Our Vision

Asha is a place where men, women and families seeking asylum are welcome and can find the support and help they need. Our users are encouraged to become volunteers and co-workers in a collaborative enterprise which puts people first and promotes social integration.

We want our work with asylum seekers and refugees to be seen by the wider community as contributing to its wellbeing.

  • We help people from almost 50 countries worldwide.

  • We feed and clothe around 600 people every week.

Our Mission

We believe that asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants who have been dispersed in North Staffordshire will not be marginalised or mistreated because of their immigration status. We believe that they should live safely, free from poverty, discrimination and exclusion, and treated with compassion and respect.

Our Values

When you walk through our doors, the most important thing to remember is Asha is a secular organisation:

You are welcome for who you are and not for what you believe.

Hope

Asha is here to give hope of a better future to vulnerable men, women and children who seek refuge from persecution.

Harmony

We actively promote social inclusion for asylum seekers and refugees in the hope that they can become part of the community.

Peace

We believe that asylum seekers and refugees should be able to live in a society free from prejudice and discrimination.

Respect

Asha believes that asylum seekers and refugees should be respected for who they are and what they contribute to society.

Our Team

Asha has a team of dedicated people who ensure the work we do is to the highest standard.

Our Board of Trustees

Kevin Sauntry

Kevin Sauntry

Chair

Kevin’s career in youth work began in 1970 when he was appointed Hanley Youth Project’s (HYP) first detached youth worker, to assess the needs of young people termed ‘unclubbables’ and to help prevent them from dropping out of education, youth provision and generally falling by the way.

The project grew and was widely recognised for its preventative work, being academically published in Collins’ Sport and Social Exclusion.

In 1986, HYP became Stoke Council’s Parks and Recreation Department until 2000, when it was subject to cutbacks. Since then, Kevin has worked professionally as a consultant and voluntarily as a community advocate and unpaid director of Sporting Communities. He also leads Murphy’s Marbles, a Celtic and Roots Band.

Sally Aldridge

Sally Aldridge

Vice Chair

Dr Sally Aldridge has a long involvement with voluntary agencies in the Potteries. Graduating from SOAS, she worked as a teacher in Zambia. On her return, she trained as a counsellor at Keele University before being appointed Head of Student Services at Staffordshire University, then a Director of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

She is also a trustee of the Psychologist’s Protection Society and a member of the Grants Panel for Transforming the Trent Valley Project and Chair of Friends of Lyme Brook a local environmental group.

Jenny Dennis

Jenny Dennis

Honorary Treasurer

Jenny has over 30 years’ experience working in various social fields.

After completing a BA Hons Degree at the University of Kent and a Post Graduate Diploma in Edinburgh, Jenny became a detached youth worker with Hanley Youth Project.

She progressed to leading and initiating community development programmes in local neighbourhoods, and becoming Stoke’s Play Service Manager, developing an inclusive city-wide service.

She has since held management roles with Manchester City Council and is currently Early Years Provision Manager in Oldham Council’s Education and Early Years Department.

Michelle Holland

Michelle Holland

From an early career in administration, Michelle was able to pursue her first love by becoming a professional demonstrator for the craft industry, gaining recognition as a Certified Professional Demonstrator with the Hobby Industry Association in the late 1990’s. Through this work she also became a tutor with Stoke-on-Trent College in the Community.
Michelle has always contributed to communities where she’s resided. This has included community heritage projects, Burslem Community Art Gallery, and Burslem Community Library.
Michelle is a living example of seeing challenges as opportunities, and problems as things to be solved. Her journey from an administrator to a respected and able person in the creative industries followed a pathway that enabled her to acquire a broad range of skills and abilities. Her clear understanding of her journey enables her to bring motivation and inspiration to others. She is a welcome addition to the Board, contributing to the objectivity and clarity of the decision-making process of the charity.
Originally from North Staffordshire, Michelle now lives and works in Sheffield, but retains strong links with the Stoke-on-Trent area through family, friends and colleagues.
Adelin Kalisa

Adelin Kalisa

Adelin was one of the first asylum seekers dispersed in Stoke-on-Trent in early 2000. The initial period in the UK and Stoke-on-Trent was fraught with challenges but he remained resilient.

He became involved in Asha North Staffordshire since it’s conception as service user and volunteer for many years, offering his expertise and personal insights to support the charity mission.

Determined to rebuild his life, Adelin pursued education and graduated from Staffordshire University in Finance and now runs his own business in social care.

His lived experience as an asylum seeker, combined with his professional expertise, enable him to provide critical insight into the needs/challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees and bring a unique and invaluable perspective as well as ensuring the continuation of the voices of asylum seekers and refugees are heard at the highest level of decision making.

Russell Clark

Russell Clark

Russell has a long career working with refugees and asylum seekers dating back to the early 1990s when he worked as a language trainer in camps on the Thai-Burmese border.

