About Us
We are a group of passionate abolitionists who want to take an active stand against the brutal injustices of human trafficking and modern day slavery which are happening all around us. We believe that together we can make a difference in our corner of the world.
In 2017 a handful of us began meeting regularly in our homes, to educate ourselves on this issue both globally and locally. We quickly realised we needed to use our voices to speak up on behalf of those whose voice could not be heard and began running awareness raising events in our local community. We carried out research and put together resources to empower change. We quickly connected with frontline organisations working directly with victims and survivors and supported them by gathering useful donations, fundraising, speaking at events and generally using our personal networks and social media platforms for good.
Some team members have been engaged in this fight for years, others just started dipping their toes in as they felt their hearts stirred to actively take part in the solution. Some have befriended survivors and others hosted them in their home.
Today we are a part of the Oxfordshire Anti-Slavery Network, a multi-agency group including Thames Valley Police, working to end modern slavery in the county, and we continue using our voices through our social media platforms and awareness raising events.
We are very excited to soon be launching a befriending service tailored to the needs of survivors. This Befriender programme is the first ASIOX project to practically care for survivors of human trafficking and modern day slavery. Our hope is that it will be a meaningful part of their restorative journey.
MEMBERSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Oxfordshire Anti-Slavery Network
A grouping of Oxfordshire agencies working to end modern slavery in the county
The Trustees of ASIOX are delighted to announce that
we are now a registered charity!
We are especially grateful to the survivors who have allowed us the privilege of being in their lives and of hearing their stories. Your stories have changed us and our understanding and are helping us shape what we do. Thank you.
We are so grateful for all of our amazing volunteers who have contributed so much time, skill, energy, wisdom and support along the way; we wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for you!
We also value the many partnerships we have made and look forward to growing and developing them in the years to come.
Thank you to those especially who have believed in us and cheered us on. Kevin Hyland OBE, Hope at Home, Unseen & the Modern Slavery Helpline, Justice in Motion Flo's - The Place in the Park to name a few!
MEET THE TRUSTEES
Sue Brockes-Smith
Co-founder & Operational Lead
Sue is the Co-founder and one of the Trustees running the day-to-day operations of ASIOX. Sue first became involved with the abolitionist movement in 2008, when she was made aware of children being abducted and forced to become soldiers in the LRA in northern Uganda. She joined with others in raising awareness about this humanitarian crisis and was struck by the generosity of men and women who responded with kindness when they heard the story. From that point, Sue has passionately told the many stories of those she has encountered and heard about and continues to raise awareness about the horror of human trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation. Over the last 3 years she has directly supported survivors in a personal way. Wanting to give more of her time and energy to this cause, in 2018 she took the next step of leaving her job as a conference organiser in the University of Oxford.
In her spare time Sue loves to undertake creative projects and to spend time outdoors, cycling and walking or at her allotment. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and family, both in Oxford and overseas.
Amabel Larosa Luers
Co-founder
Amabel is the Co-founder and one of the Trustees of ASIOX. She previously worked with young women exploited in the commercial sex trade in the United States, leading human trafficking awareness trainings and working directly to support survivors in their recovery process. Since moving to Oxford in 2014, she has volunteered as a speaker, researcher, fundraiser and community mobiliser with UK-based anti-slavery organisations. Amabel is passionate about engaging those around her with this important issue, seeking justice and seeing dignity and hope restored in the lives of survivors.
Amabel’s other passions are contemporary dance and spending quality time with her family spread across the UK, Italy and the US.
Caroline Chelliah
Chair
Caroline is honoured to serve ASIOX as a Trustee and Chair to the Board. She is a new mum and currently on maternity leave but ordinarily works as a property solicitor in Oxford. Caroline’s journey with anti-trafficking started in India in 2009 when she volunteered with a charity there. Her eyes were opened to the horrendous reality that is modern day slavery and she was moved to find out more upon her return to the UK. Since 2009 Caroline has volunteered with various charities in London and Oxford, taken part in awareness raising campaigns, fundraised, spoken with the media, chaired Q&A sessions and events and generally connected with what is going on in the community around this issue.
In her free time Caroline loves to go travelling with her husband (although still working out what that will look like with a little person!) and being in the outdoors, preferably on a bike.
David Calfo
Trustee
David Calfo has over 25 years experience in Financial Services in the US and Europe. In capacities as both a Senior Executive and as an Advisor he has established, managed and consulted to pensions and investment businesses for some of the largest Financial Services firms. Currently, he is a private equity investor and non-executive director to several start-ups and early-stage companies using his skills as a strategic leader taking initiative on business ideas and suggestions from his extensive background within the financial services industry.
David has also worked with a number of charities over the years and more recently has become increasingly aware of the issues and challenges of modern-day slavery. Initially through Unseen, then leading the effort to recruit and appoint a UK Executive Director for Hagar and more recently participating in the Befriender pilot program with ASIOX, these have all served to both inform and heighten the acute need that exists. The experience of befriending a survivor of modern-day slavery was particularly insightful as it provided a glimpse into the lives of those personally impacted by these atrocities.
In his spare time, David enjoys going on walks with his dog, reading, having deep conversations with friends and attending football matches with one of his sons.
Ruth Tilt
Trustee
Ruth is grateful to be joining the Trustee board of ASIOX. Her journey of becoming aware of modern day slavery started with studying a degree in police studies, being involved in student and youth engagement on raising awareness of modern day slavery, as well as during some international trips. Ruth recently worked for several years within the international development sector. Having spent 13 years working in the social enterprise and charity sectors, she is keen to learn more in order to support the organisation with her experience.
Ruth is passionate about music, enthusiastic about travelling and her favourite author is John Grisham.