ESSEX VIOLENCE & VULNERABILITY UNIT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Evaluation and Impact Lead
I'm Ellie, Evaluation and Impact Officer within the Violence and Vulnerability Unit.
My professional background began in the Criminal Justice sector moving through various research, strategy and evaluation roles, always striving to use insight to understand more about what's working for people, why and how - in order to make a real difference to people's lives. My experience is in both the private and public sectors and since having my own family I've volunteered to help more vulnerable families to get on track and expand opportunities for their young people. This role within the VVU lets me apply my skills and experience within a really strong partnership setting where real change can happen.
When I'm not working I love being out and about, even better if it's near the sea. We converted a van into a camper so like to get away on a road trip at any opportunity with my family (incl the dog) and my newest past time is paddle boarding. But I'm a fair weather camper so if the weather's off I'm not ashamed to say I love a puzzle and a board game!
Job Titles:
- Senior Targeted Youth Advisor
- Senior Targeted Youth Advisor ( Seconded from Essex Youth Service )
I am Geraldine Horrix a Senior Targeted Youth Advisor with the Essex Youth Service (Essex County Council).
I am seconded to work with the VVU for the high-risk cohort (including work with young people and young adults). This approach has been set up to support young people who have been or are involved in knife and violent crime. This is a mostly adult cohort, I am using my skills from working with youths and applying them in adults with great success as part of our approach to learning and collaboration in the VVU.
I have worked for Essex County Council for over sixteen years, thirteen in the Youth Offending Service and three in the Essex Youth Service and am passionate about supporting young people to live happy and fulfilled lives. Over this time, I have had many experiences which have shaped my desire to be part of the team at the VVU.
Job Titles:
- Youth Offending Team Manager
- Youth Offending Team Manager ( Seconded from Essex Youth Offending Service )
I am James Pearson, Team Manager within the Violence and Vulnerability Unit.
I am currently seconded from the Essex Youth Offending Service where I had been for 10 years. I have worked in the Criminal Justice Sector for over 20 years including roles in the Police, Probation and Youth Offending Services. I have worked across the Midlands and now find myself in Essex.
Job Titles:
- Communications and Marketing
I'm Katie. I am the communications lead for the VVU and joined the team in September 2020.
I started my career working in the communications department of various national children's charities and since then have always worked in the voluntary or public sector.
I have a passion for communications and marketing campaigns that prevent harm and improve people's lives - particularly children and young people. I enjoy creating content that educates, informs and raises awareness.
I'd always done voluntary work with young people and the want to help improve their lives and give those who are struggling more opportunities led me to the VVU. Young people are our future - cliche! - but not every child gets an equal start at life.
Outside of work, I love being outdoors, whether that is running, skiing, walking the dog or spending time with my family. If I can't get outside, you'll find me nose in a book or playing the piano.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Development Lead
I am Kirsty Gibbons lead for Policy and Development in the Essex VVU. My career to date has been with the National Probation Service in the East of England where I have worked for over 17 years. Prior to joining the team, I was Deputy Head of Service for North Essex Probation. This position afforded me the opportunity to work closely with local partners in influencing strategy and change. I know first hand the excellent partnership working within Essex which drives positive change and will underpin the work of the VVU due to the excellent partnership commitment.
I am passionate about working with young people and ensuring every person can reach their full potential; ensuring barriers are broken down to ensure all individuals are afforded the opportunity to do this.
I strongly believe in people's ability to change and understand that desistance can take time, involving the individual working with them to ensure they are ‘active collaborators' in their journey of change. Capturing service users' voices to inform direction and policy is, in my view, a key component of addressing serious violence and adopting a public health approach. It is for all these reasons (and more!) that I am so excited to be part of Essex VVU.
In my personal life I can often be found on a football pitch rain or shine with one or all my children who are football crazy! When I do have some down time, I love a spa day and a good book!
