Meet the Team

Moya (she/her)

CEO (joined as Operations Manager in March 2016)

I am the current CEO at Basis Yorkshire, who have been working with sex working women, sexual exploitation survivors, and sexually exploited children for nearly 30 years. Basis is a GSK Kings Fund Award winning organisation for its positive impact on community health. In my role, I work in partnership with statutory and third sector agencies on issues relating to sex work, sexual exploitation as well as child sexual exploitation and abuse. This involves work with staff and service users, partners and our Board of Trustees to promote the safety and wellbeing of the people we work with, tackling stigma and discrimination and work on changing systems which often prevent access to services and support.

Amber

Business Development and Marketing Manager since 2014

My role is to identify new opportunities to further meet the needs of our service users and source funding for these, either on our own or through partnerships, raise awareness of and funds in the community for our work as well as advocate for our service users through social media, our website, newsletters etc. I also coordinate and promote our training and awareness raising program.

Melanie

Administrator and Finance Assistant since May 2018

My job is to ensure the smooth running of the office and to assist my colleagues as and when required. This can mean anything from answering the phone, responding to online queries and ordering office supplies, to dealing with suppliers, preparing training packs and booking training sessions, hotels and train tickets, right through to assisting with the recruitment process and producing reports necessary for monitoring and evaluation purposes. I also work with our accountant helping with the financial administration of the organisation, which ranges from raising sales invoices for the services or resources we provide, to allocating payments to the correct invoices and dealing with payroll enquiries. I am also a Fire Warden.

Nicky (she/her)

Navigation Support Worker (Housing First)

My role involves working with a small caseload of six women, where women requiring intensive support to navigate services are offered a stable and suitable home, along with unconditional support that is needs-based and client-led, in an area where they choose to live. The service provided by Basis is one of the only sex worker specific projects in the country and has met significant needs for women who were previously falling through the gaps of existing services. After a very successful pilot project in 2017 we have now secured further funding for three years to be able to continue to offer the Housing First scheme in collaboration with Turning Lives Around.

Catherine (she/her)

Housing Influencing Change Worker since December 2020

I am a Housing Influencing Change Worker, meaning I work to push for change in the systems and pathways that support women sex workers to obtain or maintain permanent homes. I work with agencies across Leeds to challenge barriers into housing, working towards the wider goal of ending homelessness for good.

Gail

CLLD Outreach Worker since Feb 2020

I’m the Adult Outreach Worker CLLD with a particular focus on group and 1:1 work with women who are looking towards their future. We’ll be looking at goal setting, self esteem, confidence building as well as the more practical tools needed when thinking about entering employment, training and volunteering, like CV writing, IT skills and how to job search and make applications. We’ll be fitting in some activities like yoga, exercise sessions, arts and crafts and cooking on a budget with an emphasis on self care and wellness.

Eloise (she/her)

Navigation and Group Support Worker

I am currently working as a Navigation and Group Support Worker at Basis Yorkshire. My role is to provide both emotional and practical support to women requiring intensive support to navigate services. I work 1:1 with women and offer support which prioritises their safety and wellbeing. My role relies on multi-agency partnerships and I ensure women have access to any services relevant to their needs, supporting them effectively throughout.

Kayleigh

Young Person's CSE Outreach Worker

As a Young Person's Outreach Worker I work 1:1 with girls and young women who are being sexually exploited or significant risk thereof - building their trust, establishing a relationship, raising their awareness of the risks they are facing and how to reduce these through talking to them about CSE and related issues such as online safety, health relationships, sexual health etc.

Stacey (she/her)

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Specialist (Children and Young People)

As a Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Specialist (Children and Young People) I work specifically with boys and young men who are at risk of experiencing, are currently experiencing, or have previously experienced child sexual abuse and/or exploitation. My role involves supporting boys and young men on a 1-1 basis, using a trauma informed and therapeutic approach to help empower and support them to move forward in their lives following their experiences of trauma and abuse.

Rebekah (she/her)

Interim Young People's Team Leader/ STAGE Project Outreach Worker

I am currently leading the fantastic Young People’s CSE team at Basis. The service seeks to provide education and support to young people at medium to high risk of CSE. My role involves supporting the team in their work and attending local meetings regarding CSE.
I also work as a caseworker for the STAGE project, which is a partnership project across the North of England that aims to support women aged 16+ who have experienced or who are experiencing Sexual Exploitation. My role within this has involved supporting a varied caseload of women in a trauma informed way, providing education, a listening ear and supporting with access to services.

