From Centre Member to Deputy Director: Hakar’s Journey at St Augustine’s
11 November 2026
Hakar first came to St Augustine’s looking for support. He went on to volunteer as an interpreter, help with casework, become a trustee and join the staff team. Now, as Deputy Director, he brings those experiences to the leadership of the Centre.
Here, he reflects on belonging, the uncertainty of seeking asylum and why Centre Members’ voices must be at the heart of the organisation.
“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.
Left to right: Elli; Director of St Augustine’s Centre, Hakar; Deputy Director of St Augustine’s Centre.
A place to turn to
My first impression when I came to St Augustine’s in 2023 was one of admiration. I was happy to find a refugee centre in my area. Before coming to Halifax, I had lived in another city where there were no centres or charities working closely with refugees and people seeking asylum. I was new to the country, did not have a solicitor and could not get much support. I recognised the value of St Augustine’s straight away.
It was somewhere I could turn to when I had concerns about my asylum process or did not understand something I had received. It was also a place to bring my children, have fun and get to know our new town. We spent good times here, speaking to people from home and meeting people from different backgrounds and countries. We were new to the area and did not know the facilities, so having somewhere we could go together meant a lot.
That welcome inspired me to volunteer. I had experience working with international humanitarian organisations, and I could see the Centre was doing great work. I wanted to use what I knew, give something back and support people like me. Having come here for help myself, I understood how much that support could mean to someone else.
I met great people among the Centre Members, staff, volunteers and trustees. I first volunteered as an interpreter, then became involved in casework as a volunteer, and later became a trustee. Each role gave me another way to contribute and another perspective on the Centre.
When opportunities for paid work came up, I wanted to stay connected. I became a Caseworker and then an Integration Coordinator, supporting people seeking asylum in hotels. The work was interesting and enjoyable, and I learned a great deal: about the asylum and appeals processes, how to lodge appeals, and the support available through public services. Alongside that practical knowledge, I brought my own experience of needing help in a new country.
Knowing what uncertainty feels like
My own experience helps me understand what Centre Members are going through. Seeking asylum means waiting for decisions that affect every part of your life. You worry about when your interview will happen, what the Home Office will decide and what the future holds for you and your children. It is hard to make plans when so much is outside your control.
I know the difficulties of being moved from one area to another: finding your way around an unfamiliar place, moving children to new schools and starting again. I also understand the everyday pressures, from concerns about food in accommodation to managing on limited weekly asylum support payments. For families, a restricted budget can make even ordinary activities difficult. Children still need opportunities to play, socialise and enjoy a sense of normality, whatever uncertainty surrounds them.
These experiences shape how I approach my work: with understanding, empathy and compassion. Going from receiving support to supporting others was deeply meaningful. I knew how important it was to have someone there when you were new to the country and unsure what would happen next. I have always tried to be helpful to everyone I meet at the Centre. To me, St Augustine’s feels like a family centre — somewhere everyone is welcome and can feel at home.
Left to right: Hakar; Deputy Director of St Augustine’s Centre, Sana; Family Integration Co-ordinator at St Augustine’s Centre.
A new role, a wider perspective
When the Deputy Director vacancy was advertised, I decided to apply. I am ambitious, and encouragement from my family and the people around me gave me the confidence to take that step. My volunteering and work experience at St Augustine’s helped me secure the role. I had seen the Centre from several different perspectives; joining the leadership team was a new opportunity to build on what I had learned.
The role has brought different responsibilities: monitoring and evaluation, leading our Expertise by Experience (EbE) work, supporting community cohesion, engaging with stakeholders and ensuring Centre Members help shape services and activities. It is new territory for me, especially here in the UK, but it is closely connected to the people and experiences that brought me to St Augustine’s in the first place.
I can now help make changes where they are needed, while consulting Centre Members and making sure they have opportunities to share their views. My lived experience gives me a particular perspective, but listening to others remains essential. Being involved in shaping the Centre should be an opportunity for our Centre Members, not just for those of us in leadership roles.
I feel a greater responsibility towards Centre Members and the Centre itself. I want to do the job well, and I am learning with the support of the St Augustine’s family. Becoming Deputy Director has also helped me understand more clearly what it takes to keep the centre running.
