Daniel Balaz was born in the Czech Republic and moved to the UK as a child after his family sought refuge from persecution linked to their advocacy for Roma rights. Growing up in Bradford, he became actively involved in supporting local Roma families, often assisting with interpretation, advocacy, and engagement with public services from a young age.
Daniel has since built a career bridging the gap between marginalised communities and statutory services. He has held roles within the NHS, housing, and financial services, and became one of the UK’s leading Roma interpreters, working extensively with Children’s Social Care and multi-agency safeguarding teams.
He later founded Connecting Roma C.I.C., a community organisation providing culturally informed advocacy, interpretation, and support services. Through this work, Daniel has supported hundreds of families and developed strong partnerships with organisations including the NHS, local authorities, police, and universities.
Daniel has contributed to research and training programmes focused on safeguarding, health inequalities, and community engagement, working alongside institutions such as Bradford University and Barnardo’s. He is also the founder of Romalandia, a Roma cultural centre in Bradford, promoting inclusion, wellbeing, and access to services.
His work focuses on improving access, trust, and outcomes for underserved communities, particularly in health and social care systems. Daniel brings lived experience, professional expertise, and a strong commitment to equality, inclusion, and community voice to his role.