A new fund for destitute migrants is being trialled in Manchester.
People across Manchester who are unable to access state welfare, especially migrants who have been refused asylum, are set to receive well-needed extra support thanks to a new fund set-up by the Manchester Homeless Partnership (MHP) ‘Migration and Destitution’ Action Group.
The MHP action group, which includes people experiencing destitution, the Boaz Trust, Manchester City of Sanctuary, Asylum Matters, Mustard Tree, Homeless Link and Street Support Network, has launched the fund to help alleviate destitution amongst migrants.
The success and future growth of the fund will depend on you, the people and community of Manchester. You can donate to the fund here: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/boaztrust.
The fund is vital for migrants as they are without access to public funds and refused asylum due to many factors including poor legal representation or lack of understanding of the UK’s complex asylum process. This leaves people feeling extremely isolated, alone and often homeless.
According to a member of the MHP Action Group with lived experience, “The system is designed to make you a beggar.” Destitution can often escalate to other issues including mental and physical health problems, but despite this people actively contribute to British society, through supporting those in similar situations and through voluntary work in the community.
“The fund will help kick-start people’s lives and will truly help people feel less alone and support them in living more fulfilled and happy lives. The money may be used to cover everyday essentials such as food, toiletries, clothes, mobile phone top-up or travel, whether for a solicitor appointment or to see friends.”
Why donate?
If you needed any further reasons to donate to the fund then read Lutfor’s story…
“My name is Lutfor Rah
man and I was born gay. I am from a very conservative community of Bangladesh. When I was 2 weeks, old my mother died. In 2009, when I came out to my family, they disowned me. Being gay in my country is forbidden by law and Sharia. So I had no other choice but to leave my community. I was moving from district to district to survive but in the end I gave up and came to the UK in 2010 on a student visa.
After moving to the UK I hoped things might change. But I was struggling with PTSD. I didn’t attend college, barely went out and was very scared of people around me.
In 2014 I heard about asylum. I little knew that I was going to imprison my life with this claim. I was detained. When I got bailed out of detention I was traumatised. I was not allowed to do any job and struggled with depression. I fought for 2 years and was refused in April 2016. To make things worse I got a letter to leave my accommodation. I did everything to be positive in that moment but it did not work. Soon after my house supervisor forcefully removed me from my home. I lost hope and became suicidal.”
You can read more about Lutfor’s story on our news section.
Get involved
- To donate: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/boaztrust
- To apply to access the fund, please connect with Boaz Trust, Manchester City of Sanctuary, or Mustard Tree.
- To request your organisation becomes a referrer, please contