Real hope starts here
A Leeds-based community interest company founded by people with lived experience.
Lived
Experience
Real Hope Leeds was co-founded by Arash Kourjani, a former asylum seeker who experienced first-hand the barriers that force vulnerable people into exploitative informal labour markets — with no path to dignity or stability.
Arash joined forces with Phil Thomas, who brings 20 years of experience co-founding Transformations Leeds. Together, they built an organisation that uses a shared passion for food and hospitality to open real doors.
“We address the exploitation in informal labour markets by offering self-respect, dignity and a future through legitimate employment.”— Arash Kourjani, Co-Founder
What Drives Us
Our values
Dignity
Every person deserves work that respects and rewards them fairly. We refuse to accept exploitation as inevitable or acceptable.
Opportunity
We create genuine pathways — not charity handouts — so people can build independent, sustainable, dignified futures.
Community
We are stronger together. Our trainees, partners, volunteers, and supporters all form one real hope for Leeds.
Our Team
The people behind Real Hope
A former asylum seeker turned social entrepreneur. Arash brings lived experience and deep empathy to everything Real Hope Leeds does.
With 20 years' experience co-founding Transformations Leeds, Phil provides the strategic foundation for our growth and partnerships.
Paula delivers English for Speakers of Other Languages classes tailored specifically for customer service and hospitality roles.
Our specialist barista trainer, Raymond equips every graduate with professional coffee skills and the confidence to use them.
Sangeetha coordinates all work placements at our partner cafés, ensuring every trainee is supported every step of the way.
Our Journey
How we got here
Real Hope Leeds began at St Luke's Church in Holbeck, running its first barista and hospitality training sessions for refugees and asylum seekers in Leeds.
With National Lottery support, we expanded our capacity and moved operations to the city centre, reaching significantly more people across West Yorkshire.
New partnerships with Virgin Money and 200 Degrees Coffee brought paid work placements in central Leeds. The expanded programme launched in Autumn 2024, adding ESOL classes and a dedicated placements manager.
Over 100 people trained, 5+ café partners, and a catering service trusted by organisations across Leeds — from The Tetley to Leeds Trinity University.
Want to be part of the story?
There are many ways to get involved with Real Hope Leeds.