Manjeet Kaur Chair 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.
Mary Adenugba Vice Chair Mary, born in Nigeria into a Muslim family, is a Christian convert. She was trafficked into the UK in 2004 and exploited for three 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.
Abiola Famakinwa Leadership Member Abiola, a biomedical scientist from Nigeria and a mother of three young children, approached RAPAR and became a member in 2012. She is currently seeking asylum in the UK. She became one of the leadership team in 2014, engaging with her own campaign as well as supporting others who may need her support. She participated in the Quakers Conference as a workshop facilitator.
Mohammed Al Halengy Leadership Mohammed came to the UK in 2006 from Eastern Sudan in order to flee persecution for being a member of the marginalised Beja tribe. Mohammed has campaigned for the equal representation and power sharing of the Beja people and an end to their marginalisation within Sudan. For RAPAR, Mohammed regularly represents the organisation externally and, through his extensive political and social networks and his multiple social skills, he enables intensely vulnerable people to access what they need.
Nahella Ashraf Trustee Nahella has been connected with RAPAR over a number of years but became formally involved in our work after introducing RAPAR to the Save the Family Home campaign. Nahella first became politically active after the start of the war in Afghanistan and the resulting war on terror. Over the years she has been involved in campaign against racism and various defence campaigns. It is this work that lead to her becoming a founding member of the Northern Police Monitoring Project. She is presently Chair of Greater Manchester Stop the War as well as a trustee and secretary of RAPAR.
Farid Vahidi Treasurer Farid, 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.
Kathleen Grant Secretary/Press Officer Kath is RAPAR's Press Officer and has worked throughout the UK as a staff journalist and, more recently, as a freelance writer, sub editor and reporter. A long standing member of the National Union of Journalists, Kath is Secretary of the NUJ's Manchester and Salford Branch and is a branch delegate to Manchester Trades' Union Council. She started volunteering with RAPAR when she was working on NUJ campaigns for journalists seeking asylum in the UK. Kath is involved with all aspects of RAPAR's work, particularly campaigns.
Sophie Gardiner Volunteer Co-Ordinator / Arts Development
A young artist born and raised in Manchester, Sophie came to RAPAR in 2012 while in the midst of her university course, asking to work with members for a project that would become 'Greetings From Manchester'. After completing her degree, she stayed on as the organisation's official artist-in-residence, as well as acting as campaign manager to the 'Justice & Security for the Famakinwa Family' campaign, is heavily involved with YoungRAPAR as well as engaging with other casework and RAPAR publicity. She now functions as the organisation's Arts Development Officer and Volunteer Co-Ordinator. She graduated from Manchester School Art (MMU) in the summer of 2013 after completing her course in Interactive Arts and is now a working artist and workshop facilitator.
Chris Lyon Web/funding Chris is from the North West of England and has been involved with RAPAR since 2010, working in a variety of areas. He currently works primarily on the RAPAR website and on funding. Chris is a PhD candidate at the University of Manchester’s Brooks World Poverty Institute.
Ciara Mullan Casework Born in the North of Ireland, Ciara moved to Manchester in 2012 after completing a postgraduate course in Human Rights Law and Criminal Justice at Queens University Belfast. She has been involved with RAPAR since July 2012. Since then she has been primarily involved in working on Olayinka's campaign. Throughout the campaign Ciara has been involved in organising various fundraisers for the family and supporting the family in their bid to remain safe in the UK.
Frankie Mullen Media and Communications 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.
Abiola Olaoye Leadership Group Member Abiola comes from Nigeria. She is presently seeking asylum in the UK with her family to escape the threat of Female Genital Mutilation after attempts were made to force her young daughter to go through with the proceedure (read more about Olayinka's campaign here). As well as helping to lead her own daughter's campaign, Abiola supports the campaigns of her friends at RAPAR and organisations and individuals opposing FGM and other human rights abuses.
Oliva Andereggen Web & Social Media Oliva is from Switzerland and a student at the University of Manchester, studying Social Anthropology. She has been part of RAPAR since October 2014. Since she started working at RAPAR she has been engaged in casework and lately has been updating the website and social media platforms.