The Rosalie Ryrie Foundation is a non profit organisation developed for a charitable cause.
Rosalie Ryrie Foundation was created by a local family, Rosalie was a wife & mother who was unfortunately, subjected to domestic abuse throughout her life.
I am Rosalie’s daughter, Ann Ramsden.
Rosalie was raised as a catholic in southern Ireland, at 14 years old she moved over to England, by 19 years old she was married.
Rosalie’s mum, my nan would not let my mum get married until my dad converted to Catholicism.
When he converted and were married they went on to have 4 children from the late 60s into the early 70’s, alongside my parents and siblings my nan lived with us her whole life, The whole family unfortunately, witnessed domestic abuse from birth. During this time me and my siblings, as children witnessed multiple police visits to the home and all we would hear as a response from the police to my Dad was “get her some flower’s” and the police would advise my mum “to stop winding him up”.
From the age of 5 I remember trying to intervene to stop my Dad’s violent attacks.
When I was 13/14 years old my mum disappeared, my little sister and I spent weeks believing my dad had killed her, as he never said anything when she did not come home. We spent weeks riding around on our bikes checking hedgerows, and fields to see if we could find were he’d put her. My dad brought us up as a single parent after this, he tried his best.
3 months later, we heard through a friend of my Mums, that she had been in touch with my Mum and that she was ok, this was the biggest relief of my life.
A meeting was arranged for us to see her on her birthday. Me and my little sister waited until her friend came out, and informed us that she couldn’t come. This was because she had been attacked by her new partner. To hear this, felt like a kick to the stomach.
My job as protector became a lot harder from that day forward. My mum continued to be abused by her new partner. He only ever attacked her under the influence of alcohol. My relationship with my Mum shifted to me basically being her on call security. If he attacked my mum I would get a call from her, get on a bus and then go attack him, get back on a bus and go back to being a teenager. All of this contributed to my multiple behavioural issues, which my dad struggled to manage.
Unfortunately, when I was 19 years old my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer which spread. I was 24 when I got my last phone call from my Mum who was in hospital, asking me to come in and remove her partner as he was drunk and kicking off. This was done as requested and that night my Mum passed away. She never had the chance to live a life free of abuse.
I started to work with children as I had my own daughter by now and had realised, I seemed to have a connection with children who had been labelled with behavioural issues. After numerous roles working with children, I undertook lots of help through training, education and self-help to change my understanding of what is normal within a family.
I have found that children who have also witnessed what I had, had developed coercive and controlling behaviours, and it wasn’t until they committed a crime, that they could get help.
I decided to set up the RRF and support families in my mum’s honour. As a child I wanted someone to fix my dad, this is why we work with the whole family.
If someone wants to change, they can.
Our Team
Ann Ramsden: Founder and Service Manager
Ann has worked with children and young people for 17 years and the last five years with the family unit as a whole. Since 2009 she has developed, coordinated and delivered a multi-agency joint teen and parent group work programme; ‘Do It Different’.
Prior to this Ann has had 28 years of experiencing domestic abuse from witnessing it as a child and also as a teen violent to her father and other males in her life. To date Ann has a Life Time Achievement Award for Local Hero, NVQ Hero Award and recently became one of the four finalists for Yorkshire Local Hero at the Pride of Britain awards 2012.
Ann Ramsden and Rosalie Ryrie Foundation Achievements:
- 2009 Winner VQ Hero
- 2011 Wakefield Express – Local Hero Award – Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2012 Finalist in the Wakefield District Business Awards – Community Enterprise category
- 2012 Finalist in the Pride of Britain Awards
- 2012 Winner Pride of Britain Local Hero category
- 2013 – Invited as expert Panel member to University of Oxford – Discussion on our work regarding child to parent abuse.
- 2013 – This Morning – Invited to discuss child to parent abuse.
