Jo
Project Manager
Jo is one of the founders and Project Manager for ID Essence. She has been involved in setting up and delivering the project in women’s prisons in London and the South East since 2012. Jo has the privilege of managing the ID Essence team, as well as having responsibility for the overall growth and direction of the project and delivering some of the front-line support work both in prison and the community.
Jo has been involved in prison and criminal justice work more generally since 2008 and has a background in Theology, Criminology & Criminal Justice, and youth work.
Jo is passionate about people in prison not being overlooked or forgotten, but being treated with the love and compassion they deserve and welcomed back into society.
KEZ
Prison Team Lead
Kez has been part of the ID Essence team since March 2019, initially working part-time for the project assisting with admin, communications, and social media, she started as a full-time Prison & Community Support Worker in July 2021. Kez is now Prison Team Lead and continues to work both inside and outside.
In the prison Kez delivers myLife courses to around 6-8 women in 1-to-1 settings, and ad hoc pastoral support to more young adults who engage with ID Essence in the prison. In the community Kez provides support to individuals after their release from prison back into the community, whether that be through pastoral phone calls and meet ups, or assisting with practical tasks they need help with.
Kez is an English Literature graduate and before joining ID Essence worked in different criminal justice settings delivering barista training.
TENNIKA
Community Team Lead
Tennika joined the team in January 2020. Tennika is passionate about helping women who have been to prison to succeed in life. Tennika supports young women in the community, through pastoral and practical help, face to face and through the phone.
Part of Tennika’s job is to connect with organisations that those we support, and the charity, could benefit from and progress with. Tennika oversees ID Essence community volunteers, distributing tasks the women on our community caseload need help with.
Tennika has an academic background in criminology, policing and forensics and further studies in criminal psychology MSc.
SUNNIE
Prisons & Community Worker (job share)
Sunnie joined the ID Essence team in early 2024. She has personal experience of the criminal justice system as well as a degree in criminology and psychology. Sunnie has always had a passion for supporting young people in the criminal justice system. As someone with lived experience she has a great set of skills in addition to her qualifications that make her relatable and very understanding. She knows first hand what women in prisons experience and can effectively contribute to the development of the young adults we support.
Sunnie is doing a job share as Prisons & Community Worker, with her focus being on the community support. Sunnie works to provide community support for young adults after they leave prison and helping with the running and growth of the community support services that we provide.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN OUR TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS?
If you are interested in volunteering and would like to know more about how to get involved then please get in touch at info@idessence.org
KELIE
Kelie was our Prisons & Community Worker from January 2022 -January 2024. Kelie has moved on to a new role in a different organisation now, but remains part of the ID Essence family as a volunteer. Kelie is passionate about the treatment of women in the criminal justice system and believes everyone deserves the opportunity to better themselves.