Alison BOYDELL
Sheffield
Summary
Motivated professional with strong problem-solving skills, facilitating effective decision-making in challenging environments. Exceptional communicator, empathic listener, fostering trust and building relationships. Committed to making meaningful impact by helping a diverse range of clients achieve their goals and navigate challenges successfully. Maintains composure under pressure. Natural aptitude for providing insightful advice and guidance.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work history
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (SRASAC)
2020.11 - 2026.05
- I provided trauma informed emotional support, information provision and advocacy for adult survivors of sexual violence. I supported their journey throughout the criminal justice system working in partnership with a range of statutory and third sector agencies and services. I challenged police and CPS decision making working in partnership with the Centre for Women's Justice. This included devising holistic care and support plans tailored to meet individual client needs and ongoing risk assessments. Imperative to underpinning all of the work was accurate and contemporaneous record keeping on a customer relationship management system.
- Reason for leaving: SRASAC was part of South Yorkshire Sexual Violence Partnership which is commissioned by the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority. SRASAC withdrew from the partnership on 31st May 2026 and no longer offers the ISVA service.
Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA)
Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service
2020.11 - 2021.03
- I was approached to join BRCSASS to provide temporary cover for an ISVA who was taking extended leave to travel which was cancelled due to the pandemic, so I was only in post for 2 weeks. I was then approached again to work as an ISVA during lockdown and worked remotely. Responsibilities included: provision of trauma informed emotional support, information provision and advocacy for adult survivors of sexual violence.
- Reason for leaving: to work locally
Consultant
ASSIST Sheffield (charity for destitute asylum seekers)
2020.03 - 2020.09
- Consultant to review the organisation's advocacy service.
- Time-specific project.
Consultant
Rotherham Community Safety Partnership (commissioned by Rotherham Council)
2020.02 - 2020.04
- Consultant to inform the development of a support and exit programme for women in the sex industry.
- Time-specific project.
ISVA then Senior ISVA
Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL)
2015.07 - 2020.01
- I established the Advocacy then ISVA service and became service lead for the ISVA service and part of senior team including managing the ISVA and leading on caseload management meetings with her and peer support. I was also an Independent Inquiry in Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) support worker for Truth Project participants, carried a caseload of 40+ and represented SARSVL at the Yorkshire and Humber CPS Rape Scrutiny Panel, attended the Board of Trustees, undertook monitoring and evaluation of the service and set up of a young women's service, provided external training of a range of statutory and non-statutory agencies including CID, Leeds Safeguarding Unit; Witness Services; Solicitors; voluntary sector organisations.
- I also produced monthly statistical reports to the Board and provided quarterly more in depth statistical and evaluation reports, produced the ISVA service's reports for MoJ, PCC, Lloyds Foundation and Tampon Tax.
- Reason for leaving: desire to focus more on client work and not manage the service
Volunteer helpline support
Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre
2012.10 - 2015.09
Partnership Support Officer
Sheffield Hallam University
2006.05 - 2015.09
- I managed and co-ordinated a very complex process of risk assessing potential new partnerships with UK and overseas educational providers, with multiple input from a variety of stakeholders. I managed and drafted a range of contracts for those that were approved.
- Reason for leaving: to work as an ISVA
Volunteer helpline support
Samaritans
2009.06 - 2012.09
Collaborative Provision Support Officer
Open University Validation Services, London
2002.01 - 2003.12
- I serviced the University's principal committee for collaborative provision. Other responsibilities included: management of all information records pertaining to collaborative provision; reports preparation; qualitative and quantitative analyses of various data for internal evaluation as well as for external agencies (CVU); liaison with and dissemination of information to partner institutions; conference and event organisation. Ensuring compliance of policies and procedures with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).
- Reason for leaving: relocation from London to Sheffield; I then had a 2 year career break due to having a young family.
Executive Officer/Administrative Officer
Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA)
1989.06 - 1991.10
- Responsibilities included: monitoring course data; maintaining courses and external examiners database; vetting and processing external examiner nominations from partner institutions.
- Seconded post: Co-ordinating research project ‘Competences, Assessment and Education in Undergraduate Law Courses'
- Reason for leaving: redundancy following the dissolution of the CNAA following the Higher and Further Education Act 1992.
Education
NCFE - ISVA Refresher Programme
Lime Culture
Mental Health First Aid
NCFE - Elective 4: Supporting Clients with Learning Disabilities and Neurodiverse Conditions
Lime Culture
Training Qualifications UK - Level 3 Award in Education and Training
Training Qualifications UK
Advocacy and Negotiation Skills
Advonet Leeds
Postgraduate Certificate - Advocacy for Victims of Sexual Violence
University of Worcester
PGDip - Women's Studies
University of Westminster
Challenging Police and CPS decisions
Centre for Women's Justice
BA Hons - Combined Studies in French
City of London Polytechnic
Skills
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Calm under pressure
-
Problem-solving
-
Excellent written and oral communication skills
-
Highly motivated self-starter
-
Commitment to equal, fair and inclusive justice for all
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11 years' experience of casework supporting vulnerable adults to access the criminal justice system
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Knowledge and experience of safeguarding
References
- Meera Kulkarni, Email: meera@srasac.org.uk,Tel: 0114 2412766, Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Scotia Works, Sheffield, S1 4SE. CEO of the organisation I have volunteered at and worked for.
- Jackie Hancox, Email: Jackiehancox58@gmail.com Tel: 07841 096302, 50 Towngate, Heptonstall, HX7 7NB .Retired Manager, Bradford Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Survivors Service, Former line manager.
Timeline
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (SRASAC)
2020.11 - 2026.05
Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA)
Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service
2020.11 - 2021.03
Consultant
ASSIST Sheffield (charity for destitute asylum seekers)
2020.03 - 2020.09
Consultant
Rotherham Community Safety Partnership (commissioned by Rotherham Council)
2020.02 - 2020.04
ISVA then Senior ISVA
Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL)
2015.07 - 2020.01
Volunteer helpline support
Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre
2012.10 - 2015.09
Volunteer helpline support
Samaritans
2009.06 - 2012.09
Partnership Support Officer
Sheffield Hallam University
2006.05 - 2015.09
Collaborative Provision Support Officer
Open University Validation Services, London
2002.01 - 2003.12
Executive Officer/Administrative Officer
Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA)
1989.06 - 1991.10
NCFE - Elective 4: Supporting Clients with Learning Disabilities and Neurodiverse Conditions
Lime Culture
NCFE - ISVA Refresher Programme
Lime Culture
Mental Health First Aid
Training Qualifications UK - Level 3 Award in Education and Training
Training Qualifications UK
Advocacy and Negotiation Skills
Advonet Leeds
Postgraduate Certificate - Advocacy for Victims of Sexual Violence
University of Worcester
PGDip - Women's Studies
University of Westminster
Challenging Police and CPS decisions
Centre for Women's Justice
BA Hons - Combined Studies in French
City of London Polytechnic