Amina's journey into local authority leadership 

Amina arrived in the UK from Somalia as a teenager with her family. After settling in Manchester, she faced the usual challenges many migrants experience—learning English, adjusting to a new culture, and navigating public services.

While studying social policy at university, Amina began volunteering at a local community centre, supporting refugee women with housing and education advice. Her work made her realise the power of community-led change and the importance of representation in decision-making.

After graduating, Amina worked in various community development roles within the council. Over time, she built up her experience, took part in leadership training, and continued to advocate for more inclusive services.

Now in her early 30s, Amina is a Community Engagement Manager at the local authority. She leads a team that designs outreach programmes for marginalised groups and advises the council on inclusive policymaking.

She says: "Being in a leadership role means I can speak up for people who are often left out of the conversation. My background helps me understand the barriers others face—and how to remove them."

Goal: Reflect on the case study and consider how you can support clients into leadership roles in the public sector.

Time required: 30 minutes

Activity 

1. Identify the building blocks

2.   Think about your clients

Pick one migrant client (real or imagined) and consider:

• What skills, interests, or experiences do they already have?
• What kinds of opportunities (like volunteering, training, mentoring) could help them grow into a future leadership role?

3. Plan your support

Tip: Use Amina’s journey as inspiration to spot leadership potential in clients—even if they don’t see it yet.