To mark International Women’s Day, our Chair of Trustees, Louisa Matheson, speaks about her journey into the homelessness sector, her experiences as a woman in leadership and her hopes for the future.
This year’s theme, Give to Gain, encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration, which are both at the heart of everything we do at Emmaus Cambridge and the reason we can continue our vital work ending homelessness.
As Chair of our charity, Louisa plays a key role in guiding our mission to support people experiencing homelessness in our community. We asked her to share her thoughts on leadership, inspiration and why supporting women facing homelessness is more important than ever.
What inspired you to get involved in Emmaus Cambridge, and what led you to become Chair?
Two things really drove me. First and foremost, I believe passionately that everyone deserves safe and secure accommodation – homelessness is an issue close to my heart. Before becoming a trustee at Emmaus Cambridge, we lived for a period in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and I was genuinely shocked by the scale of homelessness and rough sleeping on the streets there. It was a wake-up call that prompted me to take action. When we returned to the UK, I spotted the opportunity to get involved at Emmaus Cambridge and didn’t hesitate.
Secondly, I’ve been a trustee for other charities in the past and have always found the experience deeply rewarding. I was excited to join such an inspirational community and to be able to contribute to its vital work.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey before becoming Chair?
I’m an accountant by training, so I applied to be Treasurer – a role I held for six years from 2019. When the Chair role became vacant unexpectedly in 2025, I was excited to put my hat in the ring and step up. It felt like the right moment, and I’m so glad I did.
What does being Chair of the charity mean to you personally?
It means a great deal. I’m really excited to help steer the charity as we navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead – and there are plenty of both! On a personal level, it’s also been a wonderful opportunity for my own development as a leader. One of the things I love most is being able to spend more time with everyone involved in the community – staff, companions, volunteers – and really get to know people. That human connection is at the heart of everything Emmaus does.
In your experience, how does homelessness affect women differently?
I’m truly humbled every time I hear someone’s story about their experiences before arriving at Emmaus, and it always reinforces how important this work is. When it comes to women specifically, the causes of homelessness can be quite different – domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse are tragically common factors. Women experiencing homelessness may also be less visible, because they often go to great lengths to protect themselves and stay out of sight.
One story that really stayed with me: a woman who had eventually found a safe space said that one of the things she treasured most was simply being able to spend time with other women – sharing laughter, camaraderie, doing things together, whether that was painting nails or painting pictures. It’s a reminder of just how powerful human connection is, and how much we all need it.
What are some of the hidden challenges homeless women face that people may not always see?
The list is long. Many women experiencing homelessness have fled domestic violence or abuse, and the trauma of that doesn’t simply disappear once they find shelter. Beyond safety, there are the everyday things most of us take for granted – the chance to look after yourself, to have privacy, to feel dignified. These are things that homelessness strips away, and they matter enormously.
Are there particular groups of women who are especially vulnerable to homelessness?
At Emmaus Cambridge we run solidarity packages, delivered in partnership with local agencies, to individuals and families in the area. These packages provide money to buy the goods people need to set up a home – often for women and families who have fled domestic violence and are starting from scratch. It’s practical support at a really critical moment, helping people to move on from very difficult situations with a bit of stability beneath their feet.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally?
I love that it unites us – as a kind of tribe – to be proud of ourselves whatever our situation, to believe in our own abilities, and to have the courage to try new things. For me personally, it’s also about enjoying the stories of other women who have faced challenges, whether balancing career and family or breaking through in fields dominated by men. I find those stories genuinely inspiring, and I think we all benefit from hearing them more.
As a woman in a leadership role, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
It’s funny – as an accountant, people sometimes assume I’m only going to talk about spreadsheets and numbers! But on a more serious note, I think one of the persistent challenges for women in leadership is the stereotype of what a ‘good’ manager looks like. Leadership is still too often characterised by traditionally masculine traits – assertiveness, dominance, authority – rather than traits like compassion, warmth, and the ability to bring people together, which are just as important, if not more so.
For me, the key is knowing which qualities to draw on at any given moment. Different situations call for different approaches, and the best leaders – men and women – are the ones who can adapt. I try not to feel I have to fit a mould, and instead play to my own strengths.