Since graduating as a linguist and languages teacher at Swansea University, Russell has taught in Greece, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia, and from 2003 at Keele University where he is now the Head of the Language Centre.

While at Keele Russell has developed a TESOL training programme which brings Keele students to ASHA every week to deliver language classes. Russell also provides language training and intercultural awareness raising programmes for a variety of groups in the region as well as co-organising Keele’s annual Refugee World Cup.

Bupe Kal

Bupe Kal

Born in Zambia, Bupe brings both professional expertise and lived experience as a migrant to his work supporting asylum seekers and refugees. He was a member of the charity for many years before becoming a trustee, and this long-standing connection has shaped his understanding of the challenges faced by people seeking safety, stability, and belonging.

He has extensive experience in the voluntary sector in Stoke-on-Trent, including his work with Citizens Advice, where he supported individuals seeking sanctuary with housing, welfare, and access to essential services.

For the past ten years, Bupe has worked in social housing across Staffordshire, Merseyside, and the West Midlands, supporting diverse communities and tackling housing inequality. His personal journey continues to inform his commitment to fairness, dignity, and inclusion. He is proud to champion the charity’s mission and to contribute to the vital work it delivers in Stoke-on-Trent.

Our Staff

Godefroid Seminega

Godefroid Seminega

Chief Executive Officer

Godefroid graduated from the Free University of Brussels (ULB) – School of Public Health with BSc (Hons) & MA in Public Health. Godefroid has held managerial positions in Africa as a Public Health Adviser, Consultant and has taught in various Health and Nursing Schools.

In 2004, Godefroid founded a community group-based support service for asylum seekers and refugees which eventually evolved to become the registered charity Asha North Staffordshire.

He is an active member for North Staffordshire Equality Council and elected to the position of Vice Chair on the Black and Minority Ethnic Forum. Godefroid also represents BME communities in Local Strategic Partnerships in the Health Community Sub Committee.

He has worked for local health authorities and several NHS Trusts in Northwest promoting health among Black and Minority Ethnics Community, in particular HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Keele University for his contribution to social inclusion for refugees and asylum seekers in North Staffordshire.

Lydia Mugoyikazi

Lydia Mugoyikazi

Case Worker & Women’s Club Coordinator

Lydia has a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business and Marketing. Born in Rwanda, she worked with the UNHCR from 1995 to 2000 as a Refugee Support Worker.

For more than eight years, Lydia volunteered for the charity, then was subsequently employed as sessional case worker.

Email Lydia

Helen Ranford

Helen Ranford

Finance & Administration

Helen graduated from Staffordshire University with a BA (Hons) degree in Sport and Recreation Studies, and a Masters degree (M.Phil) in Exercise Physiology.

She has worked with children and young people in a variety of settings over the years, joining the team at Community Recreation to deliver outreach youth work and support the play schemes in Stoke-on-Trent.

Helen has also worked with community groups, assisting them in the submission and monitoring of funding bids, primarily New Opportunities Fund, in her role as development worker, to directly support the development and growth of out of school childcare across Manchester.

More recently, her experience has been school-based with over 8 years’ experience of supporting learners in both primary and secondary schools within Staffordshire.

Email Helen

Keita Facinet

Keita Facinet

Digital Inclusion & Unaccompanied Minors Service Coordinator

Keita graduated in MIAG (IT Method Applied to Business Management) from the University of Gamal Abdel Nasser of Guinea. He joined Asha in 2014 as an asylum seeker peer volunteer support worker where he helped in fixing bicycles which had been donated to the charity and helped to teach IT to asylum seekers.

He specialises in the following areas: Phones/Tablets, Games consoles, IT software and hardware.

Keita speaks 5 languages: French, English, Susu, Fula and Mandengo and was an Olympic Judo player.

Email Keita

Tamba Musa

Tamba Musa

Men’s Social Inclusion & Asylum Guide Coordinator

Tamba was born and bred in Sierra Leone. He holds a diploma in Journalism and management and has served the media world for nineteen years (1995 – 2014).

During the Ebola outbreak in his home country – Sierra Leone neighbouring Liberia and Guinea, Tamba left the editing desk and worked for the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society as the Beneficiary Communication Officer (BENCOM) as a way of sensitising communities on the epidemic which eventually led to the sub-region overcoming the deadly Ebola virus.

In the UK, Tamba has completed level I & II Asylum and Protection and is hoping to advance.

Email Tamba

Yadegar Amini

Yadegar Amini

Cultural and Linguistic Mediator

Yadegar, a physiotherapy student at Keele University, volunteered regularly at Asha before transitioning to a staff role.

Born and raised in Tehran – the capital of Iran – as a Kurdish Iranian, he previously served as a teacher and a dedicated member of the Iranian Red Cross.

In Iran, Yadegar actively participated in the student NGO, the Society of Students Against Poverty, aka Imam Ali’s Popular Students Relief Society (IAPSRS).

