ABOUT US
Sanctuary Hosting finds short to long term hosting placements for destitute migrants and refugees.
OUR STAFF
Sarah Wahby
Service Manager
Sarah has experience overseeing psycho-social support, advocacy and advice services for refugees, vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking. Working in Egypt, UK and Bolivia, she has been a researcher and lectured on issues facing forced migrants.
Elaine Savage
Service Coordinator
Elaine has a background of over 12 years Youth and Community Work experience, many spent responding to those facing homelessness. She has lived, travelled and worked in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and has a strong desire to support anyone affected by forced migration.
Amy Hill
Marketing and Communications Officer
Amy guided tours in many countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa before joining the BBC as a journalist where she worked on high profile news programmes. She then worked in the communications team at Oxfam before coming to help us promote the work of Sanctuary Hosting.
Isabella Fleitas Fermin
Project Worker - Reading and Berkshire
Isabella has lived in the Dominican Republic, the Canary Islands and England, where she has worked as a caseworker with refugees and asylum seekers. She is an active researcher on refugee integration and well-being, which she makes the prime focus in her work ethic.
Isabella leads on coordinating and building our service in the Reading area and throughout Berkshire.
OUR DIRECTORS
Alison Baxter
Chair of Trustees
Alison was head of publishing for the national charity Directory of Social Change before becoming Chief Executive of OCVA (Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action) for ten years. She is now freelance writer and involved in various voluntary activities.
Kate Bowen
Trustee
For the last 20 years of her career Kate ran her own Communications Consultancy, typically writing speeches, presentations, strategy papers etc for major blue chip companies such as Shell, British Airways and KPMG. Her voluntary activities have ranged from chairing the board of governors for a local primary school, to working with teenage school children through Young Enterprise. She has been a host and volunteer with Sanctuary hosting since 2015.
Dr Kenneth King
Treasurer
Ken has worked for more than 30 years in the higher education sector. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He has been a member of the Mali Development Group and is currently treasurer of Refugee Resource, in Oxford.
Bebe Speed
Trustee
Bebe Speed worked in the local mental health trust for many years as a consultant family therapist.
She is currently a Trustee of Emmaus Oxford, a charity which offers work and accommodation to 28 homeless people including two refugee and asylum seekers.
Matt Grainger
Trustee
Matt was a journalist in New Zealand, and then in Cambodia in the mid-90s, before he joined Oxfam in the UK. He is head of media now for Oxfam International, where he has worked on its campaigns and humanitarian responses since 2002.
Goytom Fissehaye
Trustee
Originally from Eritrea, Goytom has first hand experience of being a refugee and being homeless. He is now pursuing further studies, has my own place and is working. He has been involved with the hosting scheme since it started and looks forward to seeing it grow.
Rose Haines
Trustee
Rose has worked with people affected by asylum and immigration issues for over 13 years, including with the Refugee Council, The Children’s Society and now as South East of England Operations Manager for the British Red Cross. Rose has played a key part in obtaining four years of Big Lottery Funding for a partnership between the Red Cross, Citizens Advice Reading and Sanctuary Hosting.
Theresa Foster
Trustee
Theresa has over 10 years experience working with Refugees, Asylum Seekers and survivors of Human Trafficking in both the US and the UK. She was involved in the relaunch of Oxford City of Sanctuary and is a founding trustee member of Sanctuary Hosting. Theresa is currently employed as a Quality Officer in Higher Education.