Carwen (she/her)

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Specialist (Children and Young People)

As a Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Specialist (Children and Young People) I work 1:1 with girls and young women who are being sexually exploited or significant risk thereof - building their trust, establishing a relationship, raising their awareness of the risks they are facing and how to reduce these through talking to them about CSE and related issues such as online safety, health relationships, sexual health etc. I also deliver training to other professionals in Leeds and elsewhere to other professionals and deliver awareness sessions in schools about CSE, online safety and consent.

Currently on maternity leave.

Devin (she/her)

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Specialist (16+)

As a Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Specialist (Children and Young People) I work 1:1 with all young people who are being sexually exploited or at significant risk thereof - building their trust, establishing a relationship, raising their awareness of the risks they are facing and how to reduce these through talking to them about CSE and related issues such as online safety, health relationships, sexual health etc. I also deliver training to other professionals in Leeds and elsewhere to other professionals and deliver awareness sessions in schools about CSE, online safety and consent.

Karen

Associate Trainer

Currently I am a freelance trainer specialising in CSE, Trauma and Attachment, Safeguarding and Improving Wellbeing In The Work Place. I am extremely passionate about training and increasing people’s knowledge and I ensure that my training is informative, real, whilst also enjoyable. I have my own private counselling practice in North Yorkshire, specialising in Trauma, Abuse, Loss and Couple Relationships. I also work in local schools providing a safe environment for young people aged 11 to 16 to explore their thoughts, feelings and emotions.

Michelle

Associate Trainer

I’m the service lead for the Red Umbrella @Changing Lives in Merseyside. The service works with anyone in the Sex/Adult industries who has been a victim of a crime because of their work. I manage a small team of staff and volunteers including a SWISVA (Sex Work ISVA) and a Migrancy worker. We are passionate advocates for our clients and work hard to ensure justice for them. I also am a trainer and love this part of my work.

Adele

Associate Trainer

I am an established independent safeguarding children trainer and consultant. My areas of expertise include Safeguarding Children, Child Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence and Abuse, Neglect, and practice standards. My current work includes working with the Children’s Commissioner regarding a new online app for young people wanting advice on potential safeguarding issues; and work with the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Judith

Associate Trainer

I am a teacher with a background in early years, safeguarding and child trauma. I teach part-time, and deliver training across various sectors including education, police, social care and the voluntary sector. I deliver a range of Protective Behaviours courses, Voice of the Child training, basic safeguarding refreshers (for schools), and various conference workshops.

Eliza (she/her)

Income Generation & Comms Admin Assistant since July 2021

In my role I support the Business Development and Marketing Manager. I help organise Basis Training & Education, as well as aiding with the development and delivery of training, conferences and events. I also help manage our various social media accounts, creating and coordinating content to promote our services and raise awareness.

Esta-Rose (she/her)

Project and Outreach Assistant Since September 2021.

As part of my role as the Project and Outreach Assistant I support the teams at Basis including Basis Young People and Basis Sex Work Project. The support role includes awareness raising and marketing and communications, through a variety of administrative tasks, and by creating resources for service users.

Megan (She/Her)

Independent Sexual Violence Adviser Since September 2021

I am currently the ISVA at Basis, working collaboratively with other services to provide tailored emotional and practical support to women who have experienced sexual violence. I ensure that these women’s voices are heard and that they have access to any specialist sexual violence services they need. If a woman chooses to report to the police, I provide support throughout the criminal justice process.

Melissa

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Practitioner (Children and Young People) Since 2021

Is a Sexual Abuse and Exploitation specialist (Children and Young People), I provide 1:1 trauma aware emotional and practical support to those who are at risk of experiencing, are currently experiencing or who have previously experienced sexual abuse and/or exploitation. Developing a trusting relationship with the young person is central to my role in order to allow the young person to feel safe. By offering support which aims to be therapeutic in nature, I aim to help empower and support children and young people to move forward in their lives following experiences of trauma and abuse. Supporting young people within a multiagency framework I act to advocate, aid in creating safety and help to reduce their risk to further trauma and abuse.

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