Melanie Jones, a dedicated social worker and a founding member of the Wirral Rape Crisis Counselling Service, has passed away at the age of 71. Her friend and colleague paid tribute to her life and work.
Early Life and Education
Born in Wallasey, Merseyside, Mel was one of five children. Her mother, Mamie (nee Richards), worked as a care assistant in a home for elderly people, while her father, John Jones, was a shipyard sheet metal worker. She attended St Georges secondary modern school in Leasowe and later went to Liverpool University, where she earned a degree in sociology in 1988. She subsequently obtained a postgraduate diploma in counselling from Liverpool John Moores University.
Founding Wirral Rape Crisis Counselling Service
In 1986, Mel helped establish the Wirral Rape Crisis Counselling Service with a small group of women in Wallasey. The initiative was sparked by the murder and sexual assault of Diane Sindall, a 21-year-old local florist. Initially, the group focused on erecting a memorial to Diane, fundraising in pubs and organizing a well-attended "Reclaim the Night" march that followed the route of Diane's final journey. They unveiled a stone on Borough Road in Birkenhead. However, the women soon shifted their focus after realizing many within their group were survivors of sexual assault.
The service, staffed by volunteers, provided one-to-one counselling for hundreds of women over the years. It also trained police officers in how to deal with survivors of rape and sexual assault. From its humble beginnings, it has grown into a Merseyside-wide organization known as RASA.
Career in Social Work
Mel's first job was as a counsellor at the Merseyside Drugs Council in Birkenhead in 1993. After gaining a social work qualification from Liverpool John Moores University in 2002, she spent three years as a social worker for Wirral social services. During that time, she also completed a year's employment at WISH (Women in Secure Environments).
In 2005, she moved to neighbouring Flintshire County Council as a social worker supporting people with addictions, remaining there until her retirement in 2020. She loved her job and excelled at it, known for her unwavering pragmatism, sense of humour, and ability to believe in people. She invariably helped her clients achieve the best outcomes for themselves.
Personal Life and Interests
An adventurous horsewoman, Mel went on a solo Andalusian trekking holiday in 2013 and bonded with a horse named Gria, which she brought back home. She had previously owned other horses and showed a fearless talent for handling eccentric members of the species.
Mel was married to Thomas Hoare in 1975; they divorced in 1992. She is survived by their three children, Becky, Daniel, and Matthew, and four grandchildren, Holly, Joe, Kira, and Leo.