Yadegar is fluent in Farsi, Kurdish (Sorani & Hawrami), and English. He uses his linguistic skills in interpreting and organising English classes. He links the charity to the asylum seeker community and contributes to cultural events.

Email Yadegar

Darcy Crook

Darcy Crook

Volunteers and Befriending scheme Coordinator

Darcy is currently training as a counsellor on a Master’s at Keele University. They also completed their psychology undergraduate degree there in 2017. They’ve worked with counselling clients from a range of backgrounds but specialise in working with LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent clients.

They are hugely passionate about mental health and neurodiversity awareness, breaking down barriers to accessing support and celebrating diversity.

They’ve previously held the role of Coordinator for Keele Student Minds – a mental health awareness and signposting group for students – where they were responsible for volunteer coordination, organising campaigns and networking with other organisations.

Outside of work they love music and getting outdoors. You’ll often see them with brightly coloured hair and fun earrings so please do say hello!

Sahar Haghighi Bardineh

Sahar Haghighi Bardineh

Caseworker Coordinator Assistant (Sessional Worker)

Sahar graduated in Plant Pathology from Razi University in Iran and is currently a TESOL trainee at Keele University. She also participates in workshops designed for children and women at the New Vic Theatre.

Born and raised in Kermanshah, Iran, Sahar is fluent in Farsi, Southern Kurdish languages, and English.

Since 2023, she has been volunteering in various capacities, including translation, supporting casework, and helping to meet cultural needs, especially for asylum seekers from Iran and surrounding countries. Sahar provides interpretation support and helps resolve case-related issues effectively.

Lucie Labadie

Lucie Labadie

Children and Young People Support Co-ordinator

Lucie was an international dance artist for over fifteen years, performing and touring with various companies across France, the UK, China, and Mongolia. She has extensive experience in teaching dance and leading creative projects with children and young people.

Passionate about bringing people together, Lucie uses the arts as a powerful tool to foster connection, expression, and community. She first connected with Asha while delivering dance workshops and was immediately drawn to the organisation’s warm, inclusive ethos. Inspired by its impact, she joined the team and now serves as the Children and Young People Coordinator.

In this role, Lucie supports children, young people and families navigating school and different challenges during their asylum seekers and refuges journey.

Nurunn Nargish

Nurunn Nargish

Children and Young People Support Co-ordinator

Nurunn has recently joined us as Children and Young person’s Support Coordinator. She graduated with a BA Honours in Criminology and Psychology from Coventry University. She had worked within the Charity sector in various roles for over 15 years.

Her most recent role was working in Rape Crisis as Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Outreach Officer. It was within this role that she first connected with Asha and joined the team to support children and young people in their journey.

She is now working closely with families and children to access education and activities that support young people to eliminate social isolation and build confidence.

Nurunn’s experience includes working as a Youth Worker, support staff at a School and regeneration recruitment.

Fatemeh Hassanzadeh

Fatemeh Hassanzadeh

Psychological Support Worker

I recently completed my MSc in Applied Child Psychology at Keele University, building on a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kharazmi University in Tehran. I have several years of experience working with children in a variety of roles, including as a Child Development Tutor and a kindergarten teacher.

Alongside my professional work, I have four years of voluntary experience providing psychosocial support to Afghan migrants and refugees in Iran. After moving to the UK, I continued this commitment through voluntary work with Barnardo’s, supporting children and young people.

I am currently a Psychological Support Worker at Asha, where I provide emotional and psychosocial support to children, young people, and mothers. I am fluent in Farsi and English.

Maria Fallon

Maria Fallon

Counsellor

Based in Merseyside, Maria has over 10 years’ experience supporting people seeking asylum and refugees through community, mental health and therapeutic services. Her work has included roles within refugee and asylum charities as a Senior Mental Health Worker, Anti-Trafficking Outreach Caseworker and supporting perinatal, young women’s, and family projects.

Alongside working in private practice, she holds a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and qualifications in clinical supervision. Her approach is shaped by years of working alongside people navigating trauma, displacement, uncertainty, and rebuilding their lives in the UK.

Over the years, she has supported individuals and families with emotional wellbeing, safeguarding, advocacy, and practical support, always aiming to create spaces where people feel listened to and respected. She is particularly passionate about culturally sensitive and trauma-informed work, and understands the importance of trust, consistency, and compassion in therapeutic relationships.

Her experience across Merseyside’s voluntary sector continues to inform her commitment to accessible, human-centred support for people from all backgrounds.

Our supporting funders & partners

Asha is core funded by the National Lottery Reaching Communities programme – and many other fantastic organisations also support the work we do…

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Stoke on Trent Food Partnership
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Change a life today

Asha is in constant need of support to help the growing number of asylum seekers and refugees in need. Help transform someone’s life by making a donation or becoming a volunteer.