Leadership
James Fallah Williams
Acting Chair: James Fallah Williams
James became involved in RAPAR in the autumn of 2010, originally as a client seeking asylum. James is a journalist and human rights activist who arrived in the UK in 1998 after fleeing Sierra Leone at the height of its civil war. He studied, worked and volunteered in the UK for ten years. Following a number of threats resulting from his journalism exposing corruption in the Sierra Leonean government, it became dangerous for James to return to Sierra Leone when he finished his studies, so he applied for asylum in 2008. Within RAPAR, James developed and sustained a magnificent campaign that included a 19 day hunger strike. |
Kathleen Grant
Secretary: Kathleen Grant
A freelance journalist from England, with many years experience, Kath is also RAPAR's Press Officer, and deploys her skills and experience to outreach on behalf of RAPAR, helping people to understand why RAPAR is the way it is and what it wants to achieve in the future. Kath also volunteers at the School Governor level in secondary education in Manchester.
A freelance journalist from England, with many years experience, Kath is also RAPAR's Press Officer, and deploys her skills and experience to outreach on behalf of RAPAR, helping people to understand why RAPAR is the way it is and what it wants to achieve in the future. Kath also volunteers at the School Governor level in secondary education in Manchester.
Ben Hickman
Treasurer: Ben Hickman
Born in the UK, Ben graduated from the University of Manchester with a BA in Social Sciences. Through his degree, Ben developed an interest in asylum policy and the suffering that people seeking asylum endure here in the UK. He now works for a Manchester-based social research company, and brings his research and administrative skills to RAPAR. View Ben's dissertation on 'New Labour's management of the asylum system (1997 - 2007) and the consequent social exclusion of asylum seekers' by downloading this pdf.
Born in the UK, Ben graduated from the University of Manchester with a BA in Social Sciences. Through his degree, Ben developed an interest in asylum policy and the suffering that people seeking asylum endure here in the UK. He now works for a Manchester-based social research company, and brings his research and administrative skills to RAPAR. View Ben's dissertation on 'New Labour's management of the asylum system (1997 - 2007) and the consequent social exclusion of asylum seekers' by downloading this pdf.
Mary Adenugba
Leadership Group Member: Mary Adenugba
Mary, born in Nigeria into a Muslim family, is a Christian convert. She was trafficked into the UK in 2004 and exploited for 3 years, but despite this, her asylum claim was refused. She has since developed her own campaign within RAPAR to support her appeal. Mary has taken on a number of other roles within the organisation, helping to support other campaigns and undertaking administration work.
Mary, born in Nigeria into a Muslim family, is a Christian convert. She was trafficked into the UK in 2004 and exploited for 3 years, but despite this, her asylum claim was refused. She has since developed her own campaign within RAPAR to support her appeal. Mary has taken on a number of other roles within the organisation, helping to support other campaigns and undertaking administration work.
Nahella Ashraf
Leadership Group Member: Nahella Ashraf
Nahella first came to RAPAR on the back of the 'Save The Family Home' campaign, which she continues to lead within RAPAR. She has a long history of campaigning against racism, and is also a Chair of Greater Manchester Stop The War.
Nahella first came to RAPAR on the back of the 'Save The Family Home' campaign, which she continues to lead within RAPAR. She has a long history of campaigning against racism, and is also a Chair of Greater Manchester Stop The War.
Sandy Broadhurst
Leadership Group Member: Sandy Broadhurst
Born in the UK, Sandy graduated from Surrey University having studied nuclear and atomic physics and philosophy. She was a teacher in Manchester for many years, working throughout the education service from nursery to sixth form; but she spent most of her time in education working in special education where her specialisms were language development, music and art. She also worked for Manchester Traveller Education service. She was a local councillor in Stockport for 12 years where she was a spokesperson on the Equal Opportunities and Anti Poverty, Social Services and Leisure Services committees. Sandy has been an active trade unionist all her life, serving as the chair of the NUT Special Education sector for many years. She has been a lifelong peace activist, both in Britain and abroad. At home, Sandy has worked to promote community harmony by increasing understanding between groups and celebrating multiculturalism whilst opposing disruptive elements like the BNP; abroad, she's worked as an international peace observer in Palestine. Believing that there is no peace without justice, she has also been a strong advocate of equal opportunities and human rights. She worked with the deaf community in Stockport, providing the first signed advice surgery in the country and wrote the report leading to accessible council services for people with a sensory impairment. She has promoted the interests of Travellers and Roma Gypsies for many years, arguing for proper sites, appropriate education and working to combat discrimination. Sandy has worked with Roma on asylum claims, anti-racism and a wide variety of case work, and is currently leading on RAPAR's work with Roma.
