Christina McCullagh
Christina joined the Board in September 2025. She had a career in secondary and higher education and latterly re-trained as an Adlerian psychotherapist.
Alongside, she has held many voluntary positions ranging from school governor, trustee of Jacari, treasurer of Bicester and Warden Hill Pony Club to driving for Bicester Foodbank and volunteer counselling at local GP surgeries.
It was whilst helping out as a counsellor at The Hummingbird Centre that she heard about Equilore and attended a day event.
People and animals are her passion and Equilore ticks both boxes.
Emma Wilberforce
Emma joined the Board in May 2022 and brings with her a wealth of knowledge in marketing, with over 10 years’ experience in various roles, as well as running her own business. She currently works as Marketing & Communications Manager for a local charity.
Emma has her own horse, Poppy, and enjoys learning about equine psychology and behaviour. She discovered horses as an adult and has since trained to become an Equine Facilitated Coach.
Loes and Emma met when Equilore put out a call for new trustees. Having followed our progress through social media, Emma joined the Board to help us spread our message far and wide and ensure more people can benefit from Equilore’s services.
Linda Hinds
Linda recently retired as a fundraiser from a Banbury-based charity and joined Equilore as a trustee in December 2025. She also undertakes other volunteer work, in particular with Blue Cross animal charity. She brings with her a wealth of experience from working in charities and in various management roles.
During her career, Linda managed two different equine charities in London. The first was a Riding for the Disabled Centre, where Linda first worked with another organisation who practised Equine Facilitated Learning. At the second charity, riding and working with horses was a way of improving the lives and offering opportunities to local inner city children.
Prior to this, Linda was a British Horse Society (BHS) accredited riding instructor at various centres in London and has a love of horses, having had one of her own.
Linda is really interested in learning more and expanding her knowledge of Equine Facilitated Psychology.
Claire Kotecki
Claire joined the Board in June 2024. Her background is in education and she has spent over 20 years working at The Open University, most recently as a Lecturer in Biology.
She is a Co-opted Member of the Grants Committee for The Harpur Trust and has been a Trustee for Eversholt Academy Trust, so brings with her extensive knowledge of safeguarding and governance.
Claire was drawn to Equilore because in her professional and third sector work, she has seen first-hand the need for alternative therapeutic provision that enables individuals to build a support network that is specific to their personal needs. Equilore’s work with Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy, Loes’s skill and knowledge, and the wonderful Equilore herd stood out in this area.
Candy Heinrich
Candy joined the Board in July 2025. She is an experienced commissioner and senior leader in the criminal justice sector, with a particular expertise in commissioning and delivering support services to the community. With over a decade in the sector she brings a wealth of experience in service design, funding generation, performance and project management. In her current role she also leads on a trauma therapeutic service for victims of crime and previously worked in communications and engagement.
Candy is passionate about both animals and mental wellbeing and has a personal interest in the role that horses can play in helping those in need access effective support. She lives local to Equilore and after hearing about the work they deliver was keen to be involved and assist this valuable service.
Could this be you?
We are happy to hear from people who would be interested in becoming a trustee for Equilore, to support the continued strategic development and growth of the charity and help us meet the growing demand for our services.
We meet bi-monthly and you can commit as much or as little time as you are able to in between meetings. Many of our trustees have a job alongside their voluntary trustee roles, so we are very flexible.
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a trustee for Equilore, please contact us.
Equilore 