Our Team
Bella Sankey
Director
Bella joined Detention Action in 2018, having previously worked at Liberty and Reprieve. She oversees our work in providing support for people in detention and in campaigning for fundamental reform.
James Wilson
Deputy Director
James joined Detention Action in 2019 and has a wealth of experience in the sector, including as Director of Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group.
Casework Team
Sally, Sophie, & Maria – Senior Advocacy Coordinators
Sally, Sophie & Maria oversee our casework support for people being held indefinitely in detention. They help provide emotional and practical support for people in detention and coordinate our network of volunteers.
Nabeela, Colin, Madison, Isabel & Zaki – Advocacy & Support Workers
Detention Action’s Advocacy & Support Workers are key members of the Casework Team, working with Senior Advocacy Coordinators to provide emotional and practical support to people in immigration detention.
Campaigns Team
Graeme – Communications & Campaigns Manager
Graeme joined us in September 2021 and oversees all of Detention Action’s campaigns and communications work. He has a wealth of experience, and was previously Refugee Campaigns Coordinator for Amnesty International Australia and Campaigns Manager for Unicef UK.
Izzie – Communications & Campaigns Officer
Izzie works alongside Graeme on Detention Action’s campaigns and communications work, including managing our social media and acting as a main point of contact for media enquiries.
Steven – Lived Experience Campaigns Coordinator
Our Lived Experience Campaigns Coordinator joined Detention Action in December 2020. He oversees all aspects of our work with people with lived experience, including facilitating Allies for Justice, a group of campaigners with lived experience of the UK’s detention, deportation, and asylum systems.
Community Support Team
Tony – Community Support Manager
Tony runs our Community Support Project, which supports people who have experienced, or are at risk of, long-term detention to live in the community.
Adèle – Community Support Officer
Our Community Support Officer works with Tony to coordinate our Community Support Project. She works with people who are at risk of indefinite detention to empower them to live in the community.
Volunteers
None of our work would be possible without our incredible team of around 60 volunteers. If you’re interested in joining us, you can find out more here.
Detention Action is registered charity (no. 1065066) and is funded by a range of individuals and organisations including: A B Charitable Trust, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, Bromley Trust, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Oak Foundation, Strategic Legal Fund for Young Migrants Managed by ILPA and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.