Fabian Hamilton MP Labour MP for North East

Fabian has represented Leeds North East since 1997 and was a Councillor from 1987- 1998. Fabian is a passionate advocate for vulnerable members of society and supports local homeless charities and Food Banks. Fabian’s commitment to protecting refugee rights has led him to visit Syrian refugees at camps in Turkey and to campaign against Human Trafficking.

Councillor Peter O’Neil Kirklees Council

Peter has had the privilege of being a Kirklees Councillor for 8 years and a Cabinet Member for 6 years. Since 2009, he has worked with groups supporting asylum seekers and signed up Kirklees for Why Refugee Women’s Charter for minimum standards for working with refugee women. Recently, he successfully moved a motion to Kirklees Council in support of destitute asylum seekers and opposing destitution as a government policy tool.

Mike Kaye Still Human Still Here

Mike has more than 25 years’ experience of campaigning on human rights issues. He currently manages the campaigns and advocacy work for Still Human Still Here, which is a coalition of more than 70 organisations that are working together to end the destitution of asylum seekers in the UK.

Rick Henderson Homeless Link

Rick is the CEO of Homeless Link, the national umbrella body for the homelessness sector in . Rick has been CEO since 2012 and previously was CEO of Action for Advocacy. He has over 25 years’ experience of leading and managing services for vulnerable people.

Deborah Gellner Asylum Support Appeals Project

Deborah has worked at ASAP since 2013. Previously she was a housing, social welfare and migrant support solicitor at TV Edwards and Deighton Pierce Glynn and taught law at Sussex University. She currently co-writes the Migrant Support update series for Legal Action magazine.

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Adam Slawson Ben Hoare Bell Solicitors

Adam is a solicitor at Ben Hoare Bell based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne who specializes in public law, human right and community care law, with a particular emphasis on migrant support issues. He is a duty advocate with ASAP and sits on ASAP’s Strategic Litigation Committee.

Matthew Neill City of Sanctuary

Matthew has been working with Leeds and National City of Sanctuary for the past two years, assisting with the creation and maintenance of new projects, campaigns, and networks. COS is a movement dedicated to encouraging grassroots initiatives, connecting people, voices and organisations at local levels, and bringing these together on a national stage to increase public awareness and change political and media discourse surrounding asylum seekers and refugees.

Lorna Gledhill Regional Asylum Activism

Lorna works alongside colleagues in the West Midlands and the North West on the Regional Asylum Activism project, aiming to positively influence regional and national policies in order to protect the rights of those seeking protection in the UK. She did an MSc in Global Migration at UCL, where her research focused on the latest changes to accommodation provision for asylum seekers in Yorkshire and Humberside. Passionate about human rights and social justice, she is also a keen writer and has had articles published at Open Democracy and Liberal Conspiracy.

Laurie Ray Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Laurie has worked with refugees and asylum seekers since 2009 when he volunteered at the Refugee Council's One Stop Service in Leeds. Since 2010 he has worked for PAFRAS as information officer and destitution caseworker. PAFRAS runs a destitution support drop-in in Leeds which regularly has 150 visitors a week and provides, food, clothing and information advice and advocacy services for a wide range of vulnerable migrants.

Marie-Anne Fishwick Asylum Support Appeals Project

Marie-Anne is ASAP’s Legal Researcher. She has worked as a Legal Adviser at ASAP since 2008. She regularly represents and advises clients at the First-Tier Tribunal (Asylum Support). Among other things, Marie-Anne has focused on examining the quality of decision making in destitution cases writing the 2011 ASAP report “No Credibility”. She has also contributing to ASAP’s most recent report “The Next Reasonable Step” which was completed whist she was on maternity leave. Before joining ASAP Marie-Anne worked for 5 years at the British Red Cross refugee support services in . Follow us on Twitter: @_A_S_A_P