Name: Hanif Qadir
Job Title: Projects & Programme Director
Hanif Qadir is the Projects and Programme Director of the ACF. Hanif is recognised as one of the UK’s leading specialists in positively transforming violent extremists. He is actively involved in advising and assisting senior policy makers in reforming key aspects of the Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) agenda. He works closely with a wide range of Governmental institutions, most of the UK’s Police authorities including the Metropolitan Police, and research academics across the globe, with a view to applying a more sensitive and sensible approach in counter terrorism strategies.
As a direct result of his own recruitment into violent extremism and working closely with a number of individuals previously involved in terrorist activities, Hanif has developed a unique understanding of the modus operandi of violent extremist groups, the environments that they work in and the individuals inspired by these groups. For the past six years he has focused his attention on engaging with ‘hard to reach’ vulnerable young Muslims. Hanif remains at the cutting edge of preventing violent extremism, in his own words, “my aim is to help change the mind-sets of the many young people who are experiencing similar strong feelings of anger, which confuse them into reacting negatively in the name of Islam, often resulting in recruitment to violent extremist networks and terrorism.”
Hanif was born in 1965 into the predominately Christian community of Thornaby, Cleveland. The Qadir family later moved to the culturally diverse area of Walthamstow while Hanif was still a child. Hanif went into business with his brothers Imtiaz and Abad before they founded the Active Change Foundation in 2003.
Name: Michael Jervis
Job Title: Projects & Programme Co-Director
Michael Jervis is the Gangs, Guns and Knives Coordinator of the ACF, a registered charity set up to tackle a range of issues such as gang, gun, knife and street crime but more specifically, recruitment into violent extremism.
Since 2003, Michael has dedicated his spare time to working with the Qadir brothers to help combat street/gun/knife/gang crimes and violent extremism. He has played an instrumental role in setting up ACF.
In 2003 Michael became Waltham Forest Council’s violent crime lead officer and began working with Hanif to develop a partnership to help diffuse many gang tensions. They are collectively responsible for a number of extremely successful projects such as ‘Defendin’ Da Hood’, ‘Asian Woman against Crime’ and ‘Parents against Violence.’ They have got over one hundred gang members to sign up for a ‘Steps Programme’ aimed at diversion.
Born in Hackney in 1965, Michael moved to Walthamstow in 1970 where he currently lives with his wife of twenty-two years and their son and daughter. At a young age, Michael became involved with gangs on the streets of Waltham Forest and what he lacks in formal education he makes up for in experience and knowledge of a culture that remains impenetrable to most.
Michael turned his back on street crime when he began work for a construction company whilst on bail for a criminal offence at the age of twenty. By the time he left the company at the age of twenty-six he was handling portfolios of £7-8 million. He then went on to build a series of successful business enterprises, including consultancy, purchasing for construction firms, a doctor’s agency and a property company.
In 1999, Michael decided to give back to the community and focus his abilities and energy into helping the vulnerable and the disaffected. He used his first-hand experience of street crime to work for the London Borough of Haringey as an anti-social behaviour outreach worker. His talent shone through - in his first year crime in his zone reduced by 80% and in his second year he was a key member of an anti-social behaviour action team which gained national recognition by the Government as a model of good practice.
Name: Abad Qadir
Job Title: Head of Logistics
Abid Qadir is the Head of Logistics at the ACF. Born in Thornaby, Cleveland, Abid grew up with his older brothers Imtiaz and Hanif as part of a strong, close-knit Muslim family in a predominately Christian community.
Abid struggled with different kinds of illness all of his life and is the longest survivor of Thalassemia major in the country. With this fighting spirit, Abid is an inspiration not only to his brothers and Mike but to anyone he comes across. He played a huge role in founding the ACF. Abid is close to the ideal of his brothers and has always remained effective and supportive of all activities.
