Our team

Name: Amanda Littlewood

Occupation: Project Manager (Refugees & Mentors)

Amanda has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years and set up Refugees & Mentors in 2016. She has a wealth of experience, including management, community development and advice. She holds a NVQ level 3 in Advice and Guidance, ILM Level 3 in Leadership and Management and a postgraduate diploma in Health Promoting Practice. Amanda is passionate about bringing new and settled communities together and working with others to create work related opportunities.

Name: Rachel Goodall

Occupation: Head of Asylum Services (Refugee Action)

Rachel has worked in the refugee charity sector for the last 9 years and supports R&M with service quality & development and organisational capacity building.

Name: Waiwai Balash

Occupation: Computer Science Trainee Teacher

Before joining R&M as a volunteer director in 2019, Waiwai worked with a number of not-for-profit organisations as a project manager, project officer and a regional supervisor in South Sudan. Waiwai holds a bachelor’s degree in IT and an MSc in ICTs for Development from the University of Manchester. He joined R&M to support vulnerable new members of our communities to find jobs and live independently.

Name: Ged Allen

Occupation: Sales Manager (Retired)

Ged worked for a FTSE100 UK based global engineering company for almost 40 years until April 2019, in roles related to managing the sales and operational delivery of machinery reliability, consultancy services to international process industries. A major part of his role was the search, recruitment and development of talent. Specifically, mechanical engineers, data analysts and software developers and management responsibility for teams based in the UK, Middle East and Asia.

Name: Claire Grimshaw

Occupation: Returner Project Employment Worker (Refugees & Mentors)

Claire was a volunteer mentor with Refugees & Mentors for 3 years before joining the Returner Project as an Employment Worker. She is passionate about helping refugees to restart their professional careers in the UK and helping employers to see the huge benefits that professional refugee employees can bring to their businesses. Claire has an undergraduate degree in Law and is currently studying towards a Masters degree in Counselling. Claire has a strong interest in social and political justice and human rights issues. In her spare time, she enjoys getting out into the countryside, fell walking and camping.

Name: Jessica Price

Occupation: Management Accountant (Greenergy International)

Jessica studied at Manchester Metropolitan University for a degree in Business Finance (BA), and started working in the oil and gas industry after graduation. While working in industry, Jessica studied and became a qualified certified chartered accountant (ACCA). Jessica has been working in the Oil and Gas industry in various financial roles for 9 years and currently she is a management accountant for Greenergy’s International divisions and investments.

Name: Palden Tsering

Occupation: Finance Assistant (RSK Group)

Palden has completed his Master’s in Economics degree from the University of Madras, India. He joined and served the Central Tibetan Administration, India, for more than 12 years under different capacities such as Internal Auditor, Chief Accountant and Representative. Currently working as a Finance Assistant in RSK Group, an environmental consultant and engineering company, and studying an Advance Diploma in Accounting. Palden is someone who is passionate about Finance and Accounting and his ambition is to become a qualified chartered CIMA accountant. Being a Tibetan refugee, he is driven and committed to work for the welfare of all refugees and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom. His role model is His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he is greatly inspired by His Holiness’s unconditional love and compassion towards all sentient beings.