Meet the Devon finalists leading the fight against violence towards women

The women leading the charge to make Devon, Cornwall and beyond safer for women and girls have been named finalists in this year’s West Country Women’s Awards.

Now in its fourth year, the Combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) award, sponsored by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez, recognises exceptional efforts to tackle abuse and inequality across the region.

The four finalists were announced during an afternoon tea event at Powderham Castle, near Exeter, where organisers revealed this year saw the highest number of nominees since the awards began.

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Winners will be announced at the Grand Final Gala Dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Plymouth on 28 November.

Awards director Alexis Bowater OBE said: “We’ve heard thousands of stories of courage, innovation and compassion from women across the West Country, and every single one deserves recognition. Our finalists are extraordinary: each one making waves in her own field, and together they show just how strong, creative and innovative our region is.”

Commissioner Hernandez added: “Congratulations to the inspiring finalists not just in our category but across all the categories. It was extremely difficult choosing our four finalists because the calibre of nominees was so high this year.

“It is reassuring to hear how many incredible women are going above and beyond to tackle VAWG which is one of my key priorities. No woman should have to live their lives in fear of becoming a victim. I look forward to presenting the Combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) award at the finale next month.”

The finalists

Sue Penna, CEO and founder of Rock Pool Life C.I.C
Based in Brixham, Sue has spent nearly 30 years working in the VAWG sector, inspired by her own experiences of domestic abuse. After leaving the NHS, she founded Rock Pool, a social enterprise delivering trauma-informed training across the UK.

The organisation has delivered hundreds of recovery toolkit courses and trauma-informed sessions to thousands of practitioners nationwide. Sue also created the first trauma-informed domestic abuse recovery toolkit and recently launched a women’s theatre collective to raise awareness through productions of The Vagina Monologues.

Sue, who is also a trustee of West Cornwall Women’s Aid, said: “I’m still fighting because there has just not been enough change in 30 years, and the same number of women and children are being murdered every year.

“I think I may have been nominated for the award due to my persistence and the recognition that I have spent over half my life championing women’s rights to be free from domestic abuse, free from the stigma that follows them once they escape, free from the shame they can be made to feel and free to have the lives they deserve. This has been my life’s work so far and I imagine it will continue to be.”

Rebecca Hewitt, chair of South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and Teignbridge District Council
With 28 years’ experience at Teignbridge District Council, Rebecca has worked closely with police and partners to make communities safer. She helped secure more than £300,000 in funding for projects tackling misogyny and supporting young people, and led initiatives such as the Let’s Talk programme, which reached nearly 9,000 parents and carers.

Rebecca said: “I have led work on tackling gangs and the impact of the young women within these, informing parents about safeguarding risks and addressing behaviours of our young people to create a long-term cultural change.

“My passion is that we need to bring together the whole community to work at the earliest possible opportunity to create lasting change and stop women and girls being harmed.”

Lucy Rhodes, lead youth work practitioner for Space Youth Services
Lucy has developed Is This Okay?, a six-week school programme addressing harmful sexual behaviour among young people. More than 297 teenagers have already taken part, with the project now expanding to 19 more secondary schools across Devon.

She also worked with young women in Teignbridge to present evidence of harassment and safety concerns to local authorities, leading to tangible changes in public spaces.

Lucy said: “I am committed to addressing the root causes of gender-based violence through early, evidence-informed intervention.

“I’ve seen first-hand how young people can grow when they are given the right tools and guidance and how important it is to intervene before patterns become entrenched. It is important to shine a light on the importance of early, education-based approaches in the fight against violence towards women and girls.”

Mel Sevieri, former community fundraiser with Trevi
A survivor of abuse herself, Mel has spent the past six years campaigning and raising awareness of VAWG across the South West. She has spoken to thousands of young people about sexism and abuse, raised £10,000 for women’s charities through her Plymouth VAWG Gala, and revived the city’s Reclaim the Night march after a seven-year hiatus.

Now working for Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service, she continues to research and advocate for women’s rights while living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Mel said: “Living with a debilitating disability was never going to be easy, but it drives me to accomplish far more than I likely would have without it because I’m acutely aware of how precious my time is to dedicate to this cause. This issue will only end if we all fight it together.”

About the awards

The West Country Women’s Awards celebrate the achievements of women from all walks of life across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

This year’s ceremony features 20 award categories, recognising contributions in fields such as business, education, health, community service and environmental impact.

The awards were founded to highlight the talent, determination and resilience of women across the South West, providing a platform to share stories of those making a difference in their local communities.