top of page

MEET OUR
COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS

VRU Orange Hand Logo Image

#stopviolence

The first of a cohort of Community Ambassadors have been appointed as part of a pioneering new project to tackle violence across Nottinghamshire.

We have recruited 13 passionate and driven residents to become figureheads for safety in their local areas in a scheme that is the first of its kind in the county.  The new team, who all have proven success in tackling problem behaviour and supporting people at risk of crime to change, have been appointed to support the VRP’s work, build relationships with local people and ensure communities have the necessary resources and provision to encourage vulnerable people to thrive.

It is part of the VRP’s public health approach to crime which aims to empower communities to develop bespoke solutions to the issues impacting their local areas.

This page is currently being updated with the current team of Community Ambassadors - please see below:

Marcellus Baz Image

MARCELLUS BAZ, BEM

My name is Marcellus and I the founder and CEO of Switch Up CIC and Nottingham School of Boxing. The two organisations utilise sport, mentoring, education and counselling to transform the lives of young people and transition them into employment, training, and further education.
 

I was born in a deprived area of Nottingham, UK, and groomed into criminality before dedicating my life to supporting communities affected by crime and violence. In 2016, I was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of The Year Award and a British Empire Medal.

I work with Nottingham’s deprived communities such as St Ann’s, Radford and the Meadows. The main target is vulnerable young people who are often from minority groups, although me and my team help anyone that will benefit from a positive role model so they can believe in achieving a career outside of crime. This can be anyone that walks into the boxing gym or referrals from social care, or the police. In 2020 and 2021, that extended to helping families facing crisis due to the coronavirus – helping anyone that needs it with food parcels, warm clothes or advice on what the government guidelines mean for different cultural groups.   

 

I want to help young people to avoid the journey I had, to learn of the dangers they face with the path they are on, and to provide them with access to opportunities I wished I’d had.  

This means giving young people access to role models with lived experiences of their journeys, who they can build trust with and communicate their fears and aspirations and who will link them to the required support and opportunities

Asad Fazil Image

ASAD FAZIL

Asad Fazil is Founder/Director of Al Hurraya, a community organisation based in Nottingham which develops culturally specific interventions to improve overall community cohesion, to enable beneficiaries and families to overcomes barriers to reach their potential

Al-Hurraya was founded in 2014 by Asad Fazil after he recognised that there was an emerging need of a service which works directly with Minority communities. He wanted to offer services where he could use his specialism, empower people and engage with them.

Asad has over ten years of experience working in the voluntary, statutory sector. Having overcome many challenges of his own he identified the need for a culturally specific organisation which would improve service provision for Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic, Refugees and New Emerging communities.  He developed the first UK based Islamic 12 step program.

Asad’s vision for Al-Hurraya is for it to become a leading BAME specialist service providing solutions and support for all its beneficiaries.

Hyacinth Francis-Watson image

HYACINTH FRANCIS-WATSON

Greetings my name is Hyacinth Francis-Watson. The founder and Regional manager for the Chayah Development Project.
 
My aim is to look at best practices been delivered  and combining them to empower, enrich and equip our citizens to live in love and safety the best way possible.

I  am a people's person so  engaging with different communities and feeling the energy is my steer to continue to do the best I can whilst I can. I believe that I may be the oldest VRP Ambassador which does not faze me just adding life experience into the team.

The future is bright.

Richard MacRae.jpg

RICHARD MACRAE

My name is Richard Danny MacRae and I am the founder and Chairman of Stapleford Community Group which I set up in 2011. The group was set up as a way of Bringing Unity To The Community. We organise Job Fairs, Day Trips, run the #StaplefordFoodProject and so much more.

I have lived in Stapleford since I was 6 months old and went to Frederick Harrison Infants, Stephenson Junior School and then Bramcote Park Comprehensive. Leaving school in 1983 I attended various colleges and had several jobs, ranging from Auto Electrician, Pizza Delivery Driver, Warehouse Worker, Door Supervisor. In 2014 I became an Independent Councillor at Stapleford Town Council and in 2015 I also became a Councillor at Broxtowe Borough Council, I have retained my seats in the 2019 elections.

I sit on the Police and Crime Panel and I am also the Vice Chairman of the Community Safety Committee at Broxtowe Borough Council. I am also on the management committee at Broxtowe Youth Homelessness who I have supported for a number of years.

Whilst I live in Stapleford and love where I live I also realise the importance of working with others. My phone is always on and I am working alongside volunteers and we help and support approximately 30 other groups and organisations, mainly with donations of food which we collect on a daily basis from local supermarkets but also with footwear by working with Shoe-Aid.

Also supporting local youngsters in the area I often spend time at the local youth club which is another place we support with the #StaplefordFoodProject.

