Donna Covey, Chief Executive Refugee Council
Donna Covey has been Chief Executive of the Refugee Council since 29 May 2007. The Refugee Council is the leading charity in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees.
Prior to that, Donna was Chief Executive of Asthma UK for five years, having previously been Director of the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales.
This followed a long career as an official with the GMB Union, where her duties included being the National Officer responsible for equal rights. During this time, Donna spent ten years as a member of the TUC General Council, and sat on a number of committees including the Executive Committee, the Women’s Committee and the Race Committee.
In her current role, she chairs the Asylum Support Partnership, co-chairs the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum and sits on the London Strategic Migration Partnership.
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
Daoud Zaaroura, Conference Chair and Chief Executive of North of England Refugee service
Daoud Zaaroura has been involved with the North of England Refugee Service from its early beginnings and is currently the Chief Executive of the organisation.
An ex-refugee, Daoud has worked with refugees and homeless people since arriving in the United Kingdom and is involved with various community groups, voluntary and national organisations, such as, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations’ Assembly, the Institute for Public Policy Research, the National Refugee Integration Forum, the Regional Refugee Forum North East and the Black and Ethnic Community Organisations’ Network.
Daoud is a qualified social work practice teacher and includes within his areas of expertise - Refugees, Homelessness, Community Development, Housing and Charity Organisation Management.
Roland Schilling, UNHCR Representative in London
Roland Schilling took up his post as UNHCR Representative in London in July 2009. He arrived in the UK after four years in Ankara as the refugee agency’s Deputy Representative, where he oversaw refugee protection activities and supported the Turkish Government in establishing a national asylum system. From 2002 – 2005 he served as Deputy Representative for UNHCR in Sri Lanka, where he managed field activities and re-integration support to internally displaced persons. Following the tsunami disaster he coordinated the UN humanitarian work in the vital shelter sector.
http://www.unhcr.org.uk/
Mike Kaye, Still Human, Still Here
Mike Kaye currently manages the campaigns and advocacy work for Still Human Still Here, which is a coalition of more than 40 organisations that are campaigning together to end the destitution of refused asylum seekers in the UK. His previous jobs include working as Communications Manager for Anti-Slavery International, Parliamentary Officer for Refugee Council, Policy Officer for the Central America Human Rights Committee and three years working in Central America during the civil wars.
http://stillhumanstillhere.wordpress.com/
Bini Araia, Trustee, Regional Refugee Forum North East
(details to follow)
http://www.refugeevoices.org.uk/
Yvonne Cass, Chair, Northern Refugee Centre
I was born in Durban, South Africa. I am the mother of three children. Like many South Africans we have sacrificed a great deal in our lives. With our leaders, we fought against the injustices of apartheid and stood for democracy, justice respect and human rights. In 2006 I set up an organization called MARCO (Migrant Asylum Refugee Community Organisation) in Barnsley. Marco is run solely by volunteers and it offers support, advice, guidance and referrals to other agencies. I am currently Vice Chair of Refugee Council and Trustee of Northern Refugee Centre. I believe that we all belong to one race irrespective of our differences and culture; we are global citizens.
http://www.nrcentre.org.uk/
Arten Llazari, Chief Executive, Refugee and Migrant Centre
Arten is the CEO of the Black Country Refugee & Migrant Centre. He was one of the volunteers that, in 1999 set up this advice and advocacy service in Wolverhampton. The centre has now developed into a well established organisation that operates across the region and provides a wide range of services. It assists thousands of asylum seekers, refugees and new migrants from over 120 different nationalities living in the Black Country.
Arten is also involved in several initiatives, both regionally and nationally (e.g. Vice-Chair of Migrant’s Rights Network, member of Housing & Migration Network, board member of West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership and his local Citizens Advice Bureau).
http://www.rmcentre.org.uk/
Churches Together Network
Churches Together in England and Ireland is a network of multi-faith churches who work together on key issues; including ‘Action on Asylum and Refugees’. Churches Together campaigns and raises awareness on key issues in asylum such as detention and destitution, they were also actively involved in the Sanctuary Pledge. Shari Brown will be talking about Churches Together, West Midlands.
http://www.ctbi.org.uk/
http://www.ctbi.org.uk/CH/37
http://sanctuarypledge.org.uk/
NILE African Development Organisation
Nile African Development Organisation is a charity based in Bradford. It was set up to help refugees and asylum seekers and international students from Africa arriving in West Yorkshire. Its work includes signposting new arrivals to mainstream services, as well as offering advice and support on practical issues such as access to healthcare. The team also runs a social enterprise which is a small shop selling beauty and hair products to the African communities and anyone who wants to buy them. This helps generate income to go back into the community. David Ndiwunyu will be talking about NILE African Development Organisation.
http://www.nileafrica.org/
Manchester Refugee Support Network
Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN) is a grass-roots organisation managed by refugee communities. It works to support and empower Greater Manchester’s refugee communities to help establish strong organisations with the aim of reducing levels of stress, unemployment, poverty and isolation for refugees. To give refugees a voice and to increase public awareness on asylum issues and increase positive media representation. Lawrence Carter will be talking about the work of Manchester Refugee Support Network.
http://www.mrsn.org.uk/
RAMFEL
Refugee and Migrant Forum of East London (RAMFEL) was Originally established in 1992 as Redbridge Refugee Forum, in 2007 it changed its name to better reflect its work across London, and also to develop new services for migrants. RAMFEL’s work includes an advice service, English classes, work with young refugee, migrant and asylum seeking children and campaigning work on issues such as destitution and the right to work for people seeking asylum. Rita Chadha will be talking about the work of RAMFEL.
http://www.ramfel.org.uk/index.php
Gateway Project
The UK government has established a resettlement scheme for vulnerable refugees who are in need of long-term protection called the Gateway Project. The Refugee Council is one of seven agencies providing specialist support services for resettled refugees in the Yorkshire and Humberside region and in the East of England, Norwich in partnership with the Red Cross in Norwich. Groups of resettled refugees are supported for 12 months by a team of staff which includes project workers, community development workers and volunteer co-ordinators. Support includes housing, help finding employment and English classes. Rachael Hardiman (Refugee Council) and Rick Jones (Refugee Action) will be talking about the Gateway Project.
http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/howwehelp/directly/resettlement/index
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
www.refugee-action.org.uk
