Meet the Team

Clare’s job is to lead the VRU. Her focus is on encouraging public sector organisations to work together to tackle violence and exploitation in the most effective way: hand in hand with those who are impacted most. They say the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and for Clare that is never truer than when it comes to preventing violence. The ambition is to get more people to see preventing violence as their business and to come together to find a solution.

Clare’s remit is to introduce organisations to both new and tried and tested violence interventions, and to help establish ‘what works’ Her team will also use evidence to help organisations and communities identify the changes that they can make so that the west midlands becomes a safer place, and our young people have a better chance in life.

Thankfully this agenda is nothing new to Clare.

She has spent her policing career tackling violence, exploitation and reducing harm at a local, national and even international level. Whether leading on the UKs National Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme or taking rescue teams to earthquake and hurricane disaster zones in Indonesia, Nepal, Haiti and the Caribbean, Clare has dedicated her life to leading the response to helping others.

Clare’s drive for change is deeply personal. A CSE survivor, she has experienced the police and justice system from a young victim’s perspective and knows organisations could respond much better.

If you would like to make contact with Clare, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

Carl is motivated by wanting to make a difference to the lives of people in the West Midlands. Highly organised and always on top of the detail, Carl’s job is to keep across all of the VRU activity, ensure that the team works together as one and he monitors our impact and success to ensure we deliver for the people who need our help most.

Before Carl arrived at the VRU in October 2019 he was leading on complex policy areas for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, including helping to manage the innovative Gangs and Violence Commission and the Community Safety work.

When not at work Carl loves to exercise. He’s even completed the 3 peaks challenge. No mean feat.

If you would like to make contact with Carl, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

Dr Jo Peden is our Public Health expert. As well helping us to evaluate the work we do she is also here to advise us on how to deliver a public health approach to violence prevention.

Before joining the VRU Jo’s distinguished career took her to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Malaysian Ministry of Health – where she looked at the health needs of refugees – and Public Health England as a Consultant in Health Protection.

More recently at Public Health England Jo had a national role as Children’s and Women’s lead for the Health and Justice team. Jo led on the government guidance for ‘collaborative approaches to preventing offending and reoffending by children’ (CAPRICORN).

She has experience at a national level working with Public Health England on Adverse Childhood Experiences.

If you would like to make contact with Jo, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

Nadyia lives and breathes education and championing opportunity for vulnerable young people. For over a decade she has worked in inner-city schools and led specialist behaviour units. Her particular focus is social emotional and behavioural development.

At the VRU she leads on our Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. The initiative challenges young people on their attitudes, beliefs and values towards violence. Whilst the scheme started off in secondary schools, Nadyia is dramatically increasing its reach and breadth to ensure we also work with young people within primary schools, colleges, sports clubs, faith institutions and youth clubs. The programme has been developed so it can be rolled out nationally.

Nadyia has created the West Midlands Faith Alliance. The group brings together faith and community leaders to encourage them to work on the violence agenda together and with the VRU.

Nadyia is also one of only a small number of women nationally who sits on a mosque governing body as a trustee.

She might be a warm, friendly face in the office, but don’t mess. In her spare time Nadyia enjoys competing at Brazilian jujitsu.

If you would like to make contact with Nadyia, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

Nikki is right at the heart of some of the VRU’s most innovative work. She’s helping us pilot new violence reduction schemes in a range of places that we have identified as suffering from high levels of violence. Nikki’s great at bringing together the local community, partners and agencies to all work together to tackle an area’s problems.

Before Nikki called the VRU ‘home’ she spent 10 years in drug and alcohol treatment services in Solihull. She joined Black Country Women’s Aid in 2012 as Head of Community Services, managing domestic and sexual abuse support services, as well as the Children’s team. She became Head of Partnerships in 2015, working across the West Midlands and became a member of the Regional Sexual Violence Consortium. The same year, Nikki qualified as a Safelives IDVA Service Manager and in 2017 she led on the launch of the region’s first specialist stalking support service.

Before lockdown Nikki loved letting her hair down at gigs and festivals.

If you would like to make contact with Nikki, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

A love of numbers and language has led Jason to jobs in teaching, journalism and now statistics and data. They say variety is the spice of life.

After two years as a mapping analyst at Transport for West Midlands, Jason jumped at the opportunity to get into the world of criminal justice and took up a secondment as data analyst in the new West Midlands VRU. Jason’s work underpins and informs everything the VRU does. His data analysis is crucial if we want to gain insight into the drivers of violence. Remember, the VRU follows a public health approach. Jason’s key piece of work is the VRU’s Strategic Needs Assessment, which you can read here.

When Jason isn’t crunching numbers he loves to unwind by throwing himself down mountains on his bike and playing poker with friends.

