A Workforce Shaped by Many Cultures

In our sector, people are at the heart of everything we do. Every day, our teams support individuals facing complex challenges, often at the most vulnerable moments of their lives. To do this work well, we need empathy, adaptability, and an understanding of the many different life experiences that shape the communities we serve.

One of our greatest strengths as an organisation, and as a sector, is the rich diversity of the people who choose to work with us. Colleagues who have journeyed to the UK bring skills, insight, cultural knowledge, and perspectives that strengthen our services and deepen our understanding of the world. Their experiences enrich our organisation in ways that go far beyond the workplace.

Yet too often, public conversations about immigration are dominated by negativity and division. The reality we see every day stands in stark contrast: people from around the world contributing with dedication, compassion, and professionalism. As a sector built on social purpose, we have an opportunity and perhaps a responsibility to amplify a more balanced and human narrative.

By sharing the stories of our colleagues, both those born in the UK and those who arrived from elsewhere, we hope to challenge harmful stereotypes and highlight the positive impact that people of all backgrounds make to our shared mission. These voices remind us that diversity is not only something to celebrate but something essential to delivering meaningful, high-quality support.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed their stories. Your honesty and generosity help shape a workplace where lived experience is valued, and where every person’s journey is recognised as part of who we are.

Mark Milton

Group CEO

Step into a powerful conversation between Norman Alcid and Lenka, Deputy Service Manager at Penrose Women’s Refuge. Lenka shares her journey from a small town in North Czech Republic to London, reflecting on what it meant to grow up in a post‑communist environment and dream of a more open‑minded life.

She speaks openly about identity, belonging, and how moving to the UK at 19 transformed her confidence, her worldview, and her sense of home. Her story highlights immigration as a deeply human experience—shaped by safety, opportunity, and the search for acceptance—not just economics.

The interview shines a light on resilience, cultural diversity, and the reality faced by people who leave familiar worlds behind. It’s warm, honest, and full of hope, offering an inspiring look at how one person’s lived experience now shapes the support she gives to women and families rebuilding their lives. 

Click HERE to watch Lenka’s interview.

In this candid conversation, Norman sits down with Jeff Akanta, Deputy Service Manager at Penrose CRS Lewisham, to explore a life shaped across three countries — Ghana, Italy, and now the UK. Jeff reflects on arriving in Britain as a teenager, navigating language barriers, and learning to balance multiple identities while building a new life.

He shares how his multicultural background strengthens his empathy for residents who are new to the UK, and how understanding language, culture, and struggle helps him meet people where they are. From mental health stigma in Ghana to the pressures of big‑city life in London, Jeff offers thoughtful insights into the common threads connecting communities across continents.

This conversation is honest, warm, and full of heart — a look at immigration through the eyes of someone who has lived it, grown through it, and now uses those experiences to support others every day.

Click HERE to watch Jeff’s interview