Supporting Others Through Volunteering Action (SOVA) has appointed Helen Cantrell as its new chief executive.

Cantrell joins SOVA from the National Offender Management Service, where she was head of prison skills and employment.

Her priority at SOVA will be to grow its volunteer base.

She said: “Whilst we are enormously grateful for the continuing efforts of everyone who volunteers for SOVA. I also want to attract more people from a complete cross-section of society, not only in order for the organisation to be more representative of society as a whole but also to enable greater self-identification for those we are trying to help.”