About Us:

Our mission:

Investing in the skills, passions and talents of young people aged 12 to 24, to nurture future leaders who promote our vision and values.

Our broader strategic aims are developed with and for our young people, to create the changes they wish to see in their communities and society as a whole, in accordance with our vision and mission statement. Our approach to achieving this ambitious vision is multifold, focussing on tackling the ongoing inequalities associated with race and gender, including access, participation, attainment, discrimination and all forms of VAWG.

By providing young people with the skills, opportunities and platforms to lead and to deliver the changes they want to see in terms of gender and racial equality, we also nurture their aspirations, enabling them to achieve their full potential and to change, define and determine their own lives and those of future generations.

Our Values:

Empowerment – providing the skills, platforms and opportunities so young people can advocate for themselves and create the changes they want to see in the world
Integrity – staying true to the Integrate model of working devised by its service users
Representation – being meaningfully youth led and ensuring Integrate is representative of those we serve
Creativity – finding innovative, creative approaches to youth led change
Inclusivity – Making sure everyone is welcome and has a voice

What we do:

As well as supporting young people with their learning, ambitions and aspirations, we run a wide range of creative and educational projects that they have devised themselves.  The projects enable young people to learn and develop transferable skills in many different areas. Their work may involve film development, a stage production, song writing or organising a conference – many of them are invited to speak at high profile events nationally and internationally, to consult government Ministers or deliver training to professionals including teachers, police, lawyers and medical professionals.

Our service users are central to decision making: we have six Junior Trustees who lead youth steering groups and report back to the board – our youth board keeps us on track and inform all aspects of our service.

Our older members deliver peer-education workshops in schools nationally using our young activists’ youth friendly, accessible media resources. Our workshops encourage discussion around a range of challenging issues including female genital mutilation (FGM), honour-based abuse (HBA), sexual harassment and assault, racism and different forms of extremism.

Who’s involved?

Trustees:

  1. Janet Fyle MBE, Chair – MBE, Nurse, Midwife, Public Health Specialist, Policy Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives. Campaigner & activist for ending violence against women & girls. Advocate for improving Women’s mental health & wellbeing.
  2. Sophie Beveridge, Treasurer – Certified accountant (ACCA) with a honours degree in accounting and finance. Senior FP&A analyst providing analysis, forecasts and business partnering.
  3. Deeqo Shire – Former service user, strategist at a creative agency working with brands and government clients on creativity and communication.
  4. Ursule Diankela – Qualified accountant and UK/US Tax Manager.
  5. Joey Paran – Qualified Nurse, former Safeguarding Project Manager for NHS England and Improvement.
  6. Hana Farhat – Human Rights advocate currently working on supporting non-profits securing pro bono legal assistance.

Junior Trustees:

  1. Shaheim
  2. Mariamma
  3. Neisha
  4. Sinairie
  5. Modou
  6. Val

Youth Board:

17 youth board members of which 15 are girls and 14 racialised.

Staff:

  • Lisa Zimmermann, CEO –  Co-founder, former teacher with more than 20 years’ experience of working with Muslim and racialised young people on creative and educational projects and issues relating to social change.
  • Mohamed Nour-Elmi, Finance Manager – Former service user, student of Robotics and Accountancy.
  • Najma Kediye, Community member, cleaning services.
  • Corrie Macleod, Project Worker – with 4 years of communications, project coordination, and immigration and education policy research experience collaborating with and for non-profits organisations and academic institutions.
  • Mallika Khan, Project Worker – former social psychology lecturer and researcher with over 5 years of experience in working with LGBTQ+ BIPOC and individuals with sexual trauma to advocate for social change that acknowledges intersectionality.
  • Aishath Zahwa Ihsan (Zaa) – Project Worker – student of International Security
  • Priya Kaur, Project Intern – former service user with 2 years of experience in acting, film development and an academic background within socio-political understandings of law. 
  • Christine Rahman (Tina), Office Manager – former foreign language correspondent, administrator and ceramicist with years of experience in working with the refugee community and with young people from racialised, queer and neurodivergent backgrounds.

We also have a number of young people and volunteers assisting with all aspects of our charity work.