Abigail Clay – Director

Abigail Clay is internationally respected in the increasingly challenging and complex world of Safeguarding and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) including additional expertise in the UK’s Government’s Prevent strategy.

Abigail has more than 30 years’ experience in the school/FE/HE sector, including senior leadership positions in large and diverse Colleges and recent interim leadership roles. Using in-depth knowledge of the varied and complicated demands of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, she works with senior managers to develop robust and effective policies to meet their institution’s individual needs.

Supporting institutions to achieve ‘outstanding’ recognition from Ofsted through inspection for creating and implementing a range of policies and effective solutions in equality and diversity, Prevent and achievements in Safeguarding. Previous clients include the Nordic Council on pan-European efforts to counter radicalisation through education. Abigail is an active ‘expert pool’ member of the EU funded Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN). She serves as a Regulation 44 & NMS3 independent visitor for residential children’s homes in the UK. Abigail is Vice Chair of the Leeds Catholic Safeguarding Commission and is the safeguarding consultant for RETAS, a well-respected community-based charity that supports the social, cultural and economic integration of refugees and asylum seekers in West Yorkshire. Annually, supporting over 3000 new asylum seekers and refugees and over 10800 related cases.  Abigail is the Safegurding Consultant for Project Play.   This is a grassroots orgnaisation that works with displaced children in northern France.   Abigail provides supervision and support for the team.

Abigail has significant experience of child and adult protection case work and assessment, leading investigations, disciplinary hearings and compiling Best Interest Assessments for presentation at court, in the interest of UKBA immigration appeals.

Widely acknowledged for her proven track record, she is an effective collaborator with partner organisations, including national networks, NGOs, police services, colleges and schools, local authorities and student bodies, to assure their very best practice.

Abigail is a recognised leader in her specialist field.  She has delivered keynote speeches and workshop presentations at regional, national and European conferences on key subjects of:

  • Preventing violent extremism
  • Safeguarding – child and vulnerable adult protection
  • Training, investigation, audits and Ofsted preparation
  • Equality and diversity
  • Best interest assessments and reports

emmaEmma Hollings – Training and Development Associate

Emma Hollings is an experienced education manager and an outstanding English teacher, with 9 years expertise in managing programmes for young people with social, emotional and mental health challenges, those with high needs and those at risk of being NEET, resulting in positive outcomes for students.

Emma has a proven ability to grow and manage a diverse curriculum of re-engagement courses for young people aged 16-24.  Emma has particular expertise in managing young people with challenging behaviour and her management of this was recognised by Ofsted in February 2016.

“Staff manage behaviour particularly well for students with emotional and behavioural difficulties who have found access to education difficult in the past. A team of specialist staff uses its expertise and experience and students now attend college regularly. They receive appropriate education linked to their personal skills development and this reflects the good progress they make into mainstream further education programmes or work.

Emma has been an active designated safeguarding lead for many years and is experienced with managing challenging and complex case work within education settings.

Emma is currently involved in resource development for teaching and learning which are published through on-line teaching networks.

Key areas of expertise:

  • Managing challenging behaviour
  • Safeguarding
  • Resource development

Mick Belford – Training and Development Associate

Mick has 30 years of experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families. He has a BA (Hons) Professional Studies in Youth & Community work from Leeds Metropolitan (now Leeds Beckett) University.

He has extensive experience in both the statutory and voluntary sectors having worked for local authorities, youth offending teams and various charities.

He has practised as a Youth Worker, Youth Offending Team Court Officer, Education Welfare Officer and within the field of Education Safeguarding. He was also the manager of a Youth Inclusion Project (YIP), part of a scheme funded nationally by the Youth Justice Board. Having set the project up from scratch he then set up and ran an alternative provision for young people at risk of school exclusion as part of the YIP. He also has extensive experience as a trainer, manager and supervisor of staff and students and has worked as a part-time lecturer in Youth & Community Work Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Key Areas of Expertise;

Children’s Safeguarding

Working with vulnerable children and families

Multi-Agency Working

For further information about our services, get in touch via our contact page.