Gemma is a Director of the Bluestar Project. She is the CEO of the Green House and a survivor activist. She is a researcher by background. Her research is grounded in experience of working frontline within the domestic abuse and sexual violence sectors and reflects a commitment to survivor-led services.

Emma is a Director of the Bluestar Project. She is the co-founder of the Lighthouse service, the first Barnahus (Child House) in the UK. For the last 15 years she has led change in health and social care with a focus on integrated services to support children and adults.

Candice Harris is a South African author of Indescribable, a critically acclaimed book about her childhood sexual abuse. As a Lived Experience Consultant, she supports children and families impacted by CSA and brings an essential survivor-led perspective to the field. Candice has extensive experience co-delivering parent support courses with clinicians, and she speaks internationally to challenge stigma, inspire change, and elevate the voices of survivors.

Sonia brings a wealth of VAWG experience having held national strategic and operational roles in the voluntary sector and for a national policing programme. Sonia also worked as an ISVA for 10 years and understands the complexities of practice. Sonia has a particular interest in Safeguarding and volunteers as a Specialist Advisor to a local charity.

Kat Barton is a Bluestar Associate Trainer and a Mental Health Social Worker. She has a background in policy advocacy, campaigning, and grassroots activism. She currently works in the NHS supporting adults with mental health difficulties via 1:1 and group interventions. She also works as a facilitator on an awareness raising course for perpetrators of domestic abuse and is undertaking training in family therapy.

A social worker by training with 30 years’ experience, Eimear is practice development manager and safeguarding lead in the Lighthouse, the UK’s first Barnahus. Eimear is a passionate advocate for multidisciplinary services in responding to child sexual abuse and supporting the role of front-line workers in helpfully responding to children who have been abused.

Stephanie joined the Bluestar programme in 2023, after being involved with the accreditation and pre-trial therapy training pilot, and Best Practice Advisory Group. Steph’s career has focused supporting on children, families and adults who have been affected by crime or the actions of others, and she is experienced in providing practical support, emotional support, and advocacy in this area.

Having worked as a therapist, project manager and founder CEO in services for children, young people and safe family members affected by child sexual abuse; Cath is now CEO at Imara, a charity based in Nottingham/shire. Cath is passionate about developing a best practice approach and to listening with care to those children, young people, and their safe family in order to come alongside them and make a difference.

Alice Hunt is a therapeutic counsellor working for the Be Safe Service in CAMHS in Bristol supporting children, young people and families. Alice has worked for over 20 years in the public and voluntary sector specialising in working therapeutically with adults and young people with complex needs in a variety of settings.

Shelley has a background in system change having led a place based programme to prevent child sexual abuse in Plymouth. Shelley is a co-founder of the Trauma Informed Plymouth Network and continues to support the city on its journey to be more trauma informed through her voluntary work and role as the Justice Branch facilitator. Shelley worked in commissioning for 15 years using her passion for community development and social justice to inform service development.