Stories

A victim of torture back in his home country while living in a war zone and being wrongly accused of being a member of a militant organisation, Sachin fled to the UK 17 years ago to claim asylum and live his life without fear. After arriving in London, Sachin was given Humanitarian Protection, legally worked for a number of years running his own businesses, and found friends and a partner. But in 2014 his permission to stay was revoked. He no longer had the right to work, couldn’t afford to rent anymore, and his life fell apart.

Over the past two years we have supported Sachin to get back on his feet and start a new life. We helped him to get off the streets and into safe housing, access our foodbank, and have given him financial support, a bike, a laptop, and phone credit. We found him a new, reputable legal aid lawyer to work with him on his fresh application to remain in the country. He now has a volunteer role at the centre and thrives in a support network of friends that he can count on for emotional and practical support.

The family suddenly had to escape their hometown after threats from gangs and lost everything. Dori was exhausted from anxiety while struggling to survive on only £8 per week from the Home Office, and her children were subdued and had lost the ability to interact with others. The mother had no idea that the children had the option of going to school.

For the past few months we have supported Dori and her family to rebuild their confidence and trust in others, understand their rights as asylum seekers, and find friendship and respite in the West London Welcome community. Our volunteers slowly helped bring Dori’s children out of their shells and learn to laugh again, playing football with them outside and supporting them at our Children’s space.

“Before we found WLW my 9 year old son could not make eye contact with anyone and he was very angry. Now he is at school and we have good accommodation and better food, he smiles brightly and that gives me such peace.”

We found the family an experienced legal aid lawyer, helped to move them into better housing and give them new clothes, and provided them with fresh, nutritious food as they had been struggling to eat the unhealthy food given them at the hotel. The children enrolled in school and are thriving, and Dori has bonded with other mothers at our centre and has started taking English classes. Dori has told us that finding West London Welcome was like “finally seeing a light along a very dark and difficult road – thank you very much to all of you.”

They found me a host family, helped get me a flat, and introduced me to youth charities where I met friends and became a youth leader. They enrolled me in college to improve my English. Anytime I need help they are there for me and if they can’t help they put me in touch with others who can. Before my interview with the Home Office I was very anxious, so they sent a nice volunteer with me to the interview and that really made me calm down and relax.

Last month I finally got a positive decision on my asylum claim from the Home Office which means I have the right to work and begin my life. I don’t think I could have got refugee status without West London Welcome’s help. My life is so busy now – I’m doing acting, music, and every week I volunteer at the day centre. Everything positive in my life started with West London Welcome.