Manuel Bravo Project

Details:

What we do

Manuel Bravo Project offers free legal advice to asylum seekers who wish to appeal against a negative first decision or submit a fresh claim for asylum and who cannot obtain Legal Aid. We do this in two ways:

• Through our paid and voluntary Immigration Caseworkers who are regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). These Caseworkers will prepare their clients bundles and if time and resource allows, will represent them in court.
• Through qualified non-immigration Legal Teams working pro bono under their own firm’s insurance to prepare the client for their Full Hearing. Our Case Coordinator, Researcher, Host and Interpreter volunteer roles support the work of our Legal Teams at and after our weekly Tuesday Evening Advice Sessions. These legal teams cannot represent our clients in court but we do provide Court Support volunteers who accompany them to provide emotional and moral support.

Why Manuel Bravo

The Project is named after a Leeds asylum seeker from Angola, who tragically took his own life on 15^th September 2005. He fled to the UK after his pro-democracy activity led to attacks on his family, including the murder of his parents. At Manuel’s asylum hearing, his solicitor did not attend and he was forced to represent himself. He did not learn that his claim for asylum had been finally refused, until his removal to a deportation centre. Fearing persecution if returned to his home country, he took his own life, hoping his son would be allowed to remain safely in the UK.

Who we are

Manuel Bravo Project is registered Charity No: 1156119 and is regulated by The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner. Number: N201100024. Our Board of Trustees is made up of representatives from local and national organisations, churches, ex-clients, and volunteers who work with legal or immigration organisations. The project employs seven part time staff and has around 80 active volunteers.

We are currently at capacity for all volunteer roles but if you are interested in being considered for a role once recruitment commences again, please visit the Get Involved page of our website, download an application form and send it to the email/address enclosed.