RETAS has a team of amazing people with various different skills, from various backgrounds and they all contribute to the incredible work that RETAS does. Without these people this work could not happen so we are so appreciative of their hard work.
Staff
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Roger Nyantou
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Charlotte Hagerty
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Erica Graca
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Georgia Ellis
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Hussam Dalil
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Deborah Raine
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Dick Sharp
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Sabah Achhide
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Fidelis Chebe
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Angela Hart - Senior ESOL Tutor
I have been teaching in the private, public and third sectors for over 10 years, but I particularly enjoy teaching migrants, and have been with RETAS for two years. I have two sons and do ballet in my spare time. I am looking forward to starting a Masters in English Language Teaching and spending many more years at RETAS! I look forward to seeing you in our friendly organisation soon!
I have been teaching in the private, public and third sectors for over 10 years, but I particularly enjoy teaching migrants, and have been with RETAS for two years. I have two sons and do ballet in my spare time. I am looking forward to starting a Masters in English Language Teaching and spending many more years at RETAS! I look forward to seeing you in our friendly organisation soon!
Aneela Afzal - Employment & Education Adviser
Hi my name is Aneela Afzal I joined RETAS in late October 2018. I work currently two days a week. I have worked for over nine years within the private sector supporting people in to long term sustainable employment. My prime objective at RETAS is to work on the Syrian resettlement programme supporting people with employment related matters. So at the moment our team is working on devising and delivering employment skills workshops such as interview techniques, cv building workshops and a lot more. I and another colleague are also proactively building relationships with employers to source jobs for our clients. So if finding work is on the top of your agenda or something you are considering then please feel free to talk to me over a cup of tea! I can offer a user friendly, client centred employment advice service.
Hi my name is Aneela Afzal I joined RETAS in late October 2018. I work currently two days a week. I have worked for over nine years within the private sector supporting people in to long term sustainable employment. My prime objective at RETAS is to work on the Syrian resettlement programme supporting people with employment related matters. So at the moment our team is working on devising and delivering employment skills workshops such as interview techniques, cv building workshops and a lot more. I and another colleague are also proactively building relationships with employers to source jobs for our clients. So if finding work is on the top of your agenda or something you are considering then please feel free to talk to me over a cup of tea! I can offer a user friendly, client centred employment advice service.
Niamh Finucane
I am originally from Ireland and have lived in Belgium and Spain. I became passionate about working with refugees and asylum seekers when I started volunteering and interning with a number of refugee organisations. In my role at RETAS, I work full time as an adviser on the 28 Day Transition Project, which enables asylum seekers who have just been given refugee status to successfully transition to living independently and integrating into local communities. I have a degree in Psychology and am currently doing a Masters degree in International Humanitarian Affairs at York University. In my spare time I love to travel and learn about different cultures.
I am originally from Ireland and have lived in Belgium and Spain. I became passionate about working with refugees and asylum seekers when I started volunteering and interning with a number of refugee organisations. In my role at RETAS, I work full time as an adviser on the 28 Day Transition Project, which enables asylum seekers who have just been given refugee status to successfully transition to living independently and integrating into local communities. I have a degree in Psychology and am currently doing a Masters degree in International Humanitarian Affairs at York University. In my spare time I love to travel and learn about different cultures.
Trustees
RETAS is overseen by a board of 8 trustees who actively seek to maintain transparent and high standards of governance set out by our Matrix award.
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1. Helen Dunn
I was a lawyer working for the civil service for over 30 years. My long-term ambition was to use the skills I had developed to the benefit of local charities, and in particular, those which improve the experience of refugees and asylum seekers. I am therefore delighted to be able to work with RETAS. In my spare time, I also work for St Gemma’s hospice as well as growing my own vegetables. Due to animal welfare concerns, I’ve been a vegetarian for over 30 years but am trying to become vegan (it’s a work in progress).
2. Robert Gosling
I’m Robert and I was delighted and very pleased when I was appointed a Trustee last year. My role is to work with the CEO and other Trustees to ensure that the HR policies, are appropriate for RETAS, comply with current employment legislation and are in line with best practice. Most of my working life has been spent in Human Resources. I live in Wakefield, and volunteer each week at a Drop in Centre at Wakefield City of Sanctuary. I am an avid fan of Halifax RLFC and Yorkshire County Cricket Club and actively involved in local politics.
3. Matt Thornfield
My name is Matt and I’m the treasurer of Retas. After working for 20 years in IT and then risk management in banking, I now run my own company teaching computer programming. I first became involved as a volunteer supporting asylum seekers around 3 years ago, mainly through friends who were already volunteering in various ways. Over this time I have learned a lot about the asylum process and the need for support for both refugees and asylum seekers. Having previously been a treasurer of another charity, when I heard that Retas was looking for a new treasurer I jumped at the chance to be involved. I find the work that Retas does, and the dedication and ethos of all the staff, volunteers and trustees, a really uplifting environment and a pleasure to be a part of.
4. Liz Campbell
I have been involved with RETAS for many years in different roles. My great interests are education, community and diversity which is where my enthusiasm for RETAS fits in. When I became involved at RETAS as a volunteer I joined the drop-in advice sessions. I loved the problem solving approach brought by advisers to really complex immigration issues and the hope they gave to service users, and I often left at the end of the day feeling dizzy. I am now, as a trustee, able to use my expertise in organisational management, improvement planning, staff development and mentoring in the continued development of RETAS as a thriving service with a national reputation. But most of all I like to think outside the box, work with other people looking to new possibilities …..and enjoy myself listening to the wonderful music of Aziza Brahim a refugee from Algeria.
