Experience

ABIGAIL HOUSING

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-CEO/Bradford Project Manager

  • Oct 2017 - Present

• Co-Chief Executive Officer/Bradford Project Manager

  • Jun 2021 - Present

• Destitution Project Co-ordinator

  • Oct 2017 - Jun 2021



British Red Cross

• United Kingdom
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Volunteer Caseworker

  • Jul 2015 - May 2017

  Providing case work to asylum seekers and refugees. Supporting asylum seekers, and newly granted refugees with destitution provisions. Adhering to, and implementing organisational policy, adhering to confidentiality at all times, attending regular training, and keeping up to date with policy changes. Problem solving, and offering ideas to change, and improve service delivery. Time management is also an important consideration for this role as there are many people who access the service, therefore when providing casework it is necessary to identify the key issues brought by the service user and prioritise. Offering advice and support to service users, being empathetic and a good listener, being able to identify and prioritise key issues, contacting other organisations and agencies on behalf of the client, and signposting where necessary. Working both alone with autonomy, and also as a team. I also volunteer in the office ensuring all clients records are kept up-to date, that new case work notes are added, I am responsible for contacting other organisations for and on behalf of clients with their consent via email, letter, or over the phone. I ensure any follow up work identified during casework sessions is completed.



NHS Trust

• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Champions Show The Way Volunteer

  • May 2016 - Dec 2016

  During the summer of 2016 off the back of working for the British Red Cross supporting asylum seekers, and refugees I was contacted by NHS 'Champions Show The Way'. Initially I was asked to lead a Women's group in Bradford for asylum seekers and refugees. I started this group with the help of a champions manager, however I did point out at the time of starting the group that there was already a group in Bradford for Women of this client group, and that the majority of asylum seekers attending the British Red Cross drop in Bradford were males. I also identified the location that had been selected for the Women's group was a distance from the locality to which the majority of this client group resided. The manager asked that even with these identified challenges I would provide this service for around 8 weeks. The uptake however was too small and not enough to justify the funding in order to keep it going. We had a meeting after around 6 weeks and I suggested that moving forward I should set up a Men's group instead, as there was no other group's in Bradford for Men at the time. I spoke with the Red Cross about this and they agreed that at the drop-in I would promote this group, take names of those interested, and ask service users for their postcode to identify a suitable area in which to provide this service. Myself and the Champions manager looked at venues within the locality identified as being suitable, and the Men's group was created. Due to lack of funding though this group was set up and led by myself as a 6 week programme offering a safe and confidential space where service users could engage in various activities, meet new friends, offer one another peer support, share experiences, and access support and advice. The group was successful, and each session was well attended. This group encouraged service users to make new friends, it helped with isolation, and confidence, and prepared service users for moving forward.



VoiceAbility

• Bradford, United Kingdom

• Independent Visitor

  • Sep 2015 - May 2016

  To visit and engage with a looked after child once or twice a month on a voluntary basis. The role involves taking a young person out, engaging with them in fun activities, providing a consistent means of support to a young person facing many uncertainties and challenges. The role involves being a good listener, being empathetic, befriending and ensuring the young person gains confidence, builds trust, and has fun. I attend regular training that focuses primarily on safeguarding. To visit and engage with a looked after child once or twice a month on a voluntary basis. The role involves taking a young person out, engaging with them in fun activities, providing a consistent means of support to a young person facing many uncertainties and challenges. The role involves being a good listener, being empathetic, befriending and ensuring the young person gains confidence, builds trust, and has fun. I attend regular training that focuses primarily on safeguarding.