The Jane Hatfield Award 2024: getting behind the next generation of researchers

Ernest James Ulaya serves as the ambassador and advisor of Migrant’s Rights Network where he champions the Know Your Rights campaign.

He has a background in research and policy development. As a leadership coach, he supports unaccompanied asylum seeking children and other minoritised communities during their integration process. He founded ‘The Voices of Hope’ podcast which is inspired by the journey of many migrants.

Mildred Malaika Nanteza works in the health care sector, specifically in mental health.

She has a background in Pharmaceutical Medicine and has an ardent desire to see an environment where asylum seekers have access to adequate mental health services. Mildred has a background in research and leadership.

Exploring barriers to mental health help-seeking among male asylum seekers in hotel accommodations

Focus of this research

The path to seeking asylum is an undeniably daunting and overwhelming journey, particularly within a nation where the quest for safety is often met with unwelcoming doors. For those who arrived in the UK to seek sanctuary, the journey is not only a physical one but an emotional battle too.

Despite elevated rates of psychological disorders amongst refugees, levels of mental health help-seeking is low. There is an urgent need to understand the key barriers that prevent male asylum-seekers living in hotel accommodation from accessing mental health support.

The main objective of this research is to explore the barriers that hinder male asylum seekers residing in Home Office hotel accommodations from seeking essential mental health support, ultimately improving access to necessary care.

Grace is a Black British Jamaican-Cameroonian woman from Coventry. She has six years of experience delivering and being involved in research projects. She has a passion for community-led research approaches and she is experienced in facilitating community conversations on culturally sensitive topics.

Tunde is a Black Nigerian British immigrant from London. She has six years of experience delivering research projects, as a peer researcher and a public involvement practitioner. She has a deep interest in youth-led research, and recently founded a non-profit devoted to promoting youth involvement and engagement in research.

Navigating the workplace in the voluntary and community sector as young Black women 

Focus of this research

Rather than carrying out research which asks Black women to relive their trauma, we would like to use this research award to create an accessible report and practical resource by and for Black women using inclusive co-design approaches.

We will be working with a group of young Black women to co-develop strength-based research questions to understand Black women’s holistic experiences of the workplace. The findings from this research will then be used to co-design a resource to support Black women as we navigate the world of work in the voluntary and community sector.