5. John Callaghan
I started out as an English teacher, working first in the UK, then in Africa, SE Asia, and North America. Back in England, I taught on and managed adult ESOL programmes before joining the School of Education at the University of Leeds as a researcher. For the last 15 years I have been engaged in studies of ESOL teaching and learning, language and communication in culturally diverse settings, and the everyday lives of vulnerable migrants. I feel privileged to have been involved with RETAS since its early days in Leeds, witnessing the vital work carried out by our staff and volunteers and continually uplifted by the resilience and enduring humanity of our service users. Beyond RETAS, my favourite activities are rock climbing and mountaineering.
6. Pippa Brook
I’m Pippa and my role on the Board is Secretary which means I get to do exciting things like taking minutes and preparing the agenda for meetings! I was a Learning Disabilities nurse working in the NHS and later in the voluntary sector. After I retired I started doing voluntary work which, in recent years has been with the Refugee Sector in Leeds. My passion for moving society towards being more welcoming to anyone who is at risk of exclusion, led me to RETAS. My other passions are craft work - beading, crochet and knitting; walking with my dog; and cooking and eating vegan food.
7. John McKenzie
I am a qualified & registered social worker, manager, youth & community worker, trainer and adult educator with over 40 years’ social work experience with children, young people, and families working in a variety of communities in the statutory and voluntary sector in the North East, West Midlands, Merseyside, Isle of Man, Yorkshire and Cumbria. I joined the board of RETAS in 2017 through connections with Otley Churches together and the Otley Welcomes group.
I was a lawyer working for the civil service for over 30 years. My long-term ambition was to use the skills I had developed to the benefit of local charities, and in particular, those which improve the experience of refugees and asylum seekers. I am therefore delighted to be able to work with RETAS. In my spare time, I also work for St Gemma’s hospice as well as growing my own vegetables. Due to animal welfare concerns, I’ve been a vegetarian for over 30 years but am trying to become vegan (it’s a work in progress).
2. Robert Gosling
I’m Robert and I was delighted and very pleased when I was appointed a Trustee last year. My role is to work with the CEO and other Trustees to ensure that the HR policies, are appropriate for RETAS, comply with current employment legislation and are in line with best practice. Most of my working life has been spent in Human Resources. I live in Wakefield, and volunteer each week at a Drop in Centre at Wakefield City of Sanctuary. I am an avid fan of Halifax RLFC and Yorkshire County Cricket Club and actively involved in local politics.
3. Matt Thornfield
My name is Matt and I’m the treasurer of Retas. After working for 20 years in IT and then risk management in banking, I now run my own company teaching computer programming. I first became involved as a volunteer supporting asylum seekers around 3 years ago, mainly through friends who were already volunteering in various ways. Over this time I have learned a lot about the asylum process and the need for support for both refugees and asylum seekers. Having previously been a treasurer of another charity, when I heard that Retas was looking for a new treasurer I jumped at the chance to be involved. I find the work that Retas does, and the dedication and ethos of all the staff, volunteers and trustees, a really uplifting environment and a pleasure to be a part of.
4. Liz Campbell
I have been involved with RETAS for many years in different roles. My great interests are education, community and diversity which is where my enthusiasm for RETAS fits in. When I became involved at RETAS as a volunteer I joined the drop-in advice sessions. I loved the problem solving approach brought by advisers to really complex immigration issues and the hope they gave to service users, and I often left at the end of the day feeling dizzy. I am now, as a trustee, able to use my expertise in organisational management, improvement planning, staff development and mentoring in the continued development of RETAS as a thriving service with a national reputation. But most of all I like to think outside the box, work with other people looking to new possibilities …..and enjoy myself listening to the wonderful music of Aziza Brahim a refugee from Algeria.
5. John Callaghan
I started out as an English teacher, working first in the UK, then in Africa, SE Asia, and North America. Back in England, I taught on and managed adult ESOL programmes before joining the School of Education at the University of Leeds as a researcher. For the last 15 years I have been engaged in studies of ESOL teaching and learning, language and communication in culturally diverse settings, and the everyday lives of vulnerable migrants. I feel privileged to have been involved with RETAS since its early days in Leeds, witnessing the vital work carried out by our staff and volunteers and continually uplifted by the resilience and enduring humanity of our service users. Beyond RETAS, my favourite activities are rock climbing and mountaineering.
6. Pippa Brook
I’m Pippa and my role on the Board is Secretary which means I get to do exciting things like taking minutes and preparing the agenda for meetings! I was a Learning Disabilities nurse working in the NHS and later in the voluntary sector. After I retired I started doing voluntary work which, in recent years has been with the Refugee Sector in Leeds. My passion for moving society towards being more welcoming to anyone who is at risk of exclusion, led me to RETAS. My other passions are craft work - beading, crochet and knitting; walking with my dog; and cooking and eating vegan food.
7. John McKenzie
I am a qualified & registered social worker, manager, youth & community worker, trainer and adult educator with over 40 years’ social work experience with children, young people, and families working in a variety of communities in the statutory and voluntary sector in the North East, West Midlands, Merseyside, Isle of Man, Yorkshire and Cumbria. I joined the board of RETAS in 2017 through connections with Otley Churches together and the Otley Welcomes group.