- Various Radio Interviews – Radio Liverpool, Radio Sheffield Radio Wakefield, Radio Leeds
- Articles RRF and service users in various Newspapers: The Guardian
- Channel 5 “My Violent Child” Wednesday 10th March 9pm
- Halifax Building Society – Giving Extra Award
- Oxford University Films – Two new films have been made about the APV project and its impact. The first details the development of the study and key findings and the second focuses on impact and how this was designed into the study from the beginning. The films both include The Rosalie Ryrie Foundation. http://apv.crim.ox.ac.uk/
- Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2018
- Short listed Unsung Heroes Award 2019
- Yorkshire Prestige Awards 2021/22
- Yorkshire Prestige Awards 2022/23
Support Team
Dawn Watson – Senior Case Worker/ Administrator
Dawn started attended the RRF in 2010 as a client after having being in 3 Domestic Abuse relationships. Dawn did a lot of work to understand and recognise healthy relationships. Her children also received support for their lived experiences and the learnt behaviours they were displaying. Dawn was requested to start volunteering at RRF in 2012, as well as volunteering in her local school supporting children at lunchtime, reading and supporting the SENCO. Supporting small groups of children building confidence and self esteem. Dawn holds her NVQ level 3 working with children and young people. Dawn has done safeguarding and also SafeTalk. At RRF on a day to day basis Dawn works with clients, men, women and children. Helping them to work on their behaviours, boundaries and supporting them in making a positive future.
Dawn started full time at the RRF in 2020 and has since completed and achieved a Diploma in Domestic Abuse. Dawn completes up to date extensive training and development to gain specialist knowledge and skills.
Jodie Bliss – Domestic Abuse Support Worker/ Administrator
Jodie started as a client in 2020 after having been in a high risk Domestic Abuse relationship. Jodie started working part time at the RRF in October 2022, then went full time in May 2023. At RRF on a day to day basis Jodie works with clients, men, women and children. Helping them to work on their behaviours, boundaries and supporting them in making a positive future.
Jodie is currently undertaking courses to achieve her Diploma in Domestic Abuse. Jodie completes up to date extensive training and development to gain specialist knowledge and skills.
List Of Trustees
Russell Gibson
Russell first connected with the RRF in July 2019 as a client, seeking support to help him regain access to his children. Having experienced first-hand the positive impact of the charity’s work, he became passionate about supporting its mission and joined the Board of Trustees in 2021. He now serves as Chair of the Board. Professionally, Russell is an experienced Senior Manager with a proven track record of leading teams and delivering successful outcomes across a range of operational and strategic functions. He brings extensive expertise in project delivery, operational improvement, cost efficiency, and customer-focused service development. Throughout his career, he has championed innovative solutions and driven positive change through the effective use of technology. Russell is also recognised for his ability to develop, motivate, and empower teams to achieve their full potential. Combining lived experience with strong leadership and governance skills, he is committed to helping RRF continue to grow its impact and support families in need.
Dr Joanna Adhikari CPsychol FHEA
Joanna has been a trustee at RRF since 2017. She is the Deputy Head of School for Criminology, Investigation and Policing at Leeds Trinity University and has extensive experience in research and teaching, leading modules on dissertations and professional projects. Her research interests span domestic abuse, assessing risk, and the Dark Tetrad. Joanna is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a chartered member of the British Psychological Society. She has spent time as an Appropriate Adult, which involves providing additional support to vulnerable adults and children in police custody during their police interviews, and she has previously worked as a project worker in supported housing, working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues.
Samantha Woolley
Ceara Richardson
Ceara joined the board of trustee’s in 2025 after completing a 70 day social work placement at the RRF. Ceara is passionate about the charity’s mission and the impact that this has on the community and the individuals that attend the service. She has previously worked in forensic psychiatric hospitals across Manchester and Wakefield as a senior mental health support worker, activities co-ordinator, and more recently a Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Officer. Ceara still volunteers at RRF alongside working towards her Bachelor degree in social work and being a board member.
Dale Ryder
Kim Stoner
Supporting Rosalie Ryrie Foundation
If you believe social return is important, a healthy society
is essential and happy families are the future then you can
help us.
Donations are important to us but equally so is your time.
Maybe you can offer your expertise and volunteer?
No matter how small your contribution, whether it’s
practical or a cash donation, there is no doubt that it will
contribute to our success.