Ali Mahgoub
Director
My name is Ali and I have over 25 years of experience in the third, non-profit sector. I am a human rights activist, I’m passionate about politics and inequalities, and I also speak more than five languages.
Khair Rudd
Youth support worker
About
My name is Khair and I am passionate about helping youth through various projects like the Youth Group and Homework Club. I champion Equality and Diversity amongst Youth and underrepresented communities especially promoting access to higher education for all. I also support all the ESOL classes at the center.
Sarah Gaber
Advocacy Project Worker
About
Hello, I am Sarah from Germany. I moved to the UK for a Placement at Leeds Refugee Forum and stayed. My current position is running a phone line project for individuals that need help filling out forms, have questions about our services or just need information about signposting. To make these services accessible for everyone we have bilingual translators, who are happy to support individuals. Whilst being a project manager at the phone line project, I also study Social Work in Hamburg which is currently online due to Covid.
Raissa Mattana
Employment Project Worker
About
My name is Raíssa, and I am originally from Brazil. I have experience working with victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, and now I am an employment advisor for Leeds Refugee Centre and the Latin American community in London through an organisation called IRMO. I am also doing a Master’s in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies. I am taking up an internship with the UN Office for Drugs and Crimes in Brazil, on a project to map the needs of persons victim of trafficking and exploitation.
Oman Balkin
Communications Officer
About
My name is Oman and I am originally from the Philippines. I am a recent Masters graduate in Global Development and Gender from the University of Leeds and in charge of lots of things at LRF. I answer questions, manage referrals and register new service users. I also manage the website and all social media, and I run a women’s only wellbeing project that teaches women things like sewing, knitting, embroidery and beading. This builds on my previous experience at an Afghan women’s association and StreetLaw.
Ranya Abdulateef
Women's wellbeing project worker
About
I am an Artist and the proud founder of MelograniArt embroidery designs.
My printmaking practice incorporates embroidery, illustration, painting and photography. Inspired by nature and Islamic geometric designs, my unique hand-drawn screen prints and fabric works are extremely detailed, often using the layering of multiple artistic techniques to combine creative mediums. I am now based at The Art House as part of their Studio of Sanctuary programme.
I take pride of being an engaged and valued member of the studio holder community at The Art House. I also deliver a range of printmaking/ textiles workshops, volunteer with Wakefield City of Sanctuary and am an active member of the Merrie Collective, a group of early-career photography artists and creatives in Wakefield.”
Trustees
Leeds Refugee Forum is entirely community led. Our Board of Trustees is made up of individuals elected by our members. Our trustees come from the refugee community in Leeds. Trustees meet every six to eight weeks to administer the running of the organisation and the One Community Centre.
Kathy Seamian
Chair of Trustees
Louise Waite
Secretary
About
Professor of Human Geography, School of Geography, University of Leeds. Background in research and collaboration with asylum seeking and refugee communities. Student Educator around themes of forced migration / human trafficking / modern slavery / labour exploitation and migrants rights.
Godefroid Rubomboza
Treasurer
Haleh Jahanshahlou
Trustee
About
I am from Iran and moved to the UK in 2018. Before coming to the UK, I was working as a civil engineer for 17 years and after moving to the UK I started working as a qualified secondary Mathematics teacher. I started as a volunteer in LRF in November 2018 and stayed with them till July 2019.After starting my job as a teacher I could not continue working as a volunteer but now I am a trustee with LRF.
Maxmed Hussein
Trustee
About
I represent the Leeds Swahili Cultural Community who support communities in accessing support and education.
Pria Bhabra
Trustee
About
Leeds Migration Programme Manager at Leeds City Council, Communities Migration Team which delivers a range of activities to address the following themes in partnership across the city:
- Support for new communities;
- Responding to national policy changes;
- Organisational improvement activity;
- Community engagement and capacity building;
- Embedding learning and sharing best practice.
Taurai Cheteni
Trustee
Naima Mohamed
Trustee
About
My name is Naima,I have graduated from the University of Huddersfield and have a Masters in Strategic Human Resources Management. I worked with communities as well as the Somali community and also Leeds Refugee forum as a volunteer.At the moment I work for Samsung Technical team. My passion is to help, encourage and motivate women and youth.
Andrew Rathbone
Trustee
Fatemeh Khansalar
Trustee
About
I am a published writer and experienced Persian translator based in the UK. I previously worked as a manager of an art and language institute in Iran from 2000 to 2009. I can therefore help in different tasks from analytic thinking and writing to planning and managing.
Since coming to the UK in 2009, I have undertaken active roles in several international translation companies as translator and language lead.
I have also studied Middle Eastern Literary and Cultural Studies MA from St Andrews University and been through the immigration process myself. This means that I am not only interested in working with people from other countries and cultures, but also want to help people to find their path in the new society and culture.
Mamadou Diop
Trustee
Volunteers
Volunteers are invaluable to LRF and help us to run our wide range of services – from running classes, to translation support, to administrative help.
We think everyone has something to contribute to our community and you can read here for more information about how to volunteer.