Our team

Staff

Matthew Holman, Director

Matthew is in charge of the day-to-day management of Asylum Welcome.

Maira Bailey, Volunteer Coordinator

Maira recruits, trains and manages the volunteers who carry out the majority of Asylum Welcome’s work.

Saeeda Imaan, Youth Worker / Connexions Personal Advisor

Saeeda provides education, employment and training advice and support for young people aged between 13 and 19.

Emily Bowerman, Youth Worker

Emily provides a wide range of advice and support to young adults aged between 19 and 21.

Mark Burgess, Football Coach / Youth Club Organiser

Mark organises youth activities including the Venda Club and the All Nations Football Club.

Sub-committees and projects

Our sub-committees and project groups comprise volunteers and staff members:

• Planning Committee: Diana Tickell
• Advocacy Sub-Committee: Heather Steele, Nikki van der Gaag, Stephanie Kitchen
• Detention Sub-Committee: Tim Farrell
• Education Advice Team: Jean Kaye, Pat Newman, Lorna Hicks
• Food Cupboard Project:

Volunteers

“I’ve learnt a lot of new skills” Juliet, Detention Support Volunteer

In order to make maximum use of our limited funding, we have reduced our staff team and are turning increasingly to trained volunteers to provide a range of services for clients. Our service standards remain high, and we have a strong reputation for being professional, friendly and caring.

Asylum Welcome currently has approximately 200 volunteers, without whom the charity would not be able to function. Volunteers help run the office, organise fundraising events, and provide a range of information and advice services. Others act as Patrons or Trustees, and are members of our sub-committees and projects.

Patrons

Dr Uwe Kitzinger, CBE

Dr Kitzinger’s family found asylum in Britain in July 1939. He served as the first British economist of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, cabinet adviser in Brussels to the first British Vice-President of the European Commission, Dean of the European Institute of Business Management in Fontainebleau and the first President of Templeton College, Oxford. He is a former member of the Oxfam Council.

Professor Terence Ranger

Professor Ranger is a prominent African historian, focusing on the history of Zimbabwe. He is an emeritus fellow of St Antony’s College, Oxford, and previously held the chair of Rhodes Professor of Race Relations at the University. He and his wife Shelagh were instrumental in the formation of Asylum Welcome. In retirement, he is a fellow of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. He continues to be active in Zimbabwean asylum assessments, having written 200 reports on individual cases and appearing in all the Zimbabwe 'country judgement' cases in the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Board of Trustees

• Richard Taylor, Chair
• Diana Tickell, Deputy Chair
• Olive Gearing, Company Secretary
• Robert Howard Jones, Treasurer
• Carole Angier
• Mercedes Cumberbatch
• Tim Farrell
• Stephanie Kitchen
• Fiona Morrison
• Heather Steele
• Nikki van der Gaag
• Lucy Vickers

Consultants

• Paul Newman, Accountant

Asylum Welcome is a registered charity, no 1092265, and a company limited by guarantee, no 4361627.