of working in the social justice and socially excluded sectors, spanning the Criminal Justice systems and treatment services. Her key roles have included working as a Probation Officer, a drug/alcohol treatment provider, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Operations of PS plus, the largest ESF employability programme in Europe. Latterly Helen was Policy Lead Head of Prison Skills and Employment for NOMS (National Offender Management Service).

Helen became CEO of SOVA in May 2010, a national Charity delivering services to vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals across England and Wales. SOVA specialises in working with offenders as well as others. Helen’s main role is the running and management of SOVA and to transport it to become the third sector provider of choice in delivering high quality impacting services to vulnerable groups in our community.