About Us
SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.
On the residential street where the Azalea story begins, it was the noise at night that you’d notice first. This was not a suburban idyll, not with the women “on the beat” opposite with their screams of high-pitched laughter and their shouting obscenities or their punters’ car engines revving, rumbling, idling, doors slamming continuously. The small House Group from a local church were meeting as they usually did to catch up with each other, read, study and discuss some Bible passages and pray together.
It was clear that the impact of the men and women outside were causing more than a little frustration with the owner of the house, and this was something that the group chose to pray about, because something had to change, something needed to be done. It has been said that God answers prayers in a number of ways. He might say, “yes”, “wait”, “no” or “you do it”. But He always answers. Just sometimes in unexpected ways, or ways that differ from the way we would like.
YOU DO IT.
The hope was that God would somehow take the problem away, and that peace would be restored to the home where the House Group was being held and the surrounding neighbourhood. But, the injustice of sex trafficking is highly complex, and there was to be no quick fix. There was however, in response to that time of prayer, much conversation about what could be done to try and reach out to the women across the street and others like them.
A group of compassionate and inspired individuals came together, leaving behind more comfortable ways to use their time and resources, and made a decision to offer respite to the women for a few hours a week at a local church, in the form of a cup of tea, some cake, a conversation and a comfortable armchair to sit in. The volunteers also decided they would offer to pray for the women, based on the shared belief in a God who loves each one of us without condition or limit.
THEY PRAYED FOR 6 MONTHS.
But, for the first 6 months. No one came. So, the group prayed. For 6 months.
And then one evening, with one of the older volunteers waiting outside at the gates of the church, dedicated to inviting the women in as they passed, the first woman came to Drop-in. The women were reluctant, suspicious of the offer of a warm, safe place to sit, sure that no one gives away something for nothing. But in a short-time, once more women had come in and were met with a warm welcome, and the word got round, the space at the church wasn’t big enough and Azalea began to grow and moved to a more permanent location in High Town funded and equipped by individual supporters and churches from nearby. Azalea now occupies a central location in Upper George Street in Luton, and continues to flourish.
PRAYER IS EVERYTHING.
Prayer was foundational to Azalea’s beginning, and is integral to the work with the men and women who we encounter and support. It is never forced, and almost always requested. Each day the staff team gather to pray together, and we have a strong and faithful Prayer Net who support us in prayer receiving weekly email updates. In addition, we hold a Prayer Evening every other month.
STAFF TEAM
RUTH ROBB
Cofounder & CEO
Senior Leadership Team
EMMA KOROMA
Deputy CEO
Senior Leadership Team
KATE DUNWOODIE
Deputy CEO – maternity cover
Senior Leadership Team
HOLLIE STONE
Encompass Director
Senior Leadership Team
JAYNE SINCLAIR
Flourish Lead Officer and LAST Development Officer
BECKIE BOWIE
Anti International Sex Trafficking Officer
FAITH MERRIWEATHER
Partnership Mental Health Officer
SAM WALTERS
Frontline Volunteer Administrator
BEN SCOTT
Flint Project Officer
JENNY HARKER
Outreach Therapeutic Manager
LOLA ORTIZ
CHRIS BAFFOUR
TRACY SARKWAH
Facility Officer
VOLUNTEERS.
All aspects of Azalea are heavily supported by a significant number of volunteers, for whom we are so grateful. Their dedication, approachability and compassion are second to none, and the difference they make to the men and women we support and care for is in many ways immeasurable.
GOVERNANCE.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees, as detailed below, meets every quarter and are responsible for the governance of the charity, ensuring it meets its statutory responsibilities as well as determining overall strategy, policies and direction with the expert guidance of the Senior Leadership Team. The Trustees delegate day-to-day management of the charity to the Senior Leadership Team.
SUB-COMMITTEES
There are four key decision-making sub committees, each comprised of at least two Trustees and one member of the Senior Leadership Team.. These committees are: Consulting and Partnering, Finance, People and Culture, and Structures.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Trustees have referred to information in the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit and in particular how planned activities contribute to the vision of the charity and the fulfilment of key project aims and objectives.
VISION
ALL NATIONS WALKING FREE FROM SEX TRAFFICKING MATTERS. Driven by the belief that every person matters, Azalea works to empower and facilitate sustainable transformation in the lives of the men, women and neighbourhoods impacted by sex trafficking. Through the sharing of expertise in this seemingly insurmountable global issue, Azalea then mobilises others to do likewise.
MARTYN SHEA
CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
MARK PLANE
DEPUTY CHAIR OF TRUSTEES & TREASURER
SAM HARGREAVES
TRUSTEE – VISION & VALUES; CONSULTING & PARTNERING
WILL TREASURE
TRUSTEE – STRATEGY & FINANCE
AMANDA MCCALLA-LEACEY
TRUSTEE – PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE
ANNA THERON
TRUSTEE – STRUCTURES COMMITTEE
GERARD VAN DER WESTHUYZEN
TRUSTEE – SAFEGUARDING
LAURAN BETHALL
TRUSTEE – STRUCTURES COMMITTEE
AZALEA PATRONS.
We are delighted to have two exceptional patrons of Azalea: Elaine Storkey and Russell Beard. Elaine brings an unmatched global perspective and champions causes all over the world, and Russell is passionate about local solutions to local problems as he delivers his services as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire. Both wholeheartedly endorse Azalea and we are thrilled that they are with us as we seek to see all walk free from sex trafficking.
Read on to find out more about them.
Elaine Storkey
Russell Beard
OUR POLICIES.
Policies and procedures are an essential part of any organisation, and Azalea is no exception. Our policies detail the connection between our vision and values, and the day-to-day operations of the charity. Here are just a few of the policies to which we adhere.