Skip to main content

Meet the Team

The Bradford City of Sanctuary team is made up of two part-time members of staff, supported by Trustees and informed by our Advisory Group of people with lived experince of the asylum journey. Have a read below and meet the people behind the labels!

 

Advisory Group

Our Advisory Group of people with lived experience of the asylum journey ensure that our work accurately reflects the needs of sanctuary seekers in Bradford. The group helps with both our short and long term planning and decision making.

 

Kamil

Kamil is a founding member of the Advisory Group. Though he arrived in Bradford not so long ago, he has already gained valuable experience in making the city his home. He has established strong connections throughout Bradford and within the voluntary sector

 

Tina

I decided to join the Advisory group to give back to the community, to inspire young people and to learn new skills through networking. Besides this I actively find solutions to help my community, for example keeping my estate clean by picking litter.

 

Hui

I am a founding member of the Bradford City of Sanctuary Advisory Group and have lived in Bradford for 5 years. I am a mother and carer and enjoy listening to music to boost my mood. 

 

Kafa

Kafa is a founding member of the advisory group. Kafa came to the UK with her husband and two children so carries a lot of experience in adjusting to life in the UK. She has volunteered with a lot of community centres here in Bradford and speaks Arabic.

 

Note: We founded our Advisory Group in 2022. There are currently 4 members with a hope to grow the group over time. Some members would like to keep their anonymity.

 

Staff

 

Kate Hart, School and College Lead

I joined the Bradford City of Sanctuary team in May 2022. I trained as a teacher and worked in primary education in West Yorkshire for a number of years before moving abroad and working on a variety of education projects in countries across sub-Saharan Africa. I’ve lived in Bradford for the last 5 years and love the diversity of cultures across the city and all the wonderful work being undertaken to make Bradford a safe and welcoming place for all.

 

 

Joanna Price, Acting Coordinator / Admin and Comms Officer
I joined the Bradford City of Sanctuary team in November 2022. My passion for creating a culture of welcome was sparked by five years in Malaysia supporting sanctuary seekers from Myanmar. Alongside this role I volunteer at the Millside centre facilitating an ESOL class.

 

 

Trustees

Our trustees lead on our stragetic direction as well as playing an active role in the everyday operations of the charity, from line management to overseeing a sanctuary stream.

 

Will Sutcliffe, Chair

I’ve chaired this wonderful group since our launch in 2008. My background is in local authority social work and project management.I also run a small hosting project for destitute asylum seekers with BEACON and for several years until early 2020 I chaired Abigail Housing

 

 

Rosie MacPherson, Trustee

I’m super proud to be a trustee. I’m Artistic Director of Stand & Be Counted; the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary – we make campaign theatre and film with people seeking sanctuary who want to tell their story their way.

 

 

Roger Cowell, Trustee

I grew up in New Zealand and came to Britain in the summer of 1975 and  have stayed ever since, with some brief forays back to NZ.  I  have worked as a nurse in both countries and more recently worked as a  knowledge broker at Leeds University. I have been a member of the steering group for a number of years, and more recently I became a trustee.

 

Kay Holden, Trustee

I have lived in Bradford all my life and love the diversity of cultures within the City and wider District. My career has always been in early years and childcare  as a registered childminder, volunteer toddler group leader, holiday scheme worker and youth worker. Until my retirement in 2021, I was  a project manager for Bradford Council for 23 years, implementing initiatives to support the early years and childcare sector.  I became a trustee of BCoS in 2018 as I wanted to support this valuable work.

 

Esther Douglas,  Trustee

I joined Bradford City of Sanctuary in April 2022. I have worked in Bradford since 2015 as a Volunteer Services Manager; recent work completed with the Afghan relocation programme made me so proud of the work being done in Bradford to welcome migrants and refugees. I felt that I wanted to be part of a team responsible for the shaping and creation of this support.

 

Mandy Oates, Trustee

I manage our wonderful Schools worker, enjoy volunteering on communications projects with Bradford City of Sanctuary, am on the  ‘Welcome to Bradford’ group, and also work with sanctuary seekers at Beacon’s CHAT English Conversation sessions.  Formerly, I was deputy headteacher in a Bradford Secondary School.

 

Phil Lawler, Treasurer

I am a retired Chartered Accountant and Finance Director who is or has been a trustee of several local charities over many years, including those helping refugees and the homeless. A native of Bradford, having lived and worked in London and Madrid, I now live in Skipton.