IWD 2025 – celebrating the women at Making Space

Published 3 March 2025

At Making Space, we are proud to support International Women’s Day 2025 and this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’.

Gender equality is not just a goal - it’s a movement that requires collective effort, and Making Space are committed to driving real change. From our incredible women in leadership to those making a difference in frontline care, we celebrate the remarkable women across our charity who inspire, lead, and empower others every day. As we champion progress, we also encourage and support career growth, ensuring that all women at Making Space have the opportunity to develop, lead, and shape the future of social care.

At Making Space, we are committed to gender equality and are proud to have strong female leadership at every level of our organisation, driving positive change and shaping the future of social care.

Our leadership team consists of three women, led by our CEO, Rachel Peacock, working alongside five men to influence strategic decisions and ensure our values of inclusivity and empowerment are at the heart of everything we do. Across our services, 85% of our managers are women, who bring dedication, expertise, and compassion to their teams. By championing female leadership and supporting career progression, we are accelerating action towards a more equitable and inclusive future.

With that in mind, we wanted to highlight some of the inspirational women who work at Making Space:

Rachel Peacock – CEO, Making Space
Rachel provides visionary leadership, working closely with the Board of Trustees and Executive Management Team to shape and implement the charity’s mission, values, and strategic direction. Recognised as the Third Sector Leader at the 2024 Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care (WAGS) Awards, she was praised for her dedication to driving meaningful change. Beginning her career as a youth worker in Liverpool, Rachel has risen to lead with passion, championing the wellbeing of vulnerable people and inspiring positive transformation across the sector.

Donna Curtis – Senior Support Worker, Swallow Lodge
Donna has been working tirelessly to enhance Swallow Lodge, creating a more welcoming and engaging space for the people we support. From sourcing books, bookshelves, toys, bean bags, and furniture to transforming the sensory room with activities tailored for sensory needs, Donna’s efforts have made a real difference. She quietly improves the home, often surprising colleagues with new additions that enhance the environment for everyone.  Her thoughtful contributions are creating a better space for all.

Dr Neda Hormozi – Trustee, Making Space
Neda joined the Board of Trustees in 2019, bringing a wealth of leadership experience from both the corporate and public sectors. After serving as CEO in her family-run business, she transitioned into public health, holding key roles within NHS London and the National Transformation Team. As a Programme Director, she spearheaded innovative cross-boundary initiatives, streamlining patient pathways and developing competency frameworks to enhance NHS leadership recruitment. Her passion for transformative change and service excellence aligns perfectly with Making Space’s mission, making her an invaluable member of our Board.

Carina Connolly – Support Worker, Knowsley
Carina has gone above and beyond to support a long-term resident through a major transition after 25 years in supported accommodation. She provided personalised, flexible support, including daily check-ins and reassurance, to ease the stress of moving on. Thanks to her dedication, the person successfully settled into his new home, with continued support in place to ensure a smooth transition. His heartfelt feedback says it all - he couldn’t have done it without her.

Elaine Johnstone – Trustee, Making Space
Elaine has been a valued member of our Board of Trustees since 2017, bringing over three decades of experience in the NHS, including 20 years in senior commissioning roles in Lancashire and South Cumbria. She has a wealth of sector knowledge and experience, which she is now sharing via her own business, delivering executive and leadership coaching and training. Elaine remains dedicated to improving service quality and delivery, a passion that led her to Making Space. As Chair of the Finance and Business Development Committee, she uses her governance expertise to drive strategic growth and innovation.

Victoria Lawton-Bates & Amanda Tomlinson – Team Leaders, Rotherham Dementia and Doncaster Carers
Vicki and Amanda showed courage and compassion, responding immediately to a carer's suicide crisis, providing emotional support, coordinating with the police, and helping to save his life while arranging ongoing care and support.

Follow International Women’s Day 2025 using #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction and find out more at www.internationalwomensday.com.