About Us
About Growing Against Violence
Growing Against Violence (GAV) is a charity that aims to protect young people against peer-to-peer violence and exploitation both on the streets and online. The charity grew out of a partnership with London’s Metropolitan Police Service and since 2008 GAV has delivered workshops to over 300,000 young people in over 1,500 schools.
GAV believes violence is preventable rather than inevitable and examines the causes of violence using a listening and investigative approach that teases out issues specific to local communities. The charity follows the World Health Organisation’s ‘public health approach to tackling violence’, using data to identify risk factors for violence and the delivery of evidence-based violence prevention workshops.
The Board and Senior Management have personal and professional expertise in violence prevention. This unique partnership brings together senior professionals from health, law, policing, academia, accounting, IT and the private sector to provide effective governance and enable the charity to thrive and expand.
Operational Team
Stuart Trayler
Martin Guest
Hi, I am Martin! I previously worked in the public sector in a management position. I have extensive organisational, leadership and strategic management skills and am a qualified Event Management Planner and Trainer. If you would like to book us in it will be me you speak to!
Shaun Willshire
I have safeguarding expertise across many different areas in the public and private sectors. I have held senior positions in the public sector and led staff in multi-disciplinary team environments. My experience also includes assessing and developing staff. I have a strong sense of decency and consider the wellbeing of our younger generation as being paramount.
Our Facilitators
Steve
Elaine
Hi, my name is Elaine and I have worked for GAV since 2014, when I retired from the Police after 30 years. I love the interaction with students and their engagement when delivering sessions and passionately believe in the messages we deliver.
In my spare time I play a sport called Pickleball and have competed in the USA and Europe as well as winning National Championships in the UK
Simon
I retired in 2015 from the Metropolitan Police, and I also run a church youth group. I have absolutely loved serving all these teenagers over the years, trying to give them the best possible start in life, whatever their situation.
Currently working full time for a charity working in both primary and secondary schools, I also add teaching young people to drive in somehow, as well as delivering GAV sessions whenever possible.
Guy
I have been working with “Growing Against Violence “since 2014. Prior to working for the Charity, I was engaged in Schools where I was involved in the Safeguarding of young people. Whilst working with the charity I have been in a fortunate position to have met and spoken to a number of young people and agencies involved with Safeguarding. One of my interests is in Sport and over a number of years I have been involved in coaching young people in both Rugby and Football.
Darren
I was born in North Wales, married with four adult children, left school at 16 with three O Levels, worked on a Youth Training Scheme with the local council. I went on to complete 30 years in public service after joining the police cadets. I started working for GAV in September, 2016, and thoroughly enjoy it. To educate young people away from any kind of trouble or danger is very rewarding.
Tim
Hi I am Tim! I have been involved with community youth work, mentoring & training for over 30 years. Outside of GAV, I is training, projects & partnerships lead for a national youth organisation & volunteers with London Fire Brigade as a Cadet Leader in Lambeth. In 2022 I was very proud to be awarded an MBE for services to young people by HM The Queen
Rae
Hi, I am Rae. Mum to Five children and Grandmother to 7. I know the challenges young people are faced with on a day to day basis. I have worked in education since 1996, where I focused on students who were affiliated to gangs. I also mentor young people who are trying to leave gangs. This is why I am a passionate facilitator for GAV
Graham
I was in public service for 34+ yrs and police dog handler for twenty-seven years . I still train dogs and help dog owners improve the obedience of their dogs as well as solving behavioural issues.
I like my Football, but you’ll just have to ask what team I support! I joined GAV in 2016 and I get a great deal of satisfaction in enjgaging with young people and helping them through their school year to identify those red flags that could steer them down a wrong path.
Hubert
Hi I am Huey! I am a dedicated operational firefighter in London Fire Brigade, and a multi-award winning youth mentor & advocate for young people, from all communities. I am an inspiring, motivational speaker, presenter & trainer, sharing my current bluelight skills with my own lived experience as a teenager growing up in south London, to help positively change & uplift young lives & support families & other professionals.”
Amanda
Phoebe
Heyyy! My name is Phoebe and I work for for GAV because I tragically lost a friend, Harrison, to knife crime in 2023.
I want young people to stop being harmed by making sure they have the tools and knowledge to help themselves and others, make better choices and fulfill their potential.
I want to make a difference so that no one else loses their Harrison.
Simon
Hi, my name is Simon. I have worked in public service throughout my career offering help, support and guidance to individuals and communities, working in partnership to achieve the best possible outcomes for people and communities.
I work for GAV because I passionately believe in educating young people to help keep them safe and enabling them to make the right life choices.
Playing a part in raising young peoples’ awareness of the potential consequences of making the wrong life choices and how theirs and other peoples’ lives can be affected by their actions is a vital and very rewarding role.
Mary
I’m Mary. I taught in primary schools for 30 years before going to work in my sons’ secondary school where I taught English as well as advising young people on their career plans. I enjoy Ceroc dancing (modern jive), singing, reading, and sometimes acting in local amateur shows. I work for GAV because I want to help young people make good life choices and to stay safe.
GAV Strategic advisors
Experienced Youth Justice Practitioner turned Academic, with a demonstrated history of working within Juvenile Justice. Michelle is currently working as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Widener University.
Michelle earned her Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Childhood Studies from Rutgers University – Camden, with distinction.
Michelle is a qualitative researcher utilizing digital methods to look at the role of phones and social media in the criminalization and victimization of young people.
Skilled in Digital Research, Researching Sensitive Subjects, Ethics, Managing Nonprofit Organizations, Safeguarding Children, and Youth Leadership. Providing training to professionals who work with young people involved in serious violence including medical professionals, Police and the MOJ.
Craig Storrod
I have safeguarding expertise across many different areas in the public and private sectors. I have held senior posA
Craig was born and raised in Birmingham, UK. At age 18 he was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Birmingham School of Acting, from which he graduated with a BA(Hons) degree in Performance Art.
Subsequently he filmed several television shows for the BBC, ITV & Sky which have been broadcast to millions of homes internationally.
Craig has appeared on stage in cities such as London, Philadelphia, Munich, Linz, Rotterdam, Frankfurt and Birmingham in theatrical productions including “Romeo & Juliet”, “Hair”, “Cinderella”, “20th Century Boy” and countless more.
He has written and produced for Urban web series “The SketchBank” which boasts 100,000’s of views on YouTube and has also written and performed music featured on the soundtracks of several Motion Pictures.
Craig took a 3-year sabbatical from performing during which time he managed the London branch of a £750,000 National project for UK Children’s Charity; Barnardos, he also co-wrote and delivered educational curriculum for anti-violence charity Growing Against Violence which has been rolled out to over 115,000 students in over 400 schools across almost 20 UK Local Authorities.
I have held positions in the public sector and led staff in multi-disciplinary team environments. My experience also includes assessing and developing staff. I have a strong sense of decency and consider the wellbeing of our younger generation as being paramount.