About us
Manuel Bravo Project is a registered charity in Leeds. We give free legal representation to asylum seekers and refugees who cannot get legal aid.
We also provide free immigration advice to everyone through our outreach service.
Our clients come to the UK looking for safety, only to be let down by the immigration system. During this stressful time they’re left without help, in a foreign country alone, and isolated. We’re here to change that.
Our vision is for all refugees and asylum seekers to get the legal support they need.
Our mission is to provide free legal representation to refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, to ensure that no one has to navigate the asylum system alone.
Our approach: We make sure our clients are matched with a qualified immigration lawyer to help with their asylum claim. We either represent clients directly, or help them find and access legal aid again. We create a welcoming, safe environment for our clients. We work with other organisations to build inclusive support systems.
Learn about the services we offer on the get help page.
Our team
We’re a small charity with a dedicated team. Every one of us is passionate about our cause. From our paid workers to volunteers and all the organisations who help us out.
We have a wonderful team of OISC accredited immigration caseworkers. They have experience representing asylum seekers at every stage of the process.
Our amazing volunteers are also here to keep things running. We get help from individual volunteers and from legal teams and Barrister’s Chambers who represent us in court.
Our history
Manuel Bravo Project was set up in memory of an asylum seeker from Angola.
Manuel’s pro-democracy activity led to attacks on his family and the murder of his parents. Fearing for his safety, Manuel and his young son fled to the UK.
In the UK, Manuel settled in Leeds and was part of the community. He claimed asylum, asking to stay in the UK to avoid harm in Angola. Unfortunately, Manuel’s solicitor did not go to his asylum hearing. He had no one to help and had to represent himself in court.
Manuel’s asylum claim was refused. He did not know this until he and his son were detained and taken to a removal centre. Scared of being forced to return to Angola, Manuel took his own life on 15 September 2005. He hoped this would allow his young son to stay safely in the UK.
After Manuel’s death, members of the community wanted change. They decided to help asylum seekers by providing legal representation. Manuel Bravo Project was set up so refugees and asylum seekers could get the help they need.
Our supporters
Our work is not possible without donations from our amazing supporters.
We want to thank the following organisations for funding our work.
- The Access To Justice Foundation
- Big Lottery Fund
- The Brelms Trust
- Lloyds Bank Foundation
- Quakers
- Wharfedale Foundation.
We are extremely thankful for the ongoing support of the legal firms who volunteer to assist us with our work:
