Information for Refugees
Support for Refugees
We understand that due to current world events, students may be supporting refugees, be worried about their family and friends in a different country, or be a refugee themselves. Here we are providing information about support services available to anyone in this situation, along with refugee stories that may be useful.
Definition
A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
Signposting
Refugee Council -
Leeds Asylum Seeker Support Network - https://lassn.org.uk/
Refugee Action - https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/
What you can do to help refugees and asylum seekers
The British Red Cross - https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/how-we-support-refugees
UNHCR - https://www.unhcr.org/uk/supporting-refugees-in-the-uk.html
The Salvation Army - https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/supporting-refugees
Care International - https://www.careinternational.org.uk/fighting-poverty/building-resilience/supporting-refugees
Trigger warning - you may find these stories distressing to read. If you need support, please do not hesitate to contact the University Centre Leeds support team, or external services such as the Refugee Council.
Refugee stories
Esther
Read Esther’s story about claiming asylum in the UK and accessing counselling support.
My partner died when my daughter was two years old. His family wanted to take her and do FGM on her. And they wanted to marry me to one of the brothers. I fled to the UK to claim asylum because I have family here.
When I went to the Refugee Council they took me in and started counselling. I was so down, so depressed, so stressed, so frustrated. I couldn’t do anything for myself. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t laugh the way I’m laughing now. Over time I opened up and started to speak out and build my confidence. Before that, I didn’t speak at all. I was a mess. I was in a women’s group that I never missed. I was there every Monday at 11 o’clock. They build our confidence.
When I got my refugee status, they helped me to apply for benefits. I had no idea what everyone was talking about. I was looking at them thinking “what are you talking about”?
I went to their Refugees into Jobs programme which opened up my world. I realised I could do something with myself. Now, I am working for Migrant Help. I’m enjoying it. I learn new things every day. I am the expert of immigration. I had never dreamt of this!
I am trying to inspire my daughter. She is turning 13 next year. She is enjoying her life here. She enjoys school, she has moved up grades and I’m happy about her movement. She is a very bright girl. I want her to make something out of her life after all the sacrifice. I don’t want her to forget where she’s come from. I tell her she must make the best out of herself. I am seeing if she can get some therapy from the Refugee Council too.
Ali
Read Ali’s story about losing his father and becoming separated from his family during their escape. Ali accessed therapy to help him heal from the terrible trauma.
At the age of 14, on his way home from school, Ali witnessed two local people being set on fire by the Taliban. Ali’s father was then also killed by the Taliban after reporting the incident to the police. His uncle organised Ali’s escape from the country, with his mother and two younger brothers. On the journey, Ali became separated from his family and has not had any contact with them since.
When Ali first met with the refugee council, he was unable to sleep, had flashbacks and a deep sense of guilt and helplessness. He struggled with the separation from his mother and wanted to end his life. He believed that if he died he would see his family again in the afterlife.
Ali’s therapist helped him to open up. She encouraged him to explore happy childhood memories so that he could reconnect with his sense of self before he lost his family.
Yad
Yad had to escape his home country because of his sexuality.
Because of his sexuality, Yad had been the victim of violence in his home country – including at the hands of the local police. When his parents found out, he was abandoned and ended up living on the streets for a year.
Yad was just 16 when he told his adviser that he was gay. He said he didn’t want anyone to know about his sexuality because he felt ashamed. So his adviser on the Refugee Council’s Children’s Advice Project ensured he received ongoing help and advice from a specialist LGBT+ support charity to help manage his feelings of guilt and shame. She also secured counselling for Yad through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service to help him recover from the trauma of the violence he had experienced.
The adviser worked with Yad to establish the trust needed to encourage him to tell his solicitor and social worker about his sexuality. Once he had disclosed this to them, his asylum claim was updated and submitted to the Home Office. It was accepted and Yad was granted refugee status. He is now able to be himself, confident that he is in no danger of being sent back to where he could be killed just for his sexuality.