From Centre Member to Deputy Director: Hakar’s Journey at St Augustine’s
4 November 2026
From first arriving at St Augustine’s as a Centre Member, to volunteering, working as a Caseworker and Integration Co-ordinator, and now joining the leadership team as Deputy Director, Hakar has experienced the Centre from many different perspectives.
In this personal reflection, Hakar shares what St Augustine’s has meant to him over the years, how his own experiences have shaped the way he works, and what it feels like to now have a different responsibility within the organisation.
He reflects on the people, opportunities and experiences that have shaped his journey — and why, despite his changing roles, the welcoming spirit of St Augustine’s has remained the same.
“What has remained the same is the soul and spirit of St Augustine’s — how people connect to each other, the vibe and the energy.”
Read Hakar’s story below.
My first impression when I came to St Augustine’s in 2023 was one of admiration.
I was happy to see a refugee centre in my area. Before coming to Halifax, I had been in another city where there were no centres or charities working closely with refugees and people seeking asylum. I could not access much support, especially as I was new to the country and did not have a solicitor. That is why I recognised the value of St Augustine’s from the beginning.
St Augustine’s was a place I could turn to when I had concerns about my asylum process or was unsure about something I had received. It was also a place where I could bring my children to have fun, especially as we were new to the town and did not know the area or the facilities. We spent good times here, speaking to people from home and meeting people from different backgrounds and countries.
This inspired me to volunteer at the Centre. I had previous experience working with international humanitarian organisations, and I could see that the Centre was doing great work. I felt I could help, give something back and support people like me.
I met great people here at the Centre, including Centre Members, staff, volunteers and trustees. I first volunteered as an interpreter, then became involved in casework, and later became a trustee.
There were opportunities to work with St Augustine’s, and I had always wanted to stay connected to the Centre.
I first started working as a Caseworker and then as an Integration Coordinator, supporting people seeking asylum. I learned a lot during this time, and the work was both interesting and enjoyable. I developed a deeper understanding of the asylum and appeals processes, including how to lodge appeals, and increased my knowledge of the support and services available through public services.
My own experience helped me understand what our Centre Members were going through and how challenging it can be to seek asylum and wait for a decision. I understand the difficulties of being moved from one area to another, having to relocate children to new schools, and constantly adapting to unfamiliar environments. I also recognise the emotional impact of living with uncertainty, worrying about when an interview will take place, what the Home Office decision will be, and what the future may hold for you and your children.
My lived experience has helped me understand the needs of our Centre Members and approach my work with empathy, understanding and compassion. These experiences have also helped me recognise the concerns people may have about the quality of food provided in accommodation, limited weekly asylum support payments and the difficulties of managing on a restricted budget, particularly for families. I also understand the importance of ensuring that children have opportunities to take part in activities, socialise and experience a sense of normality despite the uncertainty of their circumstances.
I have always tried to be helpful to everyone I meet at the Centre. You kind of feel that St Augustine’s is a family centre, where everyone is welcome and can feel at home. Going from being a Centre Member to supporting others was very meaningful to me because I knew, from my own experience, how important it is to have someone there to support you when you are new to the country and facing uncertainty.
When the vacancy for Deputy Director was advertised, I decided to apply. I am an ambitious person, and the encouragement of my family and people around me helped motivate me to take the opportunity. My volunteering and work experience at St Augustine’s also helped me secure the role.
It is something new for me, of course, especially here in the UK. I now have different responsibilities, including monitoring and evaluation, leading the Expertise by Experience (EbE) work, supporting community cohesion initiatives, engaging with stakeholders, and ensuring that Centre Members are involved in shaping services and activities.
I am in a position where I can make changes when needed, while consulting with our Centre Members and making sure they have opportunities to share their views. The role is closely linked to lived experience and our Centre Members, and I feel that this gives me a different perspective.
I now feel that I have greater responsibility towards our Centre Members and the Centre itself. I am trying my best to do the job well, with the support of the St Augustine’s family.