Born in the UK, Sandy graduated from Surrey University having studied nuclear and atomic physics and philosophy. She was a teacher in Manchester for many years, working throughout the education service from nursery to sixth form; but she spent most of her time in education working in special education where her specialisms were language development, music and art. She also worked for Manchester Traveller Education service. She was a local councillor in Stockport for 12 years where she was a spokesperson on the Equal Opportunities and Anti Poverty, Social Services and Leisure Services committees. Sandy has been an active trade unionist all her life, serving as the chair of the NUT Special Education sector for many years. She has been a lifelong peace activist, both in Britain and abroad. At home, Sandy has worked to promote community harmony by increasing understanding between groups and celebrating multiculturalism whilst opposing disruptive elements like the BNP; abroad, she's worked as an international peace observer in Palestine. Believing that there is no peace without justice, she has also been a strong advocate of equal opportunities and human rights. She worked with the deaf community in Stockport, providing the first signed advice surgery in the country and wrote the report leading to accessible council services for people with a sensory impairment. She has promoted the interests of Travellers and Roma Gypsies for many years, arguing for proper sites, appropriate education and working to combat discrimination. Sandy has worked with Roma on asylum claims, anti-racism and a wide variety of case work, and is currently leading on RAPAR's work with Roma.
Manjeet Kaur
Leadership Group Member: Manjeet Kaur
Manjeet, an Afghan national who lived in India, came to RAPAR as a service user in 2011. She is seeking asylum in the UK following a series of threats and attacks which were made on her life after her husband (a journalist and activist) disappeared. These issues are made all the more complicated by her medical condition and her need for a wheelchair. Manjeet is at the forefront of her own campaign, which has had a number of successes to date, and provides continual support, aiding research projects and other campaigns within RAPAR.
Manjeet, an Afghan national who lived in India, came to RAPAR as a service user in 2011. She is seeking asylum in the UK following a series of threats and attacks which were made on her life after her husband (a journalist and activist) disappeared. These issues are made all the more complicated by her medical condition and her need for a wheelchair. Manjeet is at the forefront of her own campaign, which has had a number of successes to date, and provides continual support, aiding research projects and other campaigns within RAPAR.
Alison Kennedy
Leadership Group Member: Alison Kennedy
Alison was born in Manchester and lived in Chorlton until the age of six, when her family up-rooted and moved to Singapore. After four years of experiencing many new and exciting south-east Asian cultures she was moved back to Manchester, where she eventually completed her GCSEs and A-levels. After deciding not to go to university straight away, Alison gathered as much work experience as possible within the media industry, working, for instance, for the BBC, Cornerhouse Cinema, Manchester International Festival and Exposures Student Film Festival. Later on she studied Film & TV production at Leeds Metropolitan University but couldn’t stay away from her beloved Manchester for too long, returning to work for 422 post-production company and the Cornerhouse education department in 2008. In the summer of 2009, Alison was chosen to travel around Europe by train for two months, commissioned by Interrail to take photographs for their new website. The photographs were later part of an exhibition in The Netherlands and a photo book was produced. It was this adventure experiencing so many different cultures, as well as her educational work at the Cornerhouse involving young refugees & asylum seekers, that eventually led Alison to RAPAR as a Media & Communication intern in June 2010.
Alison was born in Manchester and lived in Chorlton until the age of six, when her family up-rooted and moved to Singapore. After four years of experiencing many new and exciting south-east Asian cultures she was moved back to Manchester, where she eventually completed her GCSEs and A-levels. After deciding not to go to university straight away, Alison gathered as much work experience as possible within the media industry, working, for instance, for the BBC, Cornerhouse Cinema, Manchester International Festival and Exposures Student Film Festival. Later on she studied Film & TV production at Leeds Metropolitan University but couldn’t stay away from her beloved Manchester for too long, returning to work for 422 post-production company and the Cornerhouse education department in 2008. In the summer of 2009, Alison was chosen to travel around Europe by train for two months, commissioned by Interrail to take photographs for their new website. The photographs were later part of an exhibition in The Netherlands and a photo book was produced. It was this adventure experiencing so many different cultures, as well as her educational work at the Cornerhouse involving young refugees & asylum seekers, that eventually led Alison to RAPAR as a Media & Communication intern in June 2010.
