Being a TID Trustee

I have worked in torture rehabilitation and refugee mental health for the last 25 years. When I am asked about my work, I am careful to use the word torture. Sometimes there is a sharp intake of breath, and the conversation shifts quickly to safer topics. Torture can be hard to speak about, but for survivors/those that support them and those with lived experience working in the field, it has never felt more important to name torture.

I’m writing this at a time of TortureID seeking new Board members. It is a complex time to be involved in a charity supporting survivors of human rights abuses who are seeking protection in the UK. But TID is a unique and innovative charity, and being involved in the governance of a genuinely curious and evolving small organisation is exciting. At this point in history, it is also an act of activism and allyship, and my involvement in TortureID has always reflected my political commitment.

I have only recently stepped down from managing a therapeutic service for refugees in South Yorkshire in January 2026. I began working with people seeking asylum in 1999, when the UK dispersal policy was introduced and people seeking protection were dispersed to Yorkshire. At that time, I worked within a mental health crisis service and had been working with refugees from Kosovo. In response to dispersal, I was one of the many workers and activists establishing services in the region to support asylum seeking people, including mental health support. We also worked hard to lobby existing services to ensure they were also accessible.

We have come a long way, but it is hard to comprehend where we find ourselves now. I’m not sure we could have imagined what was to come. The sector is working hard to challenge this Labour government’s punishing Immigration and Asylum Bill whilst working in an ever hostile and sometimes violent environment. The rise of the far right means that those we support/who work in the sector are facing frequent attacks on their safety. Refugees are threatened and violently attacked in the inappropriate settings they have been placed.

I was one of the small group that founded the charity. Many of TortureID’s Board members have worked in torture rehabilitation for many years and have a long-term commitment to ensuring access to health and justice for survivors of human rights abuses. However, the Board is relatively small and needs to grow. So, we are excited to be working towards welcoming new Trustees who will bring additional skills and expertise to help us manage this next phase of our growth during these turbulent times.

In 2025 we employed our first Director, and the small medical team of sessional staff is growing, and with that our reach and influence. If you are interested in getting involved and understanding more about what we do, please get in touch.