As part of Resolve 30 we’re celebrating the people, partnerships and progress that have defined three decades of community safety and looking ahead to the future we’re building together. And who better to begin with than our own Jacky Ellison, Head of Learning and Development at Resolve, a practitioner, pioneer and passionate advocate who’s spent 30 years driving change.
“It’s amazing to see how much progress has been made and how many people have been helped because of the work done across the sector.”
A chance encounter that sparked a career
Jacky’s journey into community safety began unexpectedly. At 29, working in housing finance at Manchester City Council, she spotted a role in the city’s newly formed ASB team which was the first of its kind in the country.
“The job had everything I loved with casework, legal work and working with residents. I just thought, this looks really exciting.”
That decision marked the start of a career that would span local government, community safety partnerships and would eventually lead to her role at Resolve.
A baptism of fire at a time of a sector in its infancy
Like many early practitioners, Jacky entered the field with little formal guidance. The Manchester team had just four caseworkers covering 80,000 properties, and every case was at crisis point.
“There were no frameworks, no training and no real tools. Even solicitors and judges were unfamiliar with ASB cases. We had to build processes from scratch.”
That pioneering spirit, collaborative, creative and community-first, set the tone for Jacky’s career and for the sector’s evolution.
Early impressions of Resolve
Long before joining the organisation, Jacky was aware of Resolve’s origins as the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group (SLCNG).
“Our Principal Team Leader was involved with SLCNG, and our Housing Director was one of its founding members. We saw how Resolve was lobbying for change, shaping policy, and giving practitioners the tools they needed.”
That early exposure to Resolve’s values, advocacy, innovation and sector leadership left a lasting impression.
How ASB Practice Has Evolved
Jacky reflects on the transformation of ASB practice over the past 30 years from reactive casework to proactive, multi-agency approaches.
“We now have injunctions, closure powers, and community triggers which are all things we didn’t have at the start. But the human side hasn’t changed. It’s still about empathy and persistence, with an understanding that every case represents someone’s real life.”
She also highlights the growing complexity of cases, with issues like mental health, exploitation, and vulnerability now central to ASB work.
“Practitioners today need a broader skill set including safeguarding, partnership working and community engagement. The expectations are higher and the resources are tighter.”
Leading Learning and Development at Resolve
Now heading up Resolve’s national training programme, Jacky draws deeply on her frontline experience to shape practitioner development.
“Our training isn’t just about legislation. It’s about judgement, communication and how to handle people in difficult situations. Everything we do is about making sure practitioners feel ready to act.”
Resolve’s training offer is now regarded as the gold standard in ASB and community safety learning as it supports professionals across housing, policing and local government.
What Resolve 30 means
As Resolve marks three decades of impact, Jacky reflects on the journey and the enduring values that continue to drive the organisation.
“Resolve 30 is about recognising how far we’ve come. That passion for safer communities that drove Resolve 30 years ago is still what drives us now. It’s what keeps me motivated every single day.”
Resolve 30 - this is our moment to celebrate a legacy of safer communities
2025 marks 30 years since Resolve was founded. Throughout the year, we’re celebrating the people, partnerships and progress that have defined three decades of community safety and looking ahead to the future we’re building together.
