Supporting Voluntary Action
Baher joined Voscur in 2022, job sharing the Partnership Development Officer role for the Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seeker Partnership (BRASP). In addition to being a refugee, Baher has volunteered for many refugee support organisations in the UK and other countries. He is regularly involved in human rights activism, and volunteers as an English tutor for asylum seekers and refugees.
Baher is currently a first year Politics and International Relations student at the University of Bristol, and an active member in the Student Action For Refugees Society.
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Spencer previously worked for two NHS Trusts in Bristol, and currently volunteers as the Chair of Trans Pride South West, a local community-based pride festival.
Spencer has a degree in Music and in his spare time he enjoys singing and learning instruments. He also has a rapidly growing collection of house plants to care for.
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Tom's current projects include: research with the University of Bristol that is looking at the impact of the pandemic on the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector; measuring diversity and equalities in Bristol's largest VCSE sector organisations; and working with Bristol City Council and sector colleagues towards a democratic body for Bristol's VCSE sector.
In the past, Tom has worked for media agencies in London and Bristol, and was a communications manager at the University of Bristol until 2020. Outside work, Tom enjoys outdoor pursuits including running, camping and snowboarding, and recently completed a master’s degree in International Relations.
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Clare is Voscur’s Community Outreach Coordinator - her role is to engage with small, new and local organisations in Bristol and to develop their sustainability, linking them with each other and with Voscur.
She has worked in and for the VCSE sector for over 15 years, in Bristol, the West Midlands and Queensland, Australia. Clare has specialised in refugee and migrant advocacy in her paid and volunteer work and has a Masters degree in Community Development. Outside of work, Clare plays in a local orchestra.
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Tom joined Voscur in late 2020, and provides administrative support to the organisation. Manning the phones and email accounts, he is your point of contact for general enquiries.
Outside of work, Tom is a playwright and poet who has had his work featured on BBC iPlayer and delivered a TEDx Talk on Mental Health. He is an Open Sessions Writer at Bristol Old Vic and a Community Reporter for Bristol 24/7. Tom is represented in his creative practice by Rising Arts Agency.
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Fi joined Voscur in November 2019 as Finance Manager. As Finance Manager she is responsible for the development of Voscur’s finances and systems, overall projections and allocations, reporting to the Board of Trustees and Resources Committee and the annual accounts.
In the past Fi has worked as a Finance Manager for both national and local charities including: CHIVA, Bristol Playbus, PEYTU and Women’s Aid. Fi has been involved in Charity Finance for over 30 years.
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Mark joined Voscur in 2010. He leads Voscur’s strategic engagement, business development, and programme delivery. His work with commissioners to help processes include community organisations so that they can win and deliver public service contracts. He also leads Voscur’s collaboration support to help VCSE organisations work together in partnerships and consortia. This includes advice and facilitated sessions, and responding to opportunities.
Mark has worked in the public and voluntary sectors for 25 years, as an employee, trustee, volunteer and consultant. Areas of expertise are commissioning/procurement, partnership development and strategic planning.
Before joining Voscur, Mark worked in homelessness at Bristol City Council and as a consultant to the VCSE sector.
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Heather is job-sharing the Partnership Development Officer role working for the Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seeker Partnership (BRASP), alongside Baher Al Abd.
Heather has many years’ experience of working and volunteering in the refugee and asylum seeker support sector. She also worked for several years in South Sudan for a social justice organisation supporting civil society coalitions and activists. She also managed a project collecting traditional folk tales to make radio and street theatre as a peacebuilding endeavour.
In her spare time she can be found listening for stories in the woods.
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Dani has worked in the voluntary sector since 2019 and joined Voscur in 2022. She provides assistance and administrative support to Voscur’s Executive Management and supports the development and implementation of systems and processes.
In her spare time, Dani enjoys walking (ideally with a dog), cross-stitch, and cooking.
Contact DaniTom started working with Voscur in April 2019. He is responsible for the smooth running and maintenance of Voscur’s data and ICT systems, and helping the Voscur team with technical, admin and development support around technology and business systems.
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Alice is responsible for the development and management of systems and processes to ensure the smooth running of Voscur’s core operations and internal support services.
She has worked at several local charities both as an employee and as a volunteer, and joined the Voscur team in 2022.
In her spare time, Alice enjoys music, spoiling her cats, and trying to keep her house plants alive.
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Janine spent over 12 years working in Adult and Community Learning for Essex, North Somerset and Bristol City Councils followed by 10 years in the VCSE sector managing volunteering for several different community organisations. She is currently a volunteer Director at Weston Artspace CIC, helping to develop a new community art and cultural space in Weston-super-Mare.
Outside of work, Janine enjoys strength training at the gym, creating her own digital art and travelling around the UK in her campervan.
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Namiko joined Voscur in December 2020. Namiko has volunteered and worked in the charity sector for a few years as treasurer, finance administrator and account support.
Namiko enjoys working in the allotment on weekends especially weeding and watering. Namiko also likes going anywhere she can see nice views.
Contact NamikoRosa coordinates the events and training programme at Voscur.
She has worked in the charity sector since 2011, building up experience in project management and managing events and training programmes. She has also volunteered for organisations in the UK and in South America.
She has a degree in English Literature and History, and in her spare time she can often be found reading. Rosa also enjoys her allotment and going on walking holidays.
Jenny supports Bristol organisations with their income generation and development by providing one-to-one help, training and events on fundraising strategy, skills and information.
She’s also a professional fundraiser, consultant and trainer, working with a wide variety of clients to raise funds and increase their capacity to fundraise.
In a previous life, Jenny managed grant funds for several local and national Trusts, so she’s experienced the grant funding world from both sides. She’s Treasurer of two small charities, and a volunteer book seller at a local Social Enterprise, Clevedon Community Bookshop, a role that combines several of her favourite things: reading, writing and chatting to interesting people.
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