SORAYA ESTHER AKROUCHE

Key Achievements & Responsibilities

• Led capacity-building support for the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in the City, filling the gap left by the absence of a Council for Voluntary Service (CVS).
• Provided organisational development and governance support to local charities, strengthening their sustainability and ability to deliver services.
• Co-ordinated the VCSquared programme , facilitating events and networking sessions that promoted collaboration, peer learning and knowledge exchange.
• Built strategic relationships with local authorities, charities and wider stakeholders to strengthen partnership working and advocacy.
• Guided VCS organisations in securing funding , helping them to identify, prepare and succeed in funding applications.
• Aligned sector activities with public health and social care priorities , ensuring community voices were represented in local decision-making.

Role Summary
Provide strategic oversight and coordination for refugee and migrant organisations in City & Hackney, acting as the neutral link between the voluntary and community sector (VCS), Hackney Council and the NHS. Engage directly with senior leadership to ensure refugee and migrant needs are prioritised within local health and social care systems.

Key Achievements & Responsibilities

• Oversaw engagement with refugee and migrant organisations , meeting with senior staff to align sector priorities with local authority and NHS agendas.
• Acted as the neutral convenor between the VCS, Hackney Council and NHS partners, strengthening collaboration and ensuring refugee and migrant voices were represented in decision-making.
• Built strategic partnerships with statutory agencies (Council, NHS, policy teams), embedding refugee and migrant needs within the Integrated Care System.
• Provided policy leadership , analysing national, regional and local papers to brief HRMF members and shape advocacy positions.
• Chaired the VCS representation on Hackney Council's Borough of Sanctuary project, ensuring voluntary sector leadership influenced policy and service design.
• Sat on local authority funding boards , influencing resource allocation for services supporting refugee and migrant communities.
• Organised and facilitated multi-agency steering groups , enabling joint strategies between local authorities and the third sector.
• Led health and social care policy development to improve pathways of support for refugees and migrants.
• Conducted fieldwork in asylum hotels , monitoring commissioned services and feeding insights into planning and service improvement.
• Strengthened community participation , encouraging diverse organisations to engage with HRMF and the VCS Assembly.
• Oversaw HRMF's strategic direction and operations , aligning activities with annual priorities and supporting fundraising for unrestricted income.

Key Achievements & Responsibilities

• Led gender-focused projects aimed at improving employability opportunities for migrant women, strengthening inclusion and economic participation.
• Managed operational logistics for cases involving children under refugee law, both nationally and internationally, ensuring compliance and safeguarding.
• Conducted professional research on human trafficking routes across Brazil, French Guiana and France, providing evidence to inform programme design and advocacy.
• Supported partners in monitoring and impact measurement of sponsored projects, contributing to improved evaluation and accountability.
• Contributed to organisational policy development , from design through to delivery, aligning strategies with refugee protection frameworks.
• Authored contributions to the UNHCR annual report , ensuring accurate representation of partner organisations' work and impact.
• Strengthened relationships with statutory partners , enhancing collaboration and service coordination at the local level.

Key Achievements & Responsibilities

• Engaged in budget planning and delivery for transportation and food voucher schemes, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Conducted outreach fieldwork in migrant settlements, assessing needs and strengthening links between communities and service providers.
• Designed and delivered reports to inform partners and improve programme delivery.
• Supported semestral auditing for UNHCR-sponsored projects, contributing to transparency and accountability.
• Addressed service inequalities affecting vulnerable groups, helping to identify gaps and propose solutions.
• Advocated for anti-racist commissioning , promoting equitable access for migrants to services, education and employment.