My background is as a philosopher. I studied for a PhD at Sussex in the philosophy of language, but ever since I was a teenager I have been involved in pro-migrant politics.
I got involved because I was part of Brighton Migrant Solidarity. We identified a massive need to support people with their housing needs in Brighton. It seemed like the most practical thing that we could do. I guess I was involved in BMS because, having a Jewish family, I am only alive because my relatives were able to move relatively freely to the UK. I have never understood why people see immigration as problematic. In fact, it seems to me that movement is beautiful. I want to live in a world where people can move freely and are not made homeless for the non-crime of crossing the border.
I am a general factotum. I do a lot of the admin, some of the fundraising and a bit of support for individuals. I am often a first point of contact for either supporters or beneficiaries.
I think that I do somewhere between 30 and 40 hours a week for t4k. It is my primary commitment. I think that I balance it with other commitments because it becomes the background to my life. My flat is an unofficial West African social centre. It’s rather nice.
There has become a lot more of T4K over the years. The organisation has certainly grown and become more streamlined. It doesn’t always feel like that, but it has. I really like the diversity of input. When we started it was very small.
I hope that we can increase our monthly income to around about £5000 a month and buy two houses. I also hope that we work out how to become a medium-sized organisation without losing our ethos of mutual support.