If you would like to make contact with Jason, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

Rachel’s work over the last 15 years has been dedicated to tackling and responding to violence. Beginning with working in a refuge and as a domestic violence advocate for high risk victims, Rachel also developed the Violence against Women & Girls strategy for Birmingham, before working on the region violence and vulnerability agenda since 2013.

In 2015 Rachel project managed the launch of the West Midlands Violence Prevention Alliance, accredited by the World Health Organization, which developed into the VRU in 2019.

Within the VRU, Rachel has a particular focus on violence prevention work with health partners and in health settings, and Rachel is passionate about supporting partners across the public sector in understanding how everyone can play an important part in helping our communities to be safe and healthy – everyone’s little can add up to a significant impact.

Outside work, Rachel is often found chasing the little ones round on bikes or up trees!

With around 20 years’ experience working for the Probation and Youth Justice services Mike is our expert in the Criminal Justice world. He’s passionate about improving the lives of young people and that motivates him to innovate within the sector. Mike’s helping the VRU understand where it can make a difference within Criminal Justice and how it can add the most value and improve outcomes for all.

But Mike wears two hats. He is also the Manager at the Sandwell Youth Offending Service and oversees a range of services for Sandwell Children’s Trust, including two Multi-Systemic Therapy Teams, Family Group Conferencing, and the substance misuse team.

To unwind Mike enjoys doing some arts and crafts with the kids.

If you would like to make contact with Mike, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

Aaron has joined the Violence Reduction Unit to help us ensure the sports interventions on offer in the West Midlands are of a consistently high standard. It’s crucial that no matter where you live, how old you are or whether you are male or female you can access and benefit from local sports activities. The sports interventions we commission offer young people a safe place to develop new skills, socialise, but, crucially, they also offer mentoring and support to help prevent young people from being drawn into violence.

Aaron works closely with professionals in the criminal justice system to ensure people who are at risk of being involved in violence are supported by VRU programmes.

Before joining us Aaron worked for StreetGames where he designed, developed and commissioned sport based crime prevention programmes.

If you would like to make contact with Aaron, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

Dan is a data and performance analyst within the VRU, meaning he is responsible for assessing the performance of activities carried out by the VRU. Also, to delve into data to analyse the drivers of violence, which help develop interventions to prevent violence.

Dan’s interest in criminal justice stemmed from gaining a degree in criminology, a masters in psychology and from the volunteering work he did helping children and young people who were suffering from mental health issues.

When away from work Dan loves to play football, playing multiple times a week and for two weekend teams. If not playing football or keeping active, Dan is most likely socialising with friends.

Adam is the VRU’s link to operational policing. His work with us and with West Midlands Police focuses on reducing knife crime. He’s passionate about prevention and understands that we can’t arrest our way out the problem. Adam is focusing on the issues that are driving crime and violence. He believes that the police must play a big part in tackling the root causes of crime catch and convict tactics can only take so far.

As a Detective Sergeant at West Midlands Police Adam is perfectly placed to understand both policing and the causes of crime. Over the last 11 years he’s worked with the 999 Response Teams, Investigation Teams as well as working on the Force CID Prevent Team, which looked to prevent and deter people from becoming involved in criminality in the first place.

If you would like to make contact with Adam, then please email vru@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.

Hayley has a keen interest in trauma and how early intervention can support children and young people. After teaching in primary schools in inner-city Birmingham and areas of the Black Country, Hayley spent time working with the National Probation Service and supporting children and young people at Black Country Women’s Aid.

Working with young people really puts the fire is Hayley’s belly and at the VRU she is the Education Delivery Manager.

Hayley frequently travels to The Gambia to support schools and children in poverty. On a Monday morning, Hayley will probably be rather quiet after another weekend of watching Aston Villa lose!

Jade is a committed professional and an enthusiastic advocate for the child/young person to be at the centre of any decisions made that affect them.

Jade strives to ensure that there are robust and effective systems in place to prevent, identify and respond to exploitation. Her passion to protect vulnerable children and young people is infectious and for over 10 years she has worked directly with the community’s most vulnerable children and young people to empower them and protect them from harm and risk.

Jade prides herself on her trauma informed, holistic, family-centred approach to working with victims of exploitation, their families and support network. She believes the victim’s voice needs to be heard and understood for regional policy change to be implemented, effective and truly transformative.

At the VRU, Jade is the Exploitation Lead and will facilitate opportunities to influence the development of regional pathways, policies and protocols to ensure a coherent and consistent response to safeguarding those most at risk of experiencing exploitation. She acts as a bridge between violence reduction activity and wider activity to reduce exploitation, particularly in relation to violence linked to criminal exploitation.

Jade was a finalist for the 2020 National Working Group (NWG) Child Exploitation Unsung Hero Award.