Tom Lavin
Leadership Group Member: Tom Lavin
Tom is a RAPAR volunteer, originally from Manchester, who developed an interest in UK Asylum Policy whilst studying at the University of Manchester. He is involved in casework, as well as helping to develop YoungRAPAR.
Tom is a RAPAR volunteer, originally from Manchester, who developed an interest in UK Asylum Policy whilst studying at the University of Manchester. He is involved in casework, as well as helping to develop YoungRAPAR.
Mima Monanga
Leadership Group Member: Mima Monanga
Frankie Mullen
Leadership Group Member: Frankie Mullen
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, and resident of Manchester for many years, Frankie understands the challenge of multiple agency working, being deeply experienced in developing initiatives across the sectors and currently specialising in economic regeneration activities. Frankie is leading on the future development of RAPAR’s media and communications strategy.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, and resident of Manchester for many years, Frankie understands the challenge of multiple agency working, being deeply experienced in developing initiatives across the sectors and currently specialising in economic regeneration activities. Frankie is leading on the future development of RAPAR’s media and communications strategy.
Sahera Parveen
Leadership Group Member: Sahera Parveen
Helen Rowe
Leadership Group Member: Helen Rowe
Helen, born in Manchester, is a third year BA Youth and Community Work student at Manchester Metropolitan University. During a two-year break from education, she worked on a community and conservation project in Tanzania, later returning to Manchester to gain work experience by volunteering and working with a number of charities and local community arts projects. Helen is very interested in human rights. She has taken a lead on developing RAPAR communications and is also closely involved in a number of campaigns.
Helen, born in Manchester, is a third year BA Youth and Community Work student at Manchester Metropolitan University. During a two-year break from education, she worked on a community and conservation project in Tanzania, later returning to Manchester to gain work experience by volunteering and working with a number of charities and local community arts projects. Helen is very interested in human rights. She has taken a lead on developing RAPAR communications and is also closely involved in a number of campaigns.
Farid Vahidi
Leadership Group Member: Farid Vahidi
Farid, aged 22 years old and from Iran, first became involved with RAPAR in 2010. He came to the UK in 2007, joining his family to seek asylum from persecution in Iran. His case was refused and his parents and younger brother were detained and told they had to return to Iran in 2010; Farid was at the forefront of the family's campaign, and as well as fighting for his own and that of his family's right to remain in the UK, has since helped to develop and sustain other campaigns and work within RAPAR. Farid became a leadership member in 2011 and provides continual support within the organisation.
Farid, aged 22 years old and from Iran, first became involved with RAPAR in 2010. He came to the UK in 2007, joining his family to seek asylum from persecution in Iran. His case was refused and his parents and younger brother were detained and told they had to return to Iran in 2010; Farid was at the forefront of the family's campaign, and as well as fighting for his own and that of his family's right to remain in the UK, has since helped to develop and sustain other campaigns and work within RAPAR. Farid became a leadership member in 2011 and provides continual support within the organisation.
Sara Vihavainen
Leadership Group Member: Sara Vihavainen
Born in Finland, Sara is an MA graduate in International Politics and History from The University of Tampere. She completed part of her BA in France, worked in London and travelled around Europe before moving to Manchester. She became involved with RAPAR as an Erasmus intern and is very interested in human rights work. In the future she would like to work in a human rights organisation or in politics. Sara is taking a lead on developing fundrasising within RAPAR.
Born in Finland, Sara is an MA graduate in International Politics and History from The University of Tampere. She completed part of her BA in France, worked in London and travelled around Europe before moving to Manchester. She became involved with RAPAR as an Erasmus intern and is very interested in human rights work. In the future she would like to work in a human rights organisation or in politics. Sara is taking a lead on developing fundrasising within RAPAR.
Email: admin@rapar.org.uk Telephone: 0161 834 8221 Fax: 0161 210 2970 Address: RAPAR, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS
Registered Charity Number: 1095961 Company Number: 4387010
