The people helping to shape and grow Tambu Ayis Support Service

Miranda

Founder, Director, Chair and Advocate

Domestic abuse, gender-based violence, trauma, advocacy, women’s empowerment, community development and survivor-informed support.

Miranda is the Founder of Tambu Ayis Support Service and brings extensive experience of working with vulnerable people, families and communities from 1998 to the present day. Her professional background includes work across local authority, charity, NHS and private sector settings, in both frontline and back-office roles.

Miranda has worked with lone parents, families, migrants, people with English as an additional language, long-term unemployed people, and individuals who have experienced abuse, trauma and disadvantage. Her specialist area is supporting people affected by gender-based violence, domestic abuse and trauma. She has been a registered social worker since 2019.

Miranda’s passion for community support is also rooted in her own background. She grew up on a council estate in Islington, North London, raised by a single mother alongside three siblings. Her mother worked hard to support the family and was deeply committed to helping others in the community. This early example of service, resilience and community care helped shape Miranda’s own commitment to advocacy and social justice.

Miranda founded TASS after seeing gaps in support for women after they had escaped domestic abuse. She wanted to create an organisation that could offer encouragement, empowerment and practical support beyond the immediate crisis stage, while also listening to women and girls about what they need from services.

Through TASS, Miranda hopes to empower women and girls of African and Caribbean heritage to reach their full emotional and psychological potential, overcome barriers, feel safer in their lives and contribute to healthier communities.

Her long-term vision is for TASS to become known across the UK for its understanding of gender-based violence, culturally informed support, survivor empowerment and community-led change. She hopes TASS will continue to build partnerships, strengthen the “Sistahood”, and develop mentoring, intergenerational conversations and community encouragement for young people and adults.

“TASS is about empowering women and girls to know that they are worthy, capable and stronger than they think.”

Emma

Trustee & Social Media / Communications Lead

Social media, communications, women’s empowerment, youth and family support, community engagement and event planning.

Emma brings a wide range of professional, personal and community experience to her role as a Trustee of TASS. She worked in a school for 22 years, including 20 years as a Special Needs and Behavioural Assistant, supporting children and young people with additional, emotional and behavioural needs. Through this work, Emma developed strong experience in safeguarding, advocacy, communication, inclusion, family support and working alongside professionals.

Within TASS, Emma supports areas including social media and communications, domestic abuse awareness, women’s empowerment, fundraising, youth and family support, community engagement, event planning and organisation. She is passionate about helping TASS strengthen its presence within the community and making information, support and encouragement more accessible to women and families who may need it.

Emma chose to become part of TASS because she believes in supporting women whose experiences can sometimes be overlooked, misunderstood or unheard. She brings compassion, empathy and lived experience to the role, alongside a strong belief in helping others and contributing to meaningful community-led change.

Emma hopes to see TASS grow into a strong, sustainable and trusted organisation with a regularly staffed office and safe community space where women and families can be listened to, understood and supported with dignity.

“For me, TASS represents support, understanding, empowerment and hope.”

Kim

Trustee/Director

Human resources, careers development, social value, community engagement, advocacy, employment support and organisational development.

Kim brings a strong background in human resources, careers development, community engagement and social value work to her role as a Trustee of TASS. She studied Human Resource Management and accountancy, and her career has included work across the Department for Work and Pensions, housing associations, regeneration projects, community partnerships and corporate social value programmes.

Kim has worked across London supporting local authority social mobility commitments, skills development, employment pathways and training opportunities for underrepresented communities. Her experience has included managing community budgets, working with grassroots organisations, colleges, universities, charities, local authorities and employers, and advocating for approaches that create real outcomes for residents rather than tick-box activity.

Kim currently works in a corporate HR and careers-focused role, where she continues to influence work around social value and community opportunity. She is particularly passionate about supporting people who face barriers to employment, confidence, wellbeing and progression, including care leavers, people with previous offending histories, women with low confidence, and people who have experienced vulnerable or difficult circumstances.

Alongside her professional work, Kim also has experience of running a small CIC and engaging with conferences and events to raise awareness of social issues and community barriers. She brings a strong understanding of how systems, inequality and lack of opportunity can affect people’s ability to move forward.

Kim was proud to be asked to become a Trustee of TASS. She brings both professional knowledge and personal understanding of the impact of control, coercion, disempowerment, boundary violations and imbalanced power within relationships and communities. She recognises that abuse does not always involve physical harm, and that harmful patterns can become normalised across generations.

Kim is passionate about contributing to TASS’s work to challenge abuse, strengthen advocacy and support women and girls who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic abuse and gender-based violence. She is particularly interested in being involved in working groups and focus group conversations that help shape relevant, meaningful and survivor-informed support.

Kim values TASS as a grassroots organisation led with dedication, experience and purpose, and is committed to supporting its growth as it continues to advocate for women, families and communities affected by abuse.

“For me, TASS represents meaningful advocacy, survivor-informed support and the opportunity to be part of change that makes a real difference.”