Jade believes in the value of public service and in her spare time is a Special Constable for West Mercia Police. This role has opened up many opportunities and allowed Jade to understand the practicalities faced by frontline practitioners dealing with vulnerability. When she’s not in her uniform Jade takes great enjoyment in exercise, her two favourite forms being the teamwork involved in a game of netball and the serenity (sometimes) of taking her beloved Boxer dog, Barry, for a walk or two.

Bethan is an enthusiastic and sociable person whose expertise lies in youth engagement and building strong relationships with communities and professionals.

In her spare time Bethan likes to read and “attempts” to grow lots of houseplants, which isn’t always successful!

Bethan has a degree in Youth Studies and has spent her career specialising in CSE, substance misuse and placement finding across different cities including Nottingham and Manchester, and is really excited to now be working in the West Midlands.

Zeba is passionate about positively influencing the lives of young people and breaking the cycle of reoffending. She has an academic background in BSc Psychology and Sociology and MSc Leadership in Custodial Environments.

With frontline experience working within the CJS, she has successfully built positive relationships with some of the most challenging and vulnerable young people in custody and helped make a real difference in their rehabilitation journey.

Some of the previous work she has been involved in has promoted Diversity and Inclusion within the Prison service during the pandemic by helping young offenders celebrate events such as Black History Month, Eid Celebrations and Gypsy Roma Traveller Month.

Working with young offenders has inspired Zeba to look at the bigger picture and next steps to consider a more preventative approach to stopping young people from becoming subjects of the CJS.

Zeba wants to be able to prevent young people and adults from becoming victims of violence and exploitation and empower those with lived experience to reach their full potential. This is why Zeba decided to start a new and exciting journey with West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit to be able to bring about a positive change.

In her spare time, Zeba enjoys visiting scenic landscapes and tries to keep on top of her fitness journey although her love for chocolate makes it sometimes a losing battle!

Shazelle’s role is designed to start conversations and dialogue around how we can reach out to those most affected by violence. It is about actively listening to members of diverse communities and partner organisations to strengthen our understanding of what people need from the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).

Shazelle joined the VRU from the arts and heritage sector. She has held a number of community based roles and is passionate about amplifying voices of seldom heard communities. Having grown up in areas with high rates of violent crime, Shazelle wants to break down the barriers that keep communities divided in order to build a safer and better future.

Shazelle also sits on the Youth Panel for the Independent Office for Police Conduct and likes to stay involved in artistic projects that focus on building compassionate and more inclusive communities.

Matt is a Youth leader, Mentor, Public Speaker and Trainer. He has over 10 years working in youth organisations in the UK and Overseas. He has a passion to see young people unlock their potential and loves generating discussion that will enlighten, broaden experiences and develop mindsets. This focus included leading the coordination of a youth charity in Manchester which exists to train young people between 18 and 25 to be role models, mentors and tutors, and supporting pupils from disadvantaged communities to enjoy and achieve at school.

He spent 2 years reducing the number of 18-25 year olds who weren’t in education, work or training, through the role as Programme Executive at the Princes Trust. Creating training and work programmes to offer young people work experiences, professional skills and knowledge to succeed.

He is one of the Community Navigators for the VRU in Birmingham. Facilitating increased co-ordination and local system-based approaches to respond to violence prevention and reduction, delivering pilot projects and supporting violence reduction partnerships to thrive.

Matt also works with Connect futures as a Facilitator and Trainer in a freelance capacity. He works in schools and communities to increase knowledge, resilience and confidence in preventing extremism and serious violence.

When Matt isn’t in work mode, he enjoys being the MC at events as well as watching and playing sports including football (Chelsea Fan), badminton and track sports.

Claire is a stakeholder engagement, partnerships, community development and regeneration professional.

Claire brings to this role 29 years’ experience of successfully working with diverse socio-economically disadvantaged communities – primarily in the West Midlands. Building on strengths and opportunities, Claire develops inclusive and effective stakeholder delivery partnerships to jointly address key issues.

‘I’m excited by the opportunity to have a direct positive impact by jointly addressing some of the most life-limiting and serious issues affecting communities across our region. Having worked with many of these communities throughout my working life, I believe it’s essential that the root causes of increasing levels of violence are pro-actively and constructively addressed – working in partnership with local communities and service providers to do so effectively. I can’t think of a more worthwhile way to use my time, skills and experience.’

Recently, Claire’s been enjoying getting back into Yoga –saying ‘it helps restore my inner Zen!’

Fred is passionate about his adopted city of Coventry and seeing it’s young people safe and hopeful for the future. He is also committed to Coventry’s heritage as a ‘city of peace and reconciliation’, and is keen to help a new generation lay claim to and reimagine this title for their own times.