I have seen how much work goes on behind the scenes. The senior team and the wider operations team prepare funding applications, produce reports, monitor and evaluate our work, coordinate with partner organisations and service providers, and manage safeguarding concerns. Working alongside them has shown me the range of responsibilities involved in supporting Centre Members and keeping the organisation running.
I appreciate everyone’s contribution. From the outside, you do not necessarily see all the effort that goes into the work. Being closer to it has deepened my understanding of the challenges staff and volunteers face, as well as my appreciation of the community we are part of.
In my first few months, I have learned especially about expertise by experience work, monitoring and evaluation, and working with the activities team. I have developed my human resources management skills and a better understanding of how we measure our impact. Understanding the difference our work makes is an important part of the role. There is a lot to learn, and it is a pleasure to do that within this team and the wider St Augustine’s community.
Centre Members shaping the programme
One experience in my new role that stands out is working with Centre Members to plan and deliver our Open Day event. We began with a survey, asking what they wanted to see and how they would like to be involved. For the first time, the event was co-designed and co-produced with Centre Members. Their ideas and contributions shaped the programme, from the planning through to what visitors experienced on the day.
Centre Members shared their cultures and countries through stalls, displays, food and personal stories. They created a welcoming, vibrant atmosphere that celebrated our community’s diversity and encouraged people to connect and understand one another. It was wonderful to see the experience, talent and work they brought to the event.
St Augustine’s Centre open day, 2026.
For me, the Open Day was a reminder of how much Centre Members contribute to St Augustine’s. People who come here for support also bring skills, ideas and experience. Making space for those contributions is an important part of ensuring they are involved in shaping the Centre.
Having been a Centre Member, a volunteer, a trustee, a Caseworker and now part of the leadership team, I see St Augustine’s differently. Each stage has shown me another side of the organisation, but the reason I wanted to stay involved has not changed.
The soul and spirit are still here: how people connect with each other, the vibe and the energy. I recognised it when I first arrived, and I feel it now. Even as my responsibilities change, that sense of belonging remains.
Building a future with uncertainty
The journey has not been without challenges. Starting a new role in a new country meant learning on several levels. English is my third language. Although I am very confident speaking it, getting used to different accents and some of the terminology used in professional settings took time. I was also learning how UK systems, policies and services operate, which is quite different from my previous experience.
There is personal uncertainty too. As a refugee, I believed that receiving my decision would mean I could finally settle, build my future and create stability for my children. Discussions and consultations around settlement and citizenship have brought new worries. The possibility of waiting much longer before becoming eligible for citizenship concerns me, and I worry about what it could mean for other refugees and their children. For me, these questions are about long-term stability, belonging and being able to plan our lives.
I hope any future changes take account of what prolonged uncertainty does to individuals and families. Many refugees have already spent years waiting for decisions about their lives. It is difficult to feel settled when the future remains unclear. Being able to plan ahead and feel secure matters to us and to our children. That is part of the experience I carry with me into my work.
Reaching this point is emotional. My journey has taken me from displacement and moving to a new country to finding support at St Augustine’s and becoming Deputy Director. The Centre has been part of so many stages of my life. I first came here needing help; now I am supporting others and sharing responsibility for the organisation. I feel both the significance of that change and the responsibility that comes with it.
Keeping the spirit, looking ahead
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. I enjoy connecting with people from different backgrounds and nationalities and learning from everyone here. Working alongside Centre Members and strengthening links with organisations and the local community has been rewarding. Those connections are something I want to keep building.
I hope I can make a positive contribution and help St Augustine’s grow while remaining a lively, lovely place for everyone. My goal is to ensure Centre Members with lived experience are at the heart of our work and decision-making. I want to advocate for them locally and nationally, help their voices be heard and influence the policies and systems that affect their lives. Having experienced the Centre in so many different roles, I want to bring that understanding to the decisions we make together.
Above all, I want us to keep the welcoming, non-judgemental spirit that made such an impression on me when I first arrived. My role has changed, but that feeling has not. I hope St Augustine’s will always be a place where everyone feels welcome and at home.
St Augustine’s Centre summer trip, 2022.