Samantha Barber
Interim CEO
Samantha has over 25 years’ experience in the charity sector in a range of charities from large household names to smaller organisations. As well as her professional career, she is a trustee of a number of charities. She gained a Distinction in her MSc in Voluntary Sector Management from Bayes Business School, is a member of The Chartered Governance Institute, Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Chartered Institute of Fundraising.
Esperance Barutwanayo
Safeguarding, Empowerment and Mentoring lead
After a decade of experience in safeguarding, Esperance served in charitable organisations delivering services to local schools, especially vulnerable communities. She has been addressing safety issues of voiceless, domestic abuse victims, immigrants, asylum seekers, modern slavery victims and people of ethnic minority groups with mental health issues. Esperance speaks French, Swahili and Dutch.
Shazana Shaheen
Project Board joint lead: Culturally appropriate empowerment for women’s group
Shaz has strong communication and organisational skills which is vital to her role at JCT. Shaz has the OISC Level 1 certificate in Immigration and Asylum and Protection and will now commence her Level 2 training focusing on human rights issues and protection-based applications. Shaz is a second-generation immigrant with roots originating from Pakistan. She is fluent in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and Pothwari/Mirpuri.
Faranak Shahini
Deputy Director: Service, Casework and immigration lead
As an immigrant herself, Faranak is passionate about being the voice for people facing the same difficulties she did. She now has over 15 years’ experience of working with people who are homeless, refugees and asylum-seekers. She is OISC level one qualified and is our service and immigration lead. Faranak is multi-lingual, and fluent in Farsi and Dari.