Department For Education
How regional further and higher education Prevent co-ordinators can help providers
Regional further and higher education Prevent co-ordinators play a key role in the delivery of Prevent, providing further education (FE) and higher education (HE) providers with support to build resilience against the dangers of radicalisation.
They do this through strategic engagement with senior leaders and through the provision of advice, support and training (including WRAP - workshops to raise awareness of Prevent) to staff in:
- universities
- colleges
- independent HE providers
- apprenticeship providers
- employer based learning providers
- other forms of FE and HE
They help co-ordinate stakeholders involved in the delivery of Prevent in FE, HE and wider Prevent partners. This ensures there is a full and robust understanding of any regional threat and risk relating to FE and HE.
Their role might include:
- briefings to vice-chancellors, principals and governors
- delivering training
- engaging with students
- assisting with institutional policies
- attending compliance working groups and providing advice and guidance in support of referrals and external speaker requests
Co-ordinators act as the conduit between FE and HE providers and other stakeholders, including local authorities, Ofsted, Office for Students, the police, Home Office and Department for Education.
Head of the FE and HE Regional Delivery Network (Prevent and Counter Extremism)
Contact: Chris Rowell
Email: chris.rowell@education.gov.uk
The network is overseen by Chris Rowell as Head of the FE and HE Regional Delivery Network (Prevent and Counter Extremism). Prior to heading the network, Chris worked as London HE and FE Prevent co-ordinator since October 2018. Before that role, Chris worked as part of the HE Prevent monitoring team at the Office for Students (and before that HEFCE) since 2015 when Prevent became a statutory duty on the sector.
Chris also spent a brief period of time in 2017 seconded to the Department for Education Prevent and counter-extremism policy team. Before his various Prevent related roles, Chris held other roles in HEFCE and in government departments, including the Home Office where he made decisions on claims for asylum and humanitarian protection.
North East and Yorkshire
Contact: Chris Sybenga
Email: chris.sybenga@education.gov.uk
Christopher is an experienced leader with accomplished decision-making skills honed throughout a 30-year career as a detective within law enforcement. Christopher retired from Northumbria Police as Head of Special Branch gaining experience in all aspects of the governments CONTEST strategy and in particular Prevent. Christopher holds a qualifying law degree from the University of Northumbria and is a member of the National Counter Terrorism Advisory Group. In addition he volunteers within the community serving as a magistrate.
North West
Contact: Nigel Lund
Email: nigel.lund@education.gov.uk
Before becoming an FE and HE co-ordinator, Nigel was a police officer with Lancashire Constabulary for 33 years, where he received numerous awards, including the community police officer of the year, and commendations for consistently good police work and setting up multi-agency partnership teams, projects and initiatives which received both national and international recognition.
In the latter part of his police career, Nigel worked as a sergeant in the Counter Terrorism Branch. He provided support to a number of vulnerable individuals who were at risk of being radicalised and becoming terrorists, successfully preventing them from getting involved by guiding them down a different path.
West Midlands
Contact: Alamgir Sheriyar
Email:alamgir.sheriyar@education.gov.uk
Alamgir has occupied a number of posts around Prevent including in local delivery whilst working for the Government Offices for the South East, developing and delivering safeguarding products like Zak and Behind Closed Door for the University of Kent and working as a Prevent engagement officer for Kent Police. Prior to working in Prevent, Alamgir worked as a professional cricketer for 17 years and is still actively involved in developing county cricketers for the future.
East Midlands
Contact: Sam Slack
Email: sam.slack@education.gov.uk
Since 2013, Sam has worked closely with a huge range of organisations across the HE and FE sectors predominantly in the East Midlands and also the North East (2015 to 2017) supporting them to implement the Prevent duty. Sams work has in particular focused on issues connected to free speech and external speakers at universities, as well as the challenges faced across the work based learning sector to embed the Prevent duty.
Sam has completed terrorism studies with Universities of Leiden, Maryland, Tel Aviv and Derby. He is qualified to the highest level as a safeguarding lead. Prior to this Sam enjoyed a successful career in the police as senior detective, firearms officer and commander and completed the national Police Senior Leadership programme. He was a trustee of a rape crisis charity for 8 years and was chair for 4 years until 2017.
Eastern England
Contact: Dave Layton-Scott
Email: david.layton-scott@education.gov.uk
Dave has been in post covering the East of England since Sept 2017, and during that time he has been working at establishing links with both further and higher education providers in the region. As part of this work Dave has set up county wide forums at which delegates from FE or HE can discuss concerns and share good practice whilst receiving both a national and local Prevent update.
South West
Contact: Cheri Fayers
Email: Cheri.FAYERS@education.gov.uk
Cheri has worked for the Department for Education (DfE) in a number of leadership roles including in the Regional Schools Commissioners Office and Education Skills Agency, giving her a strong foundation in operational delivery in education. Prior to working for the DfE, Cheri worked as Head of Anti-social Behaviour and Community Safety in a local authority and served as an operational police officer.
South East
Contact: Alamgir Sheriyar
Email: alamgir.sheriyar@education.gov.uk
Alamgir has occupied a number of posts around Prevent including in local delivery whilst working for the Government Offices for the South East, developing and delivering safeguarding products like Zak and Behind Closed Door for the University of Kent and working as a Prevent Engagement Officer for Kent Police. Prior to working in Prevent, Alamgir worked as a professional cricketer for 17 years and is still actively involved in developing county cricketers for the future.
London
Contact: Jennie Fisher
Email: jennie.fisher@education.gov.uk
Jennie has worked within both the FE and HE sector for years in roles ranging from student facing support to senior management. Jennie is trained to a high level in safeguarding and has experience in the role of safeguarding lead alongside first-hand experience of supporting vulnerable students. She has a masters degree in Jewish History and Culture from the University of Southampton and has volunteered with the London Jewish community for years.
Jennie has an interest in the intersection between gaming, online content, and extremism. She ensures she is up to date with developments in