Humber Open Arms Charity: Supporting BME Communities in Hull

For over a decade, we operated as an unregistered community group in Hull, focusing on BME communities support. As our performance and demand for our services grew, we made the decision to formally register as a charity in Hull to better serve our beneficiaries. Our organization aims to relieve financial hardship and promote social inclusion for BME communities, refugees, migrants, and other vulnerable members of the community who seek our support.

OUR VISION:

At Humber Open Arms, we firmly believe that no one in Hull should have to face loneliness and isolation alone or feel excluded from their community due to their status as refugees, migrants, or asylum seekers. Every individual in the Hull and East Yorkshire community deserves support and a fair opportunity to build a quality life, integrate, and become a valued member of British society.

OUR VALUES:

Inclusion: We welcome and work with people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. We promote diversity and treat everyone with respect.

Transparency: We are open, transparent, and honest in all our work.

Collaboration: We work with the people, for the people, collaborating within our charity and with our partner organizations.

HUMBER OPEN ARMS IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES

ALOYS BUTELEZI

FABRICE BAGUMA

Man wearing a white fedora hat and black suit with a loosened black tie.

TRUSTEE - Aloys is a co-founding member of Humber Open Arms and has been involved in the setup process and day-to-day operations of the charity in Hull from the outset on a voluntary basis. Aloys is passionate about the VCSE sector and has participated in various charitable projects around the city, with a particular focus on BME communities support, dedicating his efforts to uplift the youths of these communities in Hull. Aloys studied Mechanical Engineering before relocating to Hull, and has worked for Paneltex - one of the largest local employing companies specializing in the production of refrigerated vehicle bodywork for many years, further contributing to social inclusion initiatives.

FABRICE BAGUMA

Black and white selfie of a smiling man with a beard wearing a white shirt and necklace.

TRUSTEE - Fabrice is a co-founding member of Humber Open Arms, bringing over a decade of personal experience in community and charity work, particularly in supporting BME communities. He previously worked as a project worker at Hull Churches Home from Hospital, a local charity in Hull that has been dedicated to enhancing social inclusion in the community since 1994. Additionally, he has helped run a community amateur football team since 2012. Fabrice holds a BA degree in Business Management with Entrepreneurship from the University of Hull and has served on the board of trustees since the charity's establishment in 2023.

ERIC RUGOMBAGABO

MICHAEL ZABITI KANDOLO

A man wearing a black beanie and leather jacket, listening to music with wireless earbuds.

TRUSTEE - Eric is a co-founding member of Humber Open Arms, a charity in Hull dedicated to social inclusion. Having lived in Hull for over 10 years, Eric knows the community well and brings extensive experience working with and for charities. He has held various roles focused on the voluntary sector, particularly in environments addressing homelessness. For many years, he volunteered as an Interpreter/Translator at the reputable local non-profit organization "Open Doors," where he provided vital BME communities support before joining the board of trustees at Humber Open Arms. Eric studied at Hull College and currently works in the private security sector.

MICHAEL ZABITI KANDOLO

Man wearing Autism East Midlands shirt collecting donations outdoors.

TRUSTEE - Michael serves on the board of trustees and is a co-founding member of Humber Open Arms, a charity in Hull dedicated to supporting BME communities. He brings a wealth of corporate career experience to the organization. After graduating with a BA Hons in Business Management and Human Resources from the University of Derby, Michael took on a managerial role at Monarch Inc LTD, a healthcare company. He has been instrumental in running the charity on a voluntary basis alongside his professional career. Additionally, Michael is the captain of Humber Open Arms' football team, SIMBA FC, and is experienced in organizing fundraising campaigns and promoting social inclusion through various projects.