Karen Wynne is the Development Officer at Merseyside Refugee Support Network. In addition to this she volunteers for the Peer Mentoring Project at Refugee Action, and works as a semi-professional musician.
Karen came to Merseyside in 1999 to read a degree in Music and History at the University of Liverpool. She changed direction after successfully completing her first year and went on to achieve a 2:1 in International Development Studies. The inclusion of Migration Studies in this, and the completion of a dissertation looking at the problems faced by primary age asylum seeking children in Liverpool instilled a strong desire to work in the asylum field, welcoming asylum seekers and other migrants into our community.
Feeling that she needed an extra challenge Karen began to volunteer for Oxfam Campaigns Merseyside in March 2000. This role introduced her to office management, dealing with the media, public campaigning, and promoting Fair Trade produce in association with organisations such as the Co-op and Liverpool Food Festival. Karen continued to volunteer for Oxfam Campaigns up until her appointment at MRSN.
Initially her desire to work in the asylum field was realised through volunteering for Refugee Action’s Peer Mentoring Project until March 2005 when Merseyside Network for Change found Karen working behind the bar of a popular student pub. She became gainfully employed by them as of the 20th July that year.
Karen hopes to contribute to the work of refugee support organisations in Merseyside in a positive and friendly manner, continuing the work of the network, set up by its own members to enable communication, networking and signposting support for all.
