About Us

RiTA, founded by Judith Vickress, is a newly created Community Interest Company (CIC). We are guided by our expert Non-Executive Directors, Emma Storey and Nicky Catley, who will share their insight and expertise as RiTA evolves and develops.

RiTA is, and will always be, guided by the experiences of those who have lived and continue to live the realities of domestic abuse and stalking. RiTA has a growing team of associates who will support the delivery of services. Our Associate Expert by Experience, Rhianon Bragg, has been pivotal to the creation of RiTA and will continue to work with Judith and the evolving team at RiTA on the development of programmes, resources, and delivery of services, and together with our expert Directors, will help inform the direction of travel for RiTA.

Our Values

How we work is as important as what we do. Our values are the foundation of RiTA, they guide our decisions, shape our partnerships, and hold us accountable. In tackling domestic abuse in rural communities, we believe that our values must be present not just in outcomes, but in every aspect of how we work. We seek funders, partners and sponsors to support our growth and evolution, and we invite all those who join us to share in our values too.

Collaborative Innovation

We value fresh thinking rooted in partnership.
We create, test, and build flexible, place-based solutions that reflect the realities of rural life. Real change occurs when we bring people together across sectors, services, cultures, and lived experiences. We intentionally build inclusive spaces where local strengths and voices shape innovation.

Trust In The Messiness

We embrace complexity to create meaningful, lasting change.
We recognise that the current status quo is ineffective, particularly in rural communities that are deeply affected by entrenched inequality, harmful social norms, and multiple forms of exclusion. That’s why we challenge assumptions, create space for honest reflection, and work alongside survivors and partners to dismantle broken systems and rebuild effective ones. Change that works is not straightforward or linear, in fact, it’s messy. It becomes achievable when collaboration occurs, along with an acceptance of the discomfort, disruption, and the learning that result from collective efforts driven by a shared goal.

*The title of this value has been inspired by the team at Sagesse in Alberta, Canada - we resonate with this sentiment so deeply.

Courageous Integrity

We engage in our work with humility, intention, and determination. We don’t claim to have all the solutions; we focus on listening, learning, and adapting as necessary. We remain committed despite challenges and opposition, consistently motivated by integrity, compassion, and a strong commitment to justice and equity for rural survivors. We tackle our duties with courage, grounded in humility.