LRSN team

Your support network

Get to know the friendly faces working behind the scenes.

Team members

Amy Thomas
Head of Charity

Amy has worked for LRSN since 2021 and is passionate about working within the charity sector; about the creativity and change that the sector drives, and the impact that it delivers. Amy is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of LRSN and works closely with the Board of Trustees to deliver LRSN’s vision, mission, and strategy. Amy has lived experience of the agricultural industry, having grown up on a farm in North Yorkshire. Amy now lives in Lincolnshire with her husband, children and dogs.
amy.thomas@lrsn.co.uk
07725 203560

Gilly Steel
Health and Wellbeing Lead

Gilly has worked for LRSN since 2019, she oversees the casework and health screening services, liaises with partner organisations and offers specialist support and advice. Gilly is a qualified mental health nurse with over 25 years of experience. Before joining LRSN, she worked for the NHS crisis services in Grimsby, prior to that, she covered Lincolnshire as a community mental health nurse. Gilly grew up in rural Lincolnshire and was a founding member of Louth Young Farmers Club.
gilly.steel@lrsn.co.uk
07795 269378

Lea Schofield
Casework Lead

After making referrals to LRSN in her previous role as an agriculture officer, Lea joined the LRSN team in 2011. She works directly with those who need support whilst navigating difficult and distressing periods in life, business or both. She has a particular interest in legal, regulatory and domestic abuse issues. Lea has one child, a deerhound and two horses, who between them take up most of her spare time!
lea.schofield@lrsn.co.uk
07714 137575

Jill Dickson
Caseworker

Jill started working as a Caseworker at LRSN in January 2025, having previously worked at Riseholme in the Landbased Team as a Personal Development Coach. Jill’s career started in Agriculture, then moved to Youth and Community Work, Training and Education.
Married to Ben, they are Lincolnshire folk. Home is busy with cats, dogs, horses, chickens and ducks.
jill.dickson@lrsn.co.uk
07831 078604

Alison Stanswood
Nurse Caseworker

Alison became part of the LRSN team in 2022, she is both a nurse and a caseworker with a specialism in mental health. She is passionate about helping people both with their physical and mental health. Alison can be found cycling around not only the county but the country a keen fitness enthusiast, she inspires us all.
alison.stanswood@lrsn.co.uk
07385 207878

Sarah Poucher
Fundraising and Communications

Sarah has worked for LRSN since 2020. Before joining the staff team, she volunteered with LRSN for a number of years. Sarah works directly with the agricultural and horticultural communities to raise funds for and awareness of LRSN. She is passionate about helping the community she lives in. Sarah has three children and a dog and has experience working in the agricultural industries.
sarah.poucher@lrsn.co.uk
07738 741150

Emma Billings
Partnership Coordinator

Emma joined the team as Partnership Coordinator in 2024, she is excited about the connections that can be made with new and existing donors. As a farmer’s daughter, she brings a unique perspective rooted in her family’s farming experience, beyond her passion for farming, Emma has a deep love for horticulture. Emma and her husband, along with their son, run a successful family farm near Louth.
emma.billings@lrsn.co.uk
07823 859979

Lou Gaunt
Charity Support Officer

Lou has worked for LRSN since January 2024 and previously spent many years as an exams officer in a local school before which she worked for a children’s charity. Lou grew up in Woodhall Spa where her father was a land agent and auctioneer and is married to a retired Lincolnshire farmer. They have four grown-up children between them and two grandchildren to keep them busy. Lou loves being in the Lincolnshire countryside walking her dog, Barley.
lou.gaunt@lrsn.co.uk
07464 412647

Alice Clayton
Administrator

Alice has worked for LRSN since November 2023. She previously worked as an Administrator at the NFU for 8 years. During that time, she gained a good understanding of the farming community and developed strong administrative skills that helped her support the sector’s needs. Alice lives in Rutland with her partner Luke, two children, a dog, and a cat!
alice.clayton@lrsn.co.uk
07398 630111

Alex Cryer
Emotional Wellbeing Worker

Alex joined LRSN in 2025 as an emotional wellbeing worker. She works directly with young people in the agricultural and horticultural communities to support them to become more resilient in the future. Before this, Alex was an assistant psychologist and has experience working with a range of people from different walks of life. Alex has a little boy and a dog, both of which ensure she gets her steps in each day!
alexandra.cryer@lrsn.co.uk
07467 588838

Heather Dawes
Lead Nurse

Heather has worked for LRSN since 2009 and has over 40 years’ experience in nursing. She helped to shape and create the health check service for LRSN when she joined the team, starting at the Louth livestock market. Heather does not have a farming background but through her years of work with the agricultural community, she feels she has begun to understand the pressures of the sector. Heather has a dog and a husband, and they are all currently getting interested in the world of vintage tractors.
heather.dawes@lrsn.co.uk
07497 093444

Rachel Carritt
Nurse

Rachel joined LRSN in 2022 as a health screening nurse and has since taken on the additional role of emotional well-being worker for younger people in the industry. Her background in women’s health nursing within the NHS makes her perfect for leading the LRSN Women in Wellies project. Rachel lives on the family farm where she grew up with her retired parents, husband, and three children.
rachel.carritt@lrsn.co.uk
07502 743239

Rose Coffey
Nurse

Rose joined LRSN in June 2022. Born and raised on the family farm in Warwickshire, Rose has over 30 years’ experience of working as a nurse in hospital and the community with a particular interest in diabetes.
Rose works as part of the nursing team providing health checks at markets and Health Hut events. Please come along and say hello, have a health check or just a chat.
rose.coffey@lrsn.co.uk
07421 508402