Samantha - CEO

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I have worked in the voluntary sector for over thirteen years and as a young person who needed support, I have always been interested in supporting people who may be facing difficult times. My journey started at fifteen years old when I began volunteering at a local nursery and youth club and this continued right through to my days at university where I became a volunteer-learning mentor for teenagers. I have a degree in Psychology and originally wanted to be a College Teacher but I quickly learnt that my love for direct support work would send me in a different direction and I haven’t looked back since.

I am extremely passionate about service-user involvement and believe that their voice should be at the centre of all we do. This stemmed from my time as Client Inclusion Champion when I was a Project Worker supporting homeless women facing multiple disadvantage.

I joined Team TDAS in 2010 as a Refuge Support Worker and since the day I walked through the door I knew TDAS was where I was destined to be. I feel extremely privileged to lead such an amazing organisation with amazing people providing amazing things to the families of Trafford. I am also a very proud Mummy and Step Mummy to two little girls and to Georgie the puppy.

Kirsty - Services Manager

I began working for TDAS back in 2011 as the Children and Young People’s Support  Worker, as my career with TDAS developed my passion to offer support to adults and children continued to grow.

I am truly grateful for being able to manage such an enthusiastic, dedicated team and love being able to support them in delivering our life-changing services.

I love what TDAS stands for and how far we have come as an organisation in supporting adults and children effected by domestic abuse.

Outside of TDAS I am a proud mum and step mum to two fantastic boys, family and friends mean the world to me.

Kirsty - Business Development Manager

Hi, I’m Kirsty.  My role at TDAS is to develop the charity by making more people aware of the great work we do and getting them and their business involved. 

I previously worked in a senior role in digital advertising before moving into the charity sector.  I love that TDAS is a local charity and that all the money we raise benefits people in Trafford.  Those who volunteer or get involved in other ways are really impacted when they see the tangible improvements our work brings.   

Vanessa - Volunteer Coordinator 

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Hi I’m Vanessa. I look after the volunteers who give their time to TDAS. I love working with volunteers and seeing the amazing impact that they have on our service-users’ lives.

Volunteers make such a difference to our organisation and we are so grateful to anyone who can give their time to support the valuable work that we do. Before joining TDAS, I trained as a counsellor and supported men, women and young people who had experienced sexual abuse or trafficking. I have done lots of volunteering in my own spare time and I’m passionate about encouraging people to give something back to their local community.

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I have a soft spot for anything chocolatey and I love good coffee!

Amy - Children & Young People Team Leader 

Hi I’m Amy, I started working for TDAS is 2014 as a Children’s Worker over the summer in refuge. I fell in love with the work that TDAS does to support Children and Young people who have witnessed domestic abuse. I now co-ordinate the Children and Young People service and supervise our amazing Children and Young People’s workers, we have a fantastic service where children are at the heart of what we do. Often children and young people can be the hidden victims of domestic abuse and I’m really passionate about their voice being heard and breaking the cycle.
 

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Donna - Accommodation Team Leader

I have been working in domestic abuse for five years supporting women and children who are living in refuge.  It is a job I thoroughly enjoy and there is no greater satisfaction than knowing you have empowered a woman to take control of her life and move forward. I have recently moved to Manchester from the south and am loving the new challenges that my new role brings.

Jade - Services Coordinator

Hi, I’m Jade, I am a mother of two beautiful children. I am the office administrator for TDAS and I love being a part of such an amazing charity that helps to support and transform the lives of victims of domestic abuse. I have seen first-hand how domestic abuse can affect people’s lives and from this it has gave me a strong passion to help those in need to access the right to be free and safe and to have the strength to create a brighter future for themselves.

Zile - Move On Domestic Abuse Advisor

Hi my name is Zile.  I have been working for TDAS for the past three years as the Move On Domestic Abuse Advisor.  I am a qualified Social Worker with twenty years experience working in the voluntary sector.  I have experience working in the following areas of work: welfare rights, mental health, children of prisoners, carers, prison service and children with challenging and behavioural needs.  

I have vast knowledge and experience of working with Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, addressing issues around discrimination, stigma, oppression and challenging stereotypes. I am able to communicate in Urdu, Punjabi and English. 

Lee - Domestic Abuse Advisor

Hi my name is Lee. My background is holistic therapies in which I have over 20 years’ experience.  I joined TDAS in August 2018 as a Domestic Abuse worker for the Supporting Change Service.

Previously I worked for ten years for Victim Support as a Victim Care Officer and then later as Independent Victim Advocate.

My role is to provide first contact and short-term support to those that contact our service via phone, email or face to face. I’m passionate about supporting individuals to realise their own resilience, so they become empowered to make positive changes in their lives. I’ve chosen a dragonfly as my image as to me it represents positive change from a water nymph to a beautiful dragonfly.  

Sandra - Domestic Abuse Advisor

I have worked for TDAS as the Floating Support, Domestic Abuse Advisor for nearly eight years. I support the residents of Trafford who have been affected by domestic abuse and its effects.

Every household I have supported has been as varied as is interesting.  I have learned that domestic abuse matters to all of us regardless whether we have any experience of it.

Sharan - Domestic Abuse Advisor

My name is Sharan, I have three grown-up children and I have worked for TDAS supporting women and children for over twenty years. For ten years my focus was mainly on the support of children and young people specifically. I then retrained and worked in the role of an Information and Advice Worker.  For the past six years, I’ve worked as a Domestic Abuse Advisor based at the refuge. I enjoy my role as no two days are the same and it’s fulfilling when you see the positive journey the families make. There’s lots of thinking on your feet and problem solving, but all adds to the sense of satisfaction when the positive outcomes are achieved.

Victoria - Domestic Abuse Advisor

I am passionate about raising awareness of domestic abuse.  During the past four years, I have worked alongside survivors to empower them to become more confident, resilient and independent.  As a Domestic Abuse Advisor in the refuge my role is varied and often challenging but I am privileged to be a part of the positive changes in the lives of the families I support.

Samantha - Children & Young People Support worker

Hello, I am Samantha! Helping children and families is a big passion of mine. I am enthusiastic about making an impact which will have positive outcomes. My approach to my role is very passionate, child-focused and family orientated. My favourite positivity quote is: "Hope is a passion that burns the brightest!"

Abby - Children & Young People Support Worker

Hi, I’m Abby. I’m a Children and young people support worker here at TDAS, although I’m quite new I was brought here through a love of working with children and young people and a drive to help those affected by domestic violence.  Previously, I spent five years as a primary school teacher and am about to gain my counselling diploma!

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I’m loving working with the team at TDAS and look forward to working with the community around Trafford.

Amy - Complex Needs Domestic Abuse  Advisor

Hi, my name is Amy. I’ve worked in the domestic violence sector for just over ten years. I have enjoyed many different roles and currently work in the refuge. It is a privilege to be able to work with the families and so rewarding watching them grow in confidence and move on to live a life without abuse.

I moved to Manchester from the Midlands around seven years ago and love it here. I have two little girls that keep me very busy!

Tracy - Outreach Domestic Abuse  Advisor

Hi I'm Tracy. I am an outreach domestic abuse advisor. I have worked in the voluntary sector supporting those affected by domestic abuse for over six years. 

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My role at TDAS is to provide face to face support and advice within Trafford community settings.  I love the work that TDAS does and the variety of support services they offer.

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In a world where technology and social media advance and personal interactions are becoming more digitalised, I strongly believe it is vital to all suffering the affects of domestic abuse that they have the opportunity  to sit down with a trained advisor and receive face-to-face support and reassurance.