Director

I have been working in the refugee & migrant sector for 18 years, in a number of roles and for a number of organisations including the Refugee Legal Centre, Asylum Aid, the Terrence Higgins Trust and Praxis Community Projects. I am passionate about the essential work done by the voluntary refugee & migrant sector, and particularly about the current crisis in access to justice that means so few people have access to the free, competent legal advice they deserve. I am also a firm believer in the skills and abilities of refugees and migrants to create their own change. I am excited to have been given the opportunity to lead Voices in Exile at such a critical moment for migrants in the UK, and look forward to the challenge of sustaining, nourishing and developing our work well into the future.

Head of Services

I have been co-ordinating and managing provision that supports people to access services and learning for 25 years in a variety of contexts and roles. My work at Voices in Exile also includes deputising for our director, project management, fundraising, monitoring and evaluation, operational management and strategic development, and I chair the Brighton & Hove ESOL Network. At Voices in Exile, access to justice is key, and we use an asset-based approach in all we do, working with people to identify their strengths to tackle the physical, mental and practical challenges they face. Underpinning my work is the view that education and knowledge are necessarily transformative of the ways in which individuals view themselves and others – and, crucially, how they inform power relationships and the potential for equality.

Resettlement Manager

I joined Voices in Exile in March 2024 having worked in the voluntary sector with vulnerable adults for over 20 years in Brighton and Hove. I previously worked in the debt and welfare benefits sector. As the Resettlement manager I work with the  Caseworkers to help resettled refugees integrate into their new homes and communities over their first 3 years here, so that they are able to feel confident about accessing services and activities for a fulfilling life in Brighton and Hove.

Generalist & Resettlement Caseworker

I have always been interested in working with refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers. This stems from my own personal experience of living in Sudan and from my family life. My dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable communities inspired me to study international development with Arabic at university. I provide generalist advice and support as well as working with long term clients as part of my casework. I am proud to be part of the VIE team because it has given me the opportunity to work directly with refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. The VIE team are extremely supportive and have provided me with an incredible opportunity to learn and expand my knowledge on issues that vulnerable communities face and how I can help.

Resettlement Caseworker

I have worked with refugee and migrant communities in the UK and Europe since 2016, first as a volunteer and more recently through various community roles in Brighton and Hove. I also recently studied a masters in Applied Anthropology and Community Arts at Goldsmiths where I gained a deeper theoretical understanding of community work and expanded my practice and skills.

My work takes a holistic and intersectional approach and is rooted in the core community work values of social justice, equality, community empowerment and collective action and learning. I am proud to be part of the team at Voices, supporting people to build connections, access services and understand their rights as they resettle into the local community.

Volunteer Coordinator

I have over 10 years’ experience as a volunteer coordinator across Brighton & Hove, and I am dedicated to cultivating the inclusive and welcoming volunteer community at Voices in Exile. We rely heavily on our volunteer base, and I strive to make each and every volunteer feel included, appreciated, and supported. I believe volunteering opportunities should be an accessible path for everyone to get involved in their local community, and support the integration of service users into the world of volunteering and the benefits that this offers to them.

ESOL Tutor

I joined ViE in 2022 as a volunteer.  After a career spent teaching English I was keen to transfer my skills towards teaching ESOL. In 2023 I attended  the 12 week course run by Brighton Council in teaching ESOL from absolute beginner level to Level 2. I was then in a position to take up the post of ESOL teacher to our resettlement clients. Many of our clients bring their pre-school children with them. We have two lovely child minders who enable mothers and fathers to focus on their learning in a warm and supportive environment. I also have assistance from four outstanding volunteers.

Finance Officer

I am a qualified accountant with experience working across a range of sectors.  My role at Voices in Exile involves dealing with the day-to-day finances and the management accounts of the organisation.

Administrator

I have worked in administration for 15 years, and have also volunteered with local charities in Brighton. I am proud to join the VIE team who deliver vital services and give hope to vulnerable migrants and refugees, and help them to settle and thrive within our community. I look forward to supporting the charity’s clients, staff, volunteers and trustees.

I became a trustee of Voices in February 2017 after volunteering at the food bank. I am a barrister practising in social housing law. I previously worked at the Low Pay Unit campaigning for a national minimum wage. I wanted to be part of Voices to help sustain and expand its vital work.

I joined ViE as a volunteer in March 2018 and became a trustee in March 2020. I arrived in the UK as a refugee and I grew up hearing of the vital support and nurture received by my family from the voluntary sector. As a volunteer, I quickly came to appreciate the commitment, breadth of service and significant impact of the Voices in Exile family, which motivated me to become a trustee. I have a legal background and a strong instinct for sound and ethical governance, which I hope to bring to that role.

I have a keen interest in the migration and integration policy areas as well as interest and experience in developing service provision. I am currently head of the migration programme at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and was previously Social Protection Programme Manager at the Overseas Development Institute and Deputy Chief Executive at Praxis Community Projects, an organisation supporting vulnerable migrants in London, where I led the development of the ‘Challenging Exclusion’ strategy as well as its highly successful youth programme, giving a voice to young asylum seekers and young people with irregular status using participatory arts. I am an experienced trustee committed to promoting good governance.