Meet the Team

Nikki is right at the heart of some of the VRP’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 VRP ‘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.



If you would like to contact Nikki, please email [email protected]

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.


If you would like to contact Fred, please email [email protected]

Dan is a data and performance analyst within the VRP, meaning he is responsible for assessing the performance of activities carried out by the VRP. 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.


If you would like to contact Dan, please email [email protected]

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

Marinda’s background is in data analysis utilising tools such as spreadsheets, databases and GIS. She is passionate about using those skills to reduce violence in the West Midlands.

When away from work Marinda loves to go walking and cycling.

If you would like to contact Marinda, please email [email protected]

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 VRP in 2019.

Within the VRP, 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!

If you would like to contact Rachel, please email [email protected]

Serene is passionate about supporting young people to thrive and reach their full potential. A born and bred Londoner, Serene has worked in a variety of schools, PRU’s and voluntary sector organisations, providing mentoring and coaching support to young people from variety of backgrounds and circumstances.

Serene has also managed a number of community projects aimed at increasing engagement and social cohesion. Serene is a qualified therapist and enjoys being at the heart of conversations about enhancing mental health and well-being for all.

Within the VRP, Serene is the Associate Project Manager for young people’s mental health and is overseeing the Heal Hub project which provides high intensity therapeutic support to young people throughout the West Midlands.

Serene is a lover of scented candles and all things cosy!

If you would like to contact Serene, please email [email protected]

Shazelle’s role is designed to start conversations around reaching out to those most affected by violence. It is about actively listening to diverse communities and partner organisations to strengthen our understanding of what people need from the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP).

Shazelle joined the VRP 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.

If you would like to contact Shazelle, please email [email protected]

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!

If you would like to contact Zeba, please email [email protected]

If you would like to make contact with Glen, then please email [email protected].

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 supports the delivery team to integrate the VRP’s delivery model at a local level, offering support to localities to reduce and prevent violence in the long-term.

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 Master of Ceremonies at events as well as watching and playing sports including football (Chelsea Fan), badminton and track sports.

If you would like to contact Matt, please email [email protected]

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.

If you would like to contact Lea-Ann, please email [email protected]

If you would like to contact Fran, please email [email protected]

If you would like to contact Amy, please email [email protected]

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.


If you would like to contact Alison, please email [email protected]

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.

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.

If you would like to contact Jasmine, please email [email protected]