As a Community Ambassador I want to show that we can work together in the County and the City as both have many issues that we need to collectively tackle. How can we expect our youngsters to not fall out over postcodes if we are not prepared to lead by example.

Jacob Dunne Image

JACOB DUNNE

My name is Jacob Dunne and I am an educator facilitating important conversations around criminal justice, education and mental health.
 
In 2020 I helped create and present a BBC Radio 4 series The Punch based on my own life story and the transformative effect of Restorative Justice on my life. I am a former Longford scholar and received a first class honours in Criminology from Nottingham Trent University in 2019.

I am currently writing my first book ‘Right from Wrong’ to be published in early 2022 and am keen to continue stimulating important conversations with the public.

My other work includes programme facilitation, mentoring, consultation and staff training in any environments where cultures could work better together. 

Generic Head Shot Image as no photo available

PAM MARTIN

Hi, my name is Yvonne, my nickname is Pam, which I adore as was given to me by my grandma. Welcome to my bio, here is a bit of information about me although if you get bored, please make yourself a cup of tea and then come back to it. 
 

So, here is the movie, ready...I was born in Jamaica,(imagine waterfalls, sunshine and some reggae in the background) and at quite a young age I moved to England. I have been working in the community for the last 40 years,(a long time isn’t it?) My qualifications are around health and social care, especially caring for the elderly with Dementia. I have also been actively involved in working with kids who have learning disabilities (I consider bringing joys to them is my forte). I have also volunteered for Cancer Awareness for Change Makers and Mental health awareness organizations especially Awaaz within Nottinghamshire. 

 

I was also awarded an ambassador for Time to Change and the East Midlands champion in 2014. That was a big year for the mental health awareness projects, I remember. I have also been a volunteer Radio Show Presenter on my own show The Happy Empathy Hour at Radio Dawn 107.6FM since 2016. Currently I am working on my Blogs to cover stigmas related subjects to help the youngsters, especially and providing them with all the information that I can possibly publish for the members of the communities to get help and support from. 

 

I enjoy learning about different cultures & traditions, music, dancing and creative arts are my hobbies and interests. 

 

I would like to bring all my knowledge and experience around mental health and wellbeing, to help strive towards creating a better society. 

 

Hey, this is where the fun starts, why not grab a cup of tea and listen to some gold ol’ reggae music and let's dance. As uncle Shakespeare mentioned that life is merely a stage and we are all actors. Why don’t we then enjoy a good laugh and have a brilliant time by showing empathy towards each other.

Courtney Rose Image

COURTNEY ROSE

I am the executive director for Take one studios. A training facility based in Nottingham. We are an accredited centre for NCFE ,Arts award and have been delivering for a number of years. I manage a small team and also teach Music technology.

.

Kieren Thompson.PNG

KEIREN THOMPSON

Hi, I am Keiren Thompson and I established ‘Helping Kids Achieve’ after I was seriously injured in a gang attack so that I could keep young people in Bulwell away from crime by offering a variety of sports clubs in safe places

The community project offers young people the opportunity to engage in sports, particularly basketball which I coach, as well as other interactive activities such as arts and crafts, and music, with the aim of keeping them away from gangs and getting involved in anti-social behaviour.

 

I was very proud that this coaching and outreach work was recognised with the Unsung Hero award at the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year 2019.

Tranai Todd.jpg

TRANAI TODD

Tranai Todd, 19, is the founder and CEO of Support Through Sport CIC.
 
Tranai founded Support Through Sport at the age of 17 from direct experience of the power that sport has, in supporting young people to overcome adversity.

The regional organisation, based in Nottingham, delivers sport-based intervention, mentoring, and progressions programmes to thousands of disadvantaged young people, empowering them to develop pro-social behaviours and providing a lasting positive impact.

 

The organisation works to a Theory of Change which ultimately provides at-risk young people with protective factors, diverting them away from negative influences such as youth offending, antisocial behaviour, violence, gang culture and knife crime.

 

Through an innovative, youth-led approach, Support Through Sport harnesses the power of sport to empower disadvantaged youth and create safer communities, where young people can thrive. 

Jennifer Mustoe-Castle Image

JENNIFER MUSTOE-CASTLE

For me, the ambassador role is an opportunity to focus on community approaches to tackling violent crime and the underlying causes of violent crime, something that is close to my heart. I believe it is time for me to focus my attention on Nottingham as my adopted home and I would like to be further ingrained into the community that is on my doorstep.

I hope to achieve a more cohesive approach to rehabilitation and resettlement in Nottingham to help reduce reoffending. However, most importantly, I hope to co-create meaningful personal and progression opportunities for individuals so they can find happiness and peace in life.

bottom of page