Our Staff

Debbie Powell - Executive Manager
Debbie joined CASBA in May 2019 as Executive Manager. She has 20 years’ experience of advocating for people with learning disabilities and was previously the manager of an advocacy charity in Solihull. She believes that advocacy has the power to transform the lives of people with learning disabilities, giving them the confidence and encouragement to make positive changes and challenge discrimination. Alongside working, Debbie is studying for a MSc in Disability Studies at Norah Fry Research Centre, Bristol University. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her Border Collie, Rune and attempting to tame a very overgrown garden.

Heather Baseley – Operations Manager
Heather joined CASBA in February 2017. Heather has worked with people with Learning Disabilities for the last 30 years as a Residential Care manager and in Supporting People and Family Support. In her spare time Heather enjoys volunteering with a number of different organisations and spending time with family and friends and doing Zumba.

Janet Haywood – Parents Together Advocate
Before joining CASBA Janet worked with Adults with profound learning disabilities for six years and then became a community support worker. Janet joined CASBA ten years ago and worked on our Crisis project for five years. Janet then used her experience to work on CASBA Parents project as well as setting up and running our Choices and Changes Project providing support with finances. Janet has a degree in Art and Design and has a flair for all thing Creative she enjoys gardening, traveling and is a member of a Crown Green Bowling Team.

Tracy Morris – Parents Together Advocate
Tracy joined CASBA in 2000. She has had a few roles which included administrator and finance officer. In 2010 Tracy joined the Parents Project as the Prevention and Aftercare Advocate and completed her Advocacy qualification in 2012. When she is not at work Tracy spends her time with her family and enjoys reading and walking.

Jo Brandon - Parents Together Advocate
Jo joined CASBA in January 2018 as an advocate on the Parents Together Project. She is a trained counsellor and completed her degree in 2002. Jo previously worked at a University and at a family Centre for 20 years supporting families who were involved with children's services and court proceedings. She has worked with many survivors of abuse individually and in therapeutic groups.
Jo has two daughters and in her spare time she enjoys reading, swimming and spending time with her family outdoors (but only when the sun is shining!). She also enjoys travelling and hopes to travel more when the girls are older.

Alyson McMillan – Parents Network Coordinator and Safer Lives Safer Futures Advocate
Alyson joined CASBA in September 2015. Prior to this she worked for Birmingham City Council for 20 years mainly supporting adults with Learning Disabilities in both residential and community settings.
Alyson is a mum to 3 children and in her spare time enjoys reading and playing the piano.

Liz Hull - Choices and Changes Advocate
Liz joined CASBA in November 2017. She previously worked for another charity that supports people with Learning Disabilities in the local area.

Carly Williams – Mutual Carers and Safer Lives, Safer Futures Advocate
Carly joined CASBA as a staff member in April 2018. Prior to this, she worked as a volunteer within CASBA for two years, offering support on various projects, including the parents group and mutual carers. Carly volunteered for CASBA alongside attending University, where she studied for a degree in Psychology and Counselling. Before joining the charity sector she had worked within the Civil Service for 18 years. In her spare time Carly enjoys spending time with her three children, reading, and going on days out – preferably anywhere by the sea. She also volunteers as a High School Governor.

Marie Richards – Finance and Office Administrator
Marie joined CASBA in 2011 as Administrator. Prior to this she worked for 15 years at HSBC Bank in various departments including customer services and collections. Marie took on responsibility for Finance in 2013. In 2016 she was promoted to Finance and Office Administrator. Marie is a mom to two children who have very varied interests. In her spare time she loves spending time with her friends and eating out.

Becky Jones – Development and Volunteer Coordinator
Becky joined CASBA in 2014, having initially worked in the voluntary sector for 10 years as a Community Development Worker and then with Birmingham City Council for 23 years, in a number of different officer roles, working with communities and volunteers across the Inner City and East Birmingham. In her spare time Becky enjoys singing with a St Mary’s Hospice Choir and attending her local Women’s Institute.

Joe Peacock - Heritage Project Coordinator
Joe joined CASBA in September 2017 to coordinate CASBA's first Heritage Project collecting oral histories to record the experiences of people with learning difficulties, their families and those who supported them through their journey from living in institutions to life in the community. He has now started a second project about special schools in Birmingham over the last 50 years. Prior to this role he has worked in the charity sector for the past nine years, promoting issues such as human rights and combating discrimination, environmental protection and access to wildlife in urban areas. He has two young children who keep him busy, but also finds time to sing in a choir and loves walking and taking photos of wildlife.

Jennifer Brown - Heritage Project Assistant
Jennifer started working at CASBA in October 2019 as the Heritage Project Assistant. Jennifer loves Heritage railways and steam trains, often going on steam train holidays and days out to the Severn Valley Railway. Jennifer has supported the funding for the café/museum roof and the Falling sands viaduct. Jennifer has a son and used to train for the Paralympics.