Meet the Team

Wherever there are animals in need, you will find a bunch of enthusiastic, passionate and eager people not far away. The animals are like magnets and their pull is beyond our ability to explain. We have passion in abundance and our enthusiasm knows no bounds.

Please meet our team.

It’s important to note that these people are only the beginning. A host of people, both staff and volunteers, together ensure our rescues continue to help as many animals as we can. Whilst their roles may differ, each one of them is as important as the next.

Our Trustees

Jane Young

Chair - Trustee

Jane supports the rescue with practical financial support gained from a previous career in banking, and so much more. She heads up the Board with compassion, common sense and commitment. And we should mention that she may have something of a soft spot for a boxer dog or two.

Doug Martin

Dougie swapped a career a banking for a life surrounded by dogs. Starting at the rescue as a volunteer dog walker and fosterer, he is a keen supporter of the work of the Kennels team, as well as practical support with operational matters. You might see him around the Formby area trying to tire out his four dogs.

Donald Shaw

Donald’s background as a veterinary hospital manager and engineer brings valuable experience and support to the rescue team with expertise in veterinary care, welfare standards and facilities management. Donald has three dogs that love to go on big adventures with him.

Annette Armstrong

Annette’s background as a legal secretary brings excellent communication skills to the rescue. Annette supports campaigns and fundraising appeals and connects with our much-valued supporters, thanking them for their continued commitment to the animals. Annette has a particular passion for cats, with four of her own, and for the work of the Liverpool and Wales Catteries.

Dave Cox

Dave supports the rescue with IT support and campaigns, after starting at Freshfields as a corporate volunteer. Dave brings knowledge and understanding from his experiences as an IT technician in the banking sector and as a union representative. The hedgehogs also benefit from the hedgehog houses he builds for them.

Chrissy Pope

Chrissy supports the rescue effort with her expertise in personnel, change management and super organisational skills from working in mental health services for young people. Chrissy is passionate about our mission to transform the lives of as many animals as possible, having had horses, a lizard, cats and lots of dogs.

Colette Coghill

Colette brings exceptional knowledge of the animal rescue sector and our charity’s values and aims, which she gained as our Finance Manager. Colette brings detailed knowledge of financial management, standards, operations, opportunities, and the team, to contribute to good, viable decision making. Colette is now enjoying more opportunities to relax with her Frenchie and cat in the veg garden.

Director

Emma Jensen

Director

Emma has been at Freshfields since 2017. She has a wealth of experience in Strategic planning, change management, project management, fundraising, land use, planning and development gained in charities with educational, heritage, community and rescue purposes. Emma supports and connects those within and around the rescue to deliver on our Strategy to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges causing the animal welfare crisis.

Emma’s personal passions are environmental sustainability, wildlife protection and animal welfare. She has a soft spot for collies and birds, and loves camping, kayaking, and standing on mountain tops.

Management Team

Jacqueline Leggatt

Assistant Director

Jacqueline (or Jac as she prefers to be known) manages the day to day operations of our Wales rescue.

Jac has been at Freshfields since 2014, originally employed as a Cattery animal carer, then progressing to becoming Head of Unit, then Operations Manager and has more recently been promoted to Assistant Director.

Jac is passionate about being able to help make a positive impact and life-changing difference to the hundreds of neglected, abused and abandoned animals of North Wales and the North West, working closely with our colleagues at our Liverpool rescue to ensure that Freshfields continues to provide the best care possible for our animals, today, and for the rest of their lives.

In her spare time, Jac is an avid darts player, winning multiple titles and has even gone on to represent her country of Wales. Having a degree in Fine Art she also enjoys being creative and relaxes by drawing illustrations and pyrography.

Our Communications & Fundraising Team

Debbie Hughes

Grants & PR Coordinator

Deb is Freshfields’ PR and Grants Officer, dealing with Charitable Trusts, Public Relations and Media Liaison. Deb came to Freshfields after working for over 20 years in London, managing supported housing projects for vulnerable people with complex needs. As Chair of a Day Centre for homeless people in West London, Deb has experience of strategic fundraising, planning and development in the charity sector. Her personal passions are animals, films, and Wigan Athletic Football Club.

Helen Hughes

Communications Officer

Helen joined us with 35 years of experience and knowledge in Marketing and Communications having worked for Marks & Spencer Money and The Co-operative.

Helen leads on our one-to-one external communications and campaigns, in addition to our digital marketing, social media presence, and our website.

Helen lives in Wales with her partner Neil and their two rescue dogs Floyd and Fern, and a lizard. She has a soft spot for lurchers and Greyhounds and is passionate about racing Greyhound welfare. She enjoys dog agility, being outdoors walking in the countryside, or a zoomies session on the beach with the hounds. In her spare time, she likes a good book, spending time with family, and is also a fan of F1 and Liverpool FC.

Ben Leggatt

Rescue Representative - Wales

Ben started working at Freshfields in August 2024, having been a firm supporter of the Charity since 2014, when his Mum, Jac began working at the Wales Centre. Now in his role as Rescue Representative, Ben is proud to build upon his Mum’s work, and help raise awareness and support for the Wales Rescue.

Ben’s role is to help spearhead communications for the Wales Centre, and to help Freshfields be more proactive within our local community and the whole of North Wales. Ben is fluent in the Welsh language and is committed to ensuring that our Welsh supporters have access to our literature in their chosen language.

Ben has vast experience as a Manager in the Charity retail sector, as well as the sports media industry. He is an avid fan of football, having been a Commercial Manager and Media Officer for multiple Welsh football clubs, and has completed numerous coaching qualifications within the footballing sector. Ben enjoys getting out and about, meeting our lovely supporters, and networking with local businesses.

Rosa Harrison

Volunteer Co-ordiantor

Rosa joined Freshfields in November 2024, as Volunteer Co-ordinator. Her role is to recruit, look after and deal with anything volunteer related. Volunteers are such a core part of our team as without them we wouldn’t be able to deliver care to all the animals, and our work behind the scenes that keeps our doors open. She brings experience from her previous role working for Ronald McDonald House Charities, and also working with early years children in schools as an SEN 1:1 Teaching Assistant.

She lives in Liverpool with her toddler, who keeps her busy every day. Rosa enjoys singing, crafting, spending time in nature, days out with her little girl, and watching films, especially Disney! Having studied Musical Theatre and achieved a first class BA(Hons) degree, she is involved in a local Musical Theatre Society which she loves. Rosa is passionate about animal welfare rights, human rights and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. She says “I feel very lucky to be working with such amazing volunteers and also a fabulous team of staff. I adore all animals and feel so blessed to contribute to the safety and wellbeing of all the animals across both of our sites”.