An Andover charity has paid tribute to their long-serving CEO as she steps down.

Debra Ramchurn has worked at Andover Mind since 2006, and is credited with expanding the charity from a town-focused approach to one offering services aross the country.

Paying tribute, Andover Mind said: “She has steered the organisation from being a single service provider, delivering only in Andover, to its current position, providing multiple services across the whole of Hampshire.

“We will miss Debra, her enthusiasm, her unswaying commitment to the charity and her valued leadership. We wish her the best in her retirement.”

Andover Mind is a charity providing mental health support to people across Hampshire. It was founded in 1984, and operates a range of services across the county.

Since becoming CEO 15 years ago, the charity said that Debra played “a critical role” in its development and success as it expanded county-wide.

They said: “We will miss Debra, her enthusiasm, her unswaying commitment to the charity and her valued leadership. We wish her the best in her retirement.”

Debra will be replaced by Jody Phelvin as the chief executive of Andover Mind. Jody has worked there for almost a decade, and is currently the director of advice and information services.

When she joined in 2012, she was a dementia advisor, and worked her way up through the charity to become a team leader and then older persons' services manager. When Andover Mind was given a contract to advise and support on dementia in 2018, she was promoted to direct this area of the charity’s work.

Jody will take over on May 17 as CEO, but Debra is to stay on as an advisor in order to help the transition between their administrations.

Andover Mind said: “The Trustees and staff of Andover Mind are all looking forward to the next chapter in the development of the charity. We know that our work will be even more vital post Covid-19 and we remain committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our local communities.”