What achievements are you most proud of during your time as Chair?
I’m relatively new to the Chair role, having taken it on in June 2025, so it’s early days! But I’m enormously proud of what the charity achieved during my time as Treasurer – particularly navigating the extraordinary challenges of Covid. Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, Emmaus Cambridge emerged from that period on a strong financial footing, which has given us a solid foundation to build from.
Who are the women who have inspired you in your life or career?
I’ve been lucky enough to have two incredibly inspirational women right here at Emmaus Cambridge – our current and previous CEOs – and they have both shaped how I think about leadership and purpose.
More broadly, colleagues in my current role and throughout my career have inspired me in all sorts of ways. When I was at school I learnt about Mary Somerville, a remarkable Scottish scientist and polymath from the early nineteenth century. She taught herself as many subjects as she could, gathered books from wherever she was able, and became a hugely respected scientist at a time when that was almost unheard of for a woman. She never stopped learning – she was reportedly working on a mathematical paper the day before she died, aged 91. I find that extraordinary.
I’m a passionate believer in learning something new every day, and in the power of learning from our mistakes – something Carol Dweck explores so compellingly in her work on motivation and growth mindset.
What advice would you give to women who want to make a difference in their communities?
Find a cause you are passionate about – no matter how big or small – and find a way to support it. Passion is everything; it’s what keeps you going when things are hard.
I’d also say: identify role models. That’s something I could have benefitted from more earlier in my career. It’s actually easier now in some ways, because social media and LinkedIn mean you can find people with shared interests, see what they’re involved in, and reach out. Use those tools – the connections you make can be genuinely life-changing.
What are some of the key ways Emmaus Cambridge supports women experiencing homelessness?
One of the ways we make a practical difference is through our solidarity packages – delivered in partnership with Cambridge Aid and other agencies – which provide financial support to help people set up a home, often after fleeing domestic violence. Beyond that, Emmaus Cambridge provides something arguably even more important: a safe, stable community where people can begin to rebuild their lives, recover their dignity, and connect with others.
Is there a story or moment that stands out to you as an example of the charity’s impact?
It’s difficult to single out one particular example and I think that says something in itself. What has struck me most is the sheer variety of people Emmaus helps: people from all backgrounds, all ages, all walks of life, each with their own story. What they share is the need for support and community at a really difficult time.
I’m always moved by the small, spontaneous moments: the acts of kindness, the conversations that happen naturally, the connections formed in a world where we are increasingly reliant on screens and technology. Those human moments are what Emmaus is really about.
What makes Emmaus Cambridge special to you?
The community, without question. On my most recent visit I had so many conversations – with staff, companions, volunteers, with some of the founders of the community, and even with a former companion who had come back just to visit. That says everything. It genuinely feels like a family.
What are your hopes for the future of the charity?
I hope we continue to do the sterling work that already happens every single day, and that we’re able to offer even more – more support, more training, more learning opportunities for people on site, and more pathways to safe, secure accommodation and meaningful employment. Every step forward in a person’s life matters.
What changes would you like to see in society when it comes to preventing homelessness?
More connection. More community. It sounds simple, but loneliness, mental health challenges, and physical health problems are so often at the root of homelessness – and if we can provide better support earlier, before things reach crisis point, we can prevent so much suffering. There’s a saying I love: it takes a village to raise a child. I think it takes a village to support each other through every stage of life – and that’s never been more important than it is today.
How can people support Emmaus Cambridge this International Women’s Day?
Come and visit us! See everything we do and the community we’ve built – I promise it will stay with you. There are so many ways to get involved: donating goods, volunteering your time, making a financial donation, or even becoming a trustee. Every contribution, big or small, makes a real difference.
What message would you like to share this International Women’s Day?
People often don’t think of women when they think of homelessness – but it can affect absolutely anyone, and there are particular, often hidden, challenges faced by women who find themselves without a home. So let’s all watch out for each other, encourage each other, and never stop learning. That feels like a message for every day – not just today.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the leadership, compassion and dedication of women working to make a difference in our communities. We are grateful to Louisa for sharing her thoughts and for her continued commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness.
To find out more about our work or to get involved, visit our home page here.