I have noticed how much hard work the senior team and the wider operations team put into running the Centre.
Their responsibilities include preparing funding applications, producing reports, monitoring and evaluating our work, coordinating with partner organisations and service providers, and managing safeguarding concerns. Working closely with them has shown me how challenging the job can be, and I really appreciate everyone’s contribution and commitment to supporting Centre Members.
In my first few months, I have learned a lot, especially about expertise by experience work, monitoring and evaluation, and working closely with the activities team. I have also developed my skills in human resources management and gained a much better understanding of how to measure the impact of our work and why this is so important. These experiences have helped me grow professionally and given me a deeper appreciation of the work we do and the difference it makes in people’s lives. It is a pleasure to be part of this team and the wider St Augustine’s community.
I have also worked closely with Centre Members to plan and deliver our Open Day event. We carried out a survey to understand what Centre Members would like to see and be involved in on the day. For the first time, the event was co-designed and co-produced with Centre Members, ensuring that their ideas and contributions shaped the programme. They proudly showcased their cultures and countries through stalls, displays, food and personal stories, creating a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere that celebrated the diversity of our community and encouraged cultural understanding and connection.
Open day 2026.
It was amazing to see the experience and talent among our Centre Members, and the work they put into the event was wonderful. It reminded me once again of the skills, experience and contributions that Centre Members bring to St Augustine’s.
Having been a Centre Member, then a Caseworker, and now part of the leadership team, my understanding of St Augustine’s has changed. I now understand how challenging it can be to keep the Centre running and how much effort the staff, volunteers and everyone involved put into supporting Centre Members.
What has remained the same is the soul and spirit of St Augustine’s: how people connect with one another, the atmosphere and the energy. That is something I recognised when I first came to the Centre, and I still feel it now.
What excites me most is that I am still here with St Augustine’s. Even if I were not working here, I would still volunteer and keep in touch with the Centre. It is exciting to connect with people from different backgrounds and nationalities and to learn from everyone here. Working alongside Centre Members and strengthening connections with people, organisations and the local community has been both exciting and rewarding.
My journey to becoming Deputy Director has been a long one, from being displaced and moving to a new country to becoming a Centre Member at St Augustine’s and eventually taking on a leadership role.
When I first started in this role, I faced some challenges, as it was a new position in a new country. One of these challenges was language. Although I am very confident in English, which is my third language, understanding different accents and some of the terminology used in professional settings took time. Another challenge was learning how systems, policies and services operate in the UK, as they are quite different from my previous experiences.
As I am still a refugee myself, I believed that once I received my decision, I would finally be able to settle, focus on building my future and create stability for my children. However, the current discussions and consultations around settlement and citizenship have created new uncertainties. The possibility of refugees having to wait much longer before becoming eligible for citizenship is worrying, not only for me but also for many refugees across the country. It raises concerns about long-term stability, belonging and the future opportunities available to our children.
I hope that any future changes take into account the impact that prolonged uncertainty can have on individuals and families. Many refugees have already spent years waiting for decisions about their lives, and continued uncertainty can make it difficult to fully settle, plan for the future and feel a sense of security and belonging.
Getting to this point is really emotional for me, and I feel the responsibility that comes with it. St Augustine’s has been part of different stages of my life. I first came here as someone who needed support, and now I am here helping to support others and being part of the leadership of the organisation.
I hope that I can make a positive contribution to the Centre and help St Augustine’s continue to grow and support our community. I hope the Centre will always be a lively and lovely place for everyone. My goal is to ensure that Centre Members with lived experience are at the heart of our work and decision-making. I want to advocate for them locally and nationally, ensuring their voices are heard and helping to influence policies and systems that affect their lives.
What makes St Augustine’s special is its welcoming and non-judgemental atmosphere and the spirit within the Centre. I hope we can keep that spirit and continue to make St Augustine’s a place where everyone feels welcome and at home.