Governance
Our Commitment to Good Governance
Progress to Change is committed to the highest standards of governance, transparency and accountability. As a registered charity, and a company limited by guarantee, operating within the criminal justice sector and managing two Approved Premises, we recognise the importance of strong leadership, ethical decision-making and robust oversight in delivering our mission and safeguarding the people we support.
We meet rigorous standards in our delivery of Approved Premises and work closely with regulatory partners to ensure continuous improvement. We operate under a clear framework of policies and procedures which are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practice and regulatory expectations.
Organisational Structure
Progress to Change is led day-to-day by our Senior Leadership Team, which is accountable to the Board of Trustees. We operate two Approved Premises, with local operational teams responsible for delivering high-quality, trauma-informed, and person-centred services that support rehabilitation and public protection.
Table of Contents
Professor Alastair Hay
Chair of Trustees
Clare Maguire
CEO, Progress to Change
Liz Sunley
Operational Manager – Ripon House AP
Ben Spink
Operations Manager Cardigan House AP
Rachel Kyle
Finance Manager, Ripon House
Our Foundations.
Our charity has its origins in the Church of England Temperance Society (CETS). In 1876 Frederick Rainer, a printer from Hertford, wrote to CETS deploring the fact that if a person got into trouble through drink, there seemed no hope for him. Rainer enclosed five shillings (a crown) to start a fund to help such people. This led to the appointment of Police Court Missionaries. This part of CETS became known as the National Police Court Mission (NPCM).
Our Charity.
Progress to Change has a history going back almost 100 years,
Cardigan House AP opened in 1932 as a boys’ home and Ripon House opened as a girls’ hostel in 1946. The hostels were originally run entirely on donations and fund-raising until 1976, when they became Probation and Bail Hostels for adults. The charity now has a contract with the Ministry of Justice, which provides running costs though the Trustees of the charity remain responsible for the buildings, as owners, and they also support both hostels in many other ways.
Our Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity. They ensure we remain true to our charitable purpose, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, and use our resources effectively to achieve lasting impact. Five of our trustees are appointed by the Diocese, via the Bishop of Leeds, and four are appointed by the Board of Directors themselves. Trustees are appointed for a period of four years, after which they can be re-appointed for one further term of four years
Current Board members
- Prof. Alastair Hay – Chairperson
- Mrs Diana Favre – Vice-Chair
- Mrs Jill Dilks – Trustee
- Mrs Carol Cochrane – Trustee
- Mrs Sara Mondon – Trustee
- Mr Roy Brook – Trustee
- Prof. Olga Matthias – Trustee
- Mr Matt Thornfield - Trustee
- Christine Wright - Trustee
Non- Executive Members.
Non-Executive appointments can be made at any time and will normally be for an initial term of three years. Membership may be renewed for a second term of up to three years and may be further extended in exceptional circumstances. These members may also be considered for appointment to the Board of Trustees when a vacancy arises.
The Board’s key responsibilities include:
- Setting and monitoring the strategic direction of the charity
- Ensuring compliance with Charity Commission and regulatory standards
- Overseeing financial health and risk management
- Upholding the values and safeguarding duties of the organisation
- Supporting and challenging the senior leadership team
Annual Reports and Financial Statements
We are committed to transparency in how we use our funds and report on our impact.
Our latest annual reports and audited financial statements are available here:
Annual Report -24
Employers Discretion Policy Progress to Change - 2026
Associate Organisations
Progress to Change is proud to be an associate member of the independent National Approved Premises Association (NAPA). Our CEO sitting is an executive board member, and one of our Trustees chairs this independent organisation. For more information on NAPA please click here
I’ve enjoyed working at Progress to Change since 2011. As a CIMA qualified accountant, my role as Finance Manager includes ensuring that our funding and budgeting across both premises is managed effectively, to ensure we provide best use of all the resources available to us. I enjoy a varied role, working as part of the team in the office as well as interacting with numerous contractors, Trustees and colleagues. 
I joined Progress to Change in January 2016, initially serving as the Operational Manager at Cardigan House. In April 2022, I transitioned to Ripon House as the Operational Lead, before stepping into my current role as CEO in April 2024.
I joined Progress to Change as operations manager at Cardigan House in March 2022. Prior to joining Progress to Change I qualified as a Probation Officer in 2004, completing a BA degree in Probation Studies to do so. I worked for the Probation Service for 18 years in a variety of frontline settings and I had also previously worked at Cardigan House on a relief basis so I already had a good knowledge of the building and many of the processes.
Alastair joined the charity as a trustee in September 2017 and in September 2022 was elected as its chair.