Fred works to build bridges between Coventry’s local authorities and local communities, across which learning, new ideas and best practices in violence prevention can be shared. Fred’s role exists to make sure the voices and contributions of communities and young people belong at the very core of the VRU’s thinking and working for sustainable, positive change in Coventry.

A Londoner by birth, Fred moved to Coventry in 2017 and began working for the Bishop of Coventry. Among his responsibilities, Fred assisted the Bishop’s partnership working with others to help address local challenges, including serious youth violence. On this issue, Fred has worked closely with Coventry’s faith communities, culminating in a Working Group of Coventry Churches and the new youth work initiative ‘Places of Peace’ (POP).

In his spare time, Fred volunteers as a Street Pastor and enjoys playing tag rugby with his mates.

Since early 2000 Alison has worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for young people and families in the local neighbourhoods she is most passionate about. These communities are in Yardley and Hodge Hill – areas which experience some of the highest levels of deprivation in the whole of the country.

It was speaking to a group of local young people who saw a life of crime as the only option that gave Alison the impetus to change their perceptions and aspirations before it was too late.

Starting from humble beginnings running a football project in the Glebe Farm area of East Birmingham, Alison went on to secure funding through the Birmingham Children’s Fund and StreetGames in 2006 to set-up her own Community Interest Company, ‘FITCAP’ (Fitness in the Community, Active Play). The CIC exists to provide activities to encourage healthy lifestyles, get children and young people off the streets and offer training and volunteering opportunities.

Through Alison’s commitment to providing opportunities for young people and creating volunteering post’s she was awarded the MBE for her work with the voluntary sector.

Fast forward to 2014 and Alison left FITCAP in the hands of her local team to join Sport Birmingham as a Satellite Club Mentor, before helping to secure 3 years of funding from the Big Lottery Youth Investment Fund to create the M.A.D (Make A Difference) Birmingham Programme.

Elzbieta arrived to the UK in August 2004. She is a qualified teacher of English; former lecturer at University of Warwick, former ESOL tutor and DPSI trained Legal Interpreter. In years 2007 to 2016, she worked in secondary schools in Walsall as a Head of Department specialising in running EAL Provision and Ethnic Minority Achievement Centre.

Between 2016 and 2020 she worked at Rights and Equality Sandwell as their strategic adviser on Migration and Equality. Her expertise lays in working with ethnic minorities, representing third sector and liaising with governmental officials.

She is the founder and Chair of Directors at European’s Welfare Association CIC– EWA CIC (organisation which runs one of the largest Polish supplementary school in West Midlands). She is also a former trustee at National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education (NRCSE) and acting as a trustee at the Federation of Poles in GB.

Her approach is to bring solutions, unite communities and tackle any form of discrimination and social exclusion.

Lea-Ann at her core is a youth worker with some 20’s years’ experience in a variety of education, secular and faith based settings across the West Midlands and beyond. With a back ground in the performing Arts she has an interest in the application of theatre and creative expression as way of dealing with trauma and promoting well-being.

She spent three years working in New York City (a topic she happily drops in to conversation given the opportunity) with men recovering from substance misuse before returning to the UK to continue her work with young people and families.

Over the last 5 years she specialised in Domestic Abuse with Black Country Women’s Aid as an advocate for children who have experienced abuse. She is a passionate advocate for the voices and lived experience of children and young people to be at the heart of the work and decision making. A passion that she now brings to the EIA role for Birmingham.

Erica previous experience has involved working with not for profit groups to support development and sustainability through bid writing and the development of other income streams. Over the years she has worked with hundreds of organisations in a range of areas but with a key focus on children and young people, community deprivation, violence in communities and education attainment.

Jasmine has a lot of passion when it comes to supporting our young people and helping them through challenging and difficult times. A real understanding of trauma and its impacts is something Jasmine is passionate about embedding into schools. Believing everyone should be trauma informed, Jasmine wants to ensure her role as an Education Intervention Adviser means youth related violence is reduced, permanent exclusions are reduced and inclusion is fundamental within all schools within Wolverhampton.
Jasmine is thrilled to be placed in Wolverhampton, working with some amazing partners.

She will be providing ACEs training and MVP (Mentors in Violence Prevention) training which is aimed at reducing and preventing violence and exploitation amongst our young people. Responding to the need and demand of Wolverhampton, Jasmine can’t wait to make an impact.

Jasmine studied at the University of Birmingham and has a degree in Social Policy and Criminology. She also has worked with the Rape and Sexual Violence Project in Birmingham, supporting survivors. Jasmine has a real understanding of what trauma is like, from lived experience and from supporting other survivors- it is paramount we empower and support. Ultimately, this will see a decrease in violence and exploitation amongst young people.

In Jasmine’s spare time she is a little bit of a book worm and a foodie. Whether it’s dinning out or showing off her master chef skills in the kitchen, she loves a good meal with friends and family.