Member Spotlight: Fuad Mahamed, ACH

I am the Founder and CEO of ACH, so my role is ultimately about setting the direction of the organisation and making sure we stay focused on our mission: helping refugees and migrants build safe, independent and ambitious lives in the UK. I work closely with our Board and other stakeholders to develop our housing and integration work. 

No two days are the same. A typical day might involve working with local authorities or other partners, speaking to policymakers or looking at how we can develop new solutions to the challenges refugees and migrants face. I also spend a lot of time building relationships and bringing people together across the sectors. 

A big part of my role is making sure lived experience remains at the heart of our work. My own experience of arriving in the UK as a refugee shaped why I founded ACH, and I want that experience to continue informing how we design services and influence wider systems. 

The Bristol Initiative is a great opportunity to share the work we’re doing at ACH and learn from what other organisations are up to. It’s also important for us to be part of Bristol’s business community, raise our profile, meet new people and have a voice in shaping what happens across the city.

Working with Bristol City Council and partners to strengthen local efforts to prevent homelessness and ensure everyone has access to safe, suitable housing.

Creating more opportunities for people to develop their skills, access good-quality jobs and build sustainable futures. 

Bristol is home to people who speak nearly 100 different languages. We want to help make it a city where everyone feels they belong, can participate fully in community life and has the opportunity to thrive, particularly people from newly arrived communities.