About Us
Our Purpose. Our People. Our Partners.
We’re Award Winners!
We are proud to be a Big Issue Changemaker 2025. It’s an honour to have been recognised as an organisation that makes life better and brighter and sees what needs to be done at a community level and beyond. You can read more about our award by clicking here.
Lived experience is not just valued – it’s the driving force behind everything we do.
Our founding ethos is simple: lived experience should lead.
From the outset, The Launchpad Collective was built to be steered by those with direct experience of displacement. We don’t just advise employers - we are an employer, modelling the inclusive practices we champion. Our team leads by example, and some of our staff began their journeys as clients. This approach not only builds trust, but also shows what’s possible - creating a cycle of inspiration, leadership and impact.
82% of our staff have lived experience of forced migration.
33% of our Board and Advisory Council members have lived experience.
Meet the Team
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Meelad
Client Coordinator
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Mariam
Word Ready Lead
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Kotaiba
Projects Manager
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Ardavan
Client Coordinator
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Daria
Client Coordinator
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Jane
Cofounder & Joint CEO
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Summerly
Cofounder & Joint CEO
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Rabab
Work Ready English Manager
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Medya
Safeguarding Lead
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Hengi
Fundraising & Development Lead
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Khrystyna
Volunteer Coordinator
Growth, Belonging & Purpose
At TLC, being a part of the team means more than having a job. For many it’s a pathway to confidence, connection and a renewed sense of direction. It’s often a stepping stone - their first UK work opportunity, supporting staff to rebuild careers with confidence.
Through TLC I received a bursary for an Accountancy course, it’s been life changing, combined with my recent Masters this has paved the way for my future career in Finance.
Meelad, Client Coordinator
Since I started working at TLC, it has been more than just a job, it’s a place where I learn, grow and develop my knowledge. TLC has given me invaluable experience, shaped me into the person I aspire to be and filled me with self-confidence.
Kotaiba, Projects Manager
TLC has given me a sense of purpose and I take pride in helping other refugees in the same position I once was. Through TLC, I completed leadership training which has further empowered me to guide and support others. I feel like i’ve regained my life in the UK. I now feel settled and confident in my new life here.
Rabab, Work Ready English Manager
I am so happy to have found not just colleagues, but a new family with TLC. This helped me understand my new surroundings and, most importantly, helped me regain my sense of worth.
Ardavan, Client Coordinator
“The Launchpad Collective is more than just a workplace - it’s a launchpad for future leaders.”
Mariam
Work Ready Lead, The Launchpad Collective
Working in Partnership
We know we are stronger when we work together - it takes all of us. To ensure our clients have access to the employment expertise they need we build strategic partnerships e.g. City & Guilds, Brighton Chamber of Commerce and University of Sussex.
Chosen as one of ten charities from over 120 applicants, we took part in the inaugural Sussex Angels’ Den at the Brighton i360. Our pitch to five philanthropic ‘Angels’, who were distributing £100,000 in funding, secured new investment, interest from charitable trusts and volunteers.
Our Trustees
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Nora
Trustee
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Raj
Trustee Co-Chair
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Richard
Trustee
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Summerly
Trustee & Signatory
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Hope
Trustee
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Jane
Trustee & Signatory
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Jumara
Trustee
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Mariam
Trustee Co-Chair
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Naomi
Trustee
Our National Network
To ensure these vital employment services reach people most in need we have joined forces with organisations all over the country supporting refugees and asylum seekers. This growing network ensures national accessibilty to our work.
Abigail housing
ACH
Action foundation
African Refugee Community
Aid Box Community
Arc project
Armagh City, Banbridge Craigavon Borough Council
ASIRT (asylum support and immigration resource team)
Asylos
Asylum Welcome - Employment Service
Babylon project
Baobab Centre For Young Survivors in Exile
Bath Welcomes Refugees
Bedfordshire refugee and asylum seeker support
Big Leaf Foundation
Boaz Trust
Bradford City of Sanctuary
Bradford Council
Bramberbake house
BRASS Bolton
Breadwinners
Brighton and Hove City Council
Brighton Chamber of Commerce
Brighton Council Refugee Forum
Brighton Solidarity
Bristol Refugee Rights
Bristol STAR
British Red Cross
Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign
CARIS Haringey
Centrepoint
Tonbridge Welcomes Refugees
Changing Lives
CLEAR Project
Community Works
Conversation over Borders
Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre
Croydon Refugee Day Centre
Department for Work and Pensions
Derby Refugee Forum
Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support
DWP
Elmbridge CAN
English for Action
Enthum Foundation
Entraide
ESOL Perth
EVWR
Exeter STAR
Experts by Experience
Family Action
RefugEase
Functional Skills UK
Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS)
Hackney Migrant Centre
Haringey Migrant support Centre
Hastings Borough Council
Helen Bamber Foundation
Help Refugees
Hertfordshire Mind Network
Herts Mind Network flourish
Herts Welcomes Refugees
Hummingbird
I SPEAK FOOTBALL
IRC
Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants
Jesuit Refugee Service
Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group
Kazzum Arts
Kent Refugee Action Network
Lewes for Ukraine
Lewisham Council.
Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network
Lewes Supports Refugees
MACC
Manchester Refugee Support Network
Micro Rainbow
Migrant Help
Migrant Support Manchester
MIgrants' Square. 1
Napier Friends
New Citizens Gateway
NIYA
Northumberland County of Sanctuary
Notre Dame Refugee Centre
Nottingham Refugee Forum
Oasis Project
Open Door North East
OPORA
Penrith and Eden Refugee Network
Phosphoros Theatre
Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Positive Action in Housing
RAIS Lancaster
Reading Community Learning
Reading Refugee Support Service
REAP
Refugee Action Kingston
Refugee and Migrant Network Sutton
Refugee Council
Refugee Education UK (REUK)
Refugee Employment Network
Refugee Roots/Nottinghamshire
Refugee Support Group - Berkshire
Refugee Women Connect
Refugees at Home
Refugees Welcome Crawley
Rise
Salvation Army
Sanctuary Cafe
Sevenoaks Refugee group
Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees
Sheffield City of sanctuary
Sheffield STAR 1
Slough Refugee Support
South London Refugee Action (SLRA)
St Augustine's Centre Halifax
St Vincent Centre Leeds
STAR Sussex
Suffolk Refugee Support
Sussex Community Development Association
Sussex Syrian Community Group
Sutton and District Training
Switchboard
TDC
Tees Valley of Sanctuary
TERN
The Harbour Project
The Links Project
The Network of International Women
The Refugee Buddy Project: Hastings, Rother & Wealden
Thread Ahead
Trafficking & Exploitation Survivors' Service
Trinity Centre Wales
Trust for Developing Communities
Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees
Ukrainian response team Brighton and Hove City Council
Upbeat Communities
VA Rotherham
Voices in Exile
Waltham Forest Council
Welcome Churches
Wolverhampton Refugee and Migrant entre
Women for refugee women
World Jewish Relief
“We are transforming lives, workplaces and communities.”
Raj
Trustee & Co Chair
Redefining “Refugee”
/refjʊˈdʒiː/
Highly motivated and resilient individuals having overcome significant challenges, with a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to communities, business growth and economies.