Supporting people detained in Dungavel IRC and influencing policy on detention
About us
Our board
Our Board and Director on an autumn walk
Alice Cockburn
Alice is currently SDV’s Chair. She works as a fundraiser in the charity sector with experience in healthcare, the arts and animal welfare. She welcomes the continued opportunity to use her knowledge and experience, both in general and related to fundraising, to ensure the continued operation and success of SDV.
Sarah Craig
Sarah Craig has been a volunteer visitor with SDV for two years and a member of the Board of Directors since the 2024 AGM. Before retirement, she was a senior lecturer in public law at the University of Glasgow, having previously been a solicitor, working both in law centres and in private practice. She appreciates being involved in the work that SDV do in supporting people in indefinite immigration detention in Dungavel. She is currently SDV’s secretary.
Nahom Ghebrehiwet
Nahom has lived in Glasgow since coming to the UK as a refugee in 2015. He has been working in the third sector since he arrived in the UK. He has worked with Freedom from Torture, Citizen Advice Bureau, British Red Cross Refugee Services and Scottish Refugee Council and currently works as Project Coordinator at the Centre for Contemporary Arts. He has a wide range of experience in supporting adults and young people in rehabilitating through strength-based approaches. His lived experience within the UK asylum system informs his passion for raising awareness of the issues that refugees face.
Ruth Kirkby
Ruth Joined SDV’s Board in 2022. She has been volunteering with SDV for around nine years, visiting Dungavel regularly and providing phone support during the pandemic. She was involved in the Life After Detention group and worked with them as they made a film about their experiences after detention. She is keen to continue to bring her experience of visiting Dungavel and supporting a variety of people detained indefinitely to the Board.
Pauline Libosvar
Pauline has recently joined SDV’s Board and is training to become Treasurer. For the last two years she has worked as a Case Manager for the Scottish Refugee Council, supporting families and pregnant women in the asylum process. She is glad to be able to use and develop this experience to help SDV's work.
Olivia Sykes
Olivia joined the board at the 2025 AGM. She has been volunteering with SDV for just over two years and is currently the Fundraising Officer for Positive Action in Housing, a housing and homelessness organisation supporting ethnic minorities and migrants. She began her fundraising experience while at university, working with the St Andrews branch of Amnesty International and assisted SDV with their fundraising for just over a year. She also has experience supporting migrants in Greece and through other volunteering opportunities. She brings her experience as an SDV volunteer and is eager to work with the board to strive for change and justice
Ronnie Tagwireyi
Ronnie was born in Zimbabwe and has extensive experience of the UK’s immigration system, gained both in seeking asylum being detained. He was one of the first members of SDV’s Life After Detention group and volunteers with other charities in Glasgow where he resides.
Our staff
Kate Alexander
Kate is our director and has been involved with SDV since she joined us as a visitor in 2003. She is responsible for the management for the organisation, fundraising and policy work.
Georgia Cottle
Georgia is our volunteer coordinator. She joined SDV in 2022, having worked for a number of projects supporting refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants. She is responsible for supporting volunteers to provide our services to people detained in Dungavel.
Our funders
Around a fifth of our income comes from generous donations from the public. If you would like to support our work, please click the button below.