Job Titles:
- Project Support Officer
- Project Support Officer for the VVU
I'm Lois, the project support officer for the VVU and I joined the team in November 2022.
I have lived in the south of the county all of my life and grew up in Benfleet. While studying for my A-Levels I completed my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award in Morocco. Following this I started working as an estate agent but knew this wasn't a career I wanted. In 2020 I joined Essex Police and worked alongside Special Constables before becoming one myself; this led me to find a passion of working with different partners, volunteers and being able to help and support people.
Job Titles:
- Data Scientist at the VVU
I'm Paul, the Data Scientist at the VVU and joined in November 2022.
I have worked in the Justice Sector since 2005, mostly as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst. My career has involved working on every sort of case imaginable, identifying patterns and trends within crime and implementing new techniques for risk identification to safeguard victims of crime.
Over my time as an analyst, I developed an interest in how to use data in new and innovative ways. I'm passionate about new and existing technologies that can deepen our understanding of the pathway to offending and victimisation.
I joined the VVU because I want to help protect the vulnerable, and reduce the volume and impact of violence in society. I'm very new to the role, but I'm excited about being able to make a real difference to people's lives.
When I'm not making people fall asleep by talking about data, I'm usually found with my family, or hiking, or playing guitar quite badly.
Job Titles:
- Communities Workstream Lead CEO
Job Titles:
- Partnerships and Projects Manager ECVYS
I'm Beks, Partnership and Projects Manager for ECVYS (Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services).
We partner with the VVU to support the voluntary youth sector, detached youth work and the community safety grants. I joined ECVYS in September 2022. Prior to this role I worked in the voluntary youth sector working in schools and colleges as a chaplain and student mentor.
I'm passionate about seeing young people and communities thrive and have volunteered in the youth sector most of my adult life. Prior to changing career path I worked in criminal and family justice so this role working with the VVU seemed a great fit for my skills, passions and experience. When I'm not working I enjoy being by the sea and spending time with my creative and colourful family.
Job Titles:
- Youth Offending Team Practitioner
- Youth Offending Team Practitioner ( Seconded from Essex Youth Offending Service )
I am Rhys Baker and I am youth offending team practitioner in Essex. I am currently seconded to work with the VVU for the high risk cohort and ReRoute approach. My role encompasses building the need for support and identifying pathways to ensure that we are working with the right young people and also carrying out work with individuals.
Working with young people at the earliest point has been an amazing opportunity for me and I have enjoyed having the chance to work on a project from its inception.
I have had a varied career spanning science, construction, drugs intervention and now a Youth Offending practitioner. I have worked for Essex Youth Offending Service for more than 10 years and my passion for working with young people and young adults support has never dulled.
Outside of work I have a family and dog who always keep me busy and entertained. An interesting fact about me is that I am a noted storyteller and if ever you have a spare hour I can tell you the living history of Pitsea!
Job Titles:
- Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Chair of Essex Violence & Vulnerability Unit ( VVU )
Job Titles:
- VVU Project Manager
- VVU Project Manager ( Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner 's Office )
I'm Sam, I'm the project manager at the VVU and joined in April 2019 - at the start of the VVU.
I was born and educated in Basildon in the heart of Essex and this drove my love of the county. I started my career working in the private sector in the city of London, I then lived abroad in Japan for two years teaching and experiencing the culture. After a brief return working in the city, I started a career in crime reduction focusing on policy and its implementation in local government . This included working as part of Community Safety Partnerships, Strategy teams, and economic partnerships in Essex and London.
I have worked with a range of brilliant partnerships over more than 20 years building and collaborating to achieve change. I joined the VVU because it brought together my love of all things crime reduction, working in partnership, a perfect mix of strategy and operations and being able to make a difference in a county I love.
When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, travelling and playing chess, for ‘me' time I have a passion for reading about Eastern Europe and the Cold war as I find this fascinating. My secret skill is I can turn any mundane task into a spreadsheet!