Our Fundraising

• Come to Candlelit Carols
• Join our Syrian Kitchen Club
• Run for Syrians

Since 2011 the lives of millions of Syrians have been shattered. More than half of Syria’s population have had to flee their home, including thousands of Syrian doctors and teachers, who are either internally displaced or have left as refugees. Many Syrian children have only ever known a country in conflict. Some do not know their country at all, never mind what a classroom looks like. The needs of Syrian children and families will remain constant for a number of years.  We partner with local Syrian organizations who deliver aid directly and effectively in a complicated and volatile part of the world.

Our mission

We believe in giving Syrians a hand up, not a hand out, and in the personal dignity gained by empowering local Syrian communities. By supporting Hands Up you’re directly helping to provide sustainable support to Syrian doctors and teachers, who provide vital education and health services, strengthening the stability of local society and, crucially, fostering hope.

The Trustees

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George Butler

George is an award-winning artist and illustrator specialising in travel and current affairs. His drawings, done in situ, are in pen, ink and watercolour. Six months after his first trip to Syria in August 2012, he made a similar trip back to the north of the country to record stories from the refugees and field hospitals. His drawings have been reproduced by the Times and the Guardian amongst others as well as on the BBC, CNN and Al Arabiya. He is a founding member of Hands Up and is currently Board Chair.

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Joe Roberts

Joe is Board Treasurer and vice-Chair and numbers are just one of his games. He studied economics at Bristol, cutting his managerial teeth with the football team he set up there, before moving into the great wide world of finance. He was at PwC for the better part of a decade, undertaking secondments to the charity sector and leading the finance teams there. He has dealt with numerous charity boards and sat on some himself. He is currently CFO at the Donmar Warehouse in London. 

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Johnnie Barnett

Johnnie studied classics at Bristol University and enjoys fresh air and a good walk like Socrates himself. He works in asset management, having left Allianz Global to become the director of the New Amsterdam Group in 2017. Along with the rest of the Hands Up team, he was included in the Financial News Extra Mile Awards 2015. He is a founding member of Hands Up and served as Board Chair from 2017-2018. He can often be found behind the cocktail bar at our Syrian Supper Clubs. 

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Louisa Barnett

Louisa has extensive experience of the Middle East and speaks fluent Arabic, having lived and worked there. She studied Islamic Studies at Oxford University, before moving to Damascus to work as a consultant on cultural heritage and economic development projects. For two years Bab Salaam, in the old city, was her home. She returned to the UK in 2011, since when she has worked primarily in business intelligence, political risk and international development with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. Louisa is a founding member of Hands Up and has been on the Board since its inception. 

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Nick Haslam

Nick is an expert in International Development and has extensive experience in climate change, sustainable development, governance, security sector reform and stabilisation. He trod the boards in the Cambridge University theatre scene during his time there as a classicist before pursuing a masters in International Relations. He was recently based in Istanbul with Adam Smith International as Head of Syria, Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Africa. He brings extensive knowledge of Syria, its conflict and infrastructure, making him a crucial addition to Hands Up’s Board. In 2017 he took to the Bosporus, swimming for Syrians to raise £5k for Hands Up.

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Thierry Heathcoat Amory

Thierry is a jack of all trades. She has assisted congressmen, MPs, Hollywood stars and beyond, as well as working in editorial for The Sunday Times and Prospect Magazine. As if that weren’t enough, she has experience in everything from horse guiding to real tennis and silver smithery, for which she cut her teeth in Bab Touma, Damascus. In between all this she is a mother of three and still finds time be on Hands Up’s board. 

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Jack Coleman

Jack Coleman joined the Board in 2018. He’s a keen legal mind, having studied law at Cambridge followed by working for Linklaters. He’s spent time living in Russia and has a particular interest in fundraising. His extensive knowledge of all things legal is extremely valuable for Hands Up.

The Team

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Rose Essam

Rose is our CEO and been at the helm of Hands Up since 2017, following 5 years working with Save the Children International. Rose studied languages at the University of Edinburgh before moving to Damascus in 2010/11 to learn Arabic. She is also a founding member of Hands Up and returned from maternity leave in June 2022.

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Gina Groom

Gina is our Strategic Communications & Marketing Manager. After studying Broadcast Journalism at university, Gina turned her hand to communications and marketing. Since then, she has worked in various communications roles for charities, not-for-profits and organisations, including the NHS. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and exploring the Welsh borders she now calls home. She is also a volunteer for a youth organisation and a heritage trustee in Shropshire.  

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Hetty Cane

Hetty is our Operations & Communications Executive. She studied Human Geography at Durham University and has a background in project and cost management from her time working at JLL, as well as experience in the health industry from St Pancras Clinical Research. Despite a complete lack of qualifications in the area, Hetty also loves baking and used to run a bakery delivery service to raise charitable funds.

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Kerrie Hirst

Kerrie is our Campaign and Event Manager. Kerrie's philanthropic journey began at 13, supporting asylum seekers and refugee children. With a background in event management, she harnessed her skills to work with various charities and Not for Profits. Kerrie excels at organising events that not only raise funds but also forge lasting connections between people and non-profit missions. With a career in event management spanning over 12 years Kerrie can manage end to end event planning and has since worked with numerous global companies on virtual, hybrid and in person events, as well as winning the Luxe Life Hospitality Award for Best Event and Project Manager in the South East. Alongside running her business Kerrie enjoys being a mum to 2 beautiful boys.

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Katy Hickey

Katy is our Operations & Finance Executive. After studying Criminology and Sociology at Uni, she started her career in the charity sector, with a particular focus on disability and inclusion.  Having worked at three different charities over the last ten years in various roles, her experience includes Youth and Support Work, Inclusion, Employment Advice, Service Delivery Management and Operations Management.  Outside of work, she likes to go to the theatre and is always on the hunt for a bargain!