7 October 2025 – Sami Gichki

The UK asylum system

An insider’s view

Sami Gichki is a British refugee, social entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader whose lived experience drives his work and social action.

Born in Pakistan, Sami arrived in Manchester aged ten, having fled political persecution with his family. For twelve years he navigated the uncertainty of the asylum process, his family still within the process. Sami completed his entire schooling on asylum support, unable to work or access higher-education loans. During this time, he faced profound mental-health challenges, including severe and complex depression, anxiety and suicide ideation, until an A&E visit connected him to local support services and ignited his passion for volunteering.

What began as a Cathedral welcomer and benefits adviser for Manchester Mind and an armed-forces charity, has grown into an extensive portfolio of 13 leadership roles across the public and voluntary sectors. These include

• Co-Chair, #iwill movement
• Board member, #iWill Fund which has granted £112 million of match funding in the past decade (backed by DCMS and The National Lottery Community Fund).
• Trustee, Mental Health Foundation
• Chair, Manchester City of Sanctuary
• Governor, two primary schools and one secondary school
• Trustee, Sheila McKechnie Foundation

In early 2025, Sami successfully secured refugee status on the grounds of his sexuality, and since then has launched a consultancy career whilst securing a place to study Management with Digital Innovation and Analytics at Royal Holloway, University of London.

For Engaging Issues, Sami will offer an insider’s perspective on what works and what doesn’t, in the UK asylum system, and why transformation of the system matters for our nation’s future and our shared humanity. His unique combination of lived experience and proven leadership brings rare insight and hope to one of today’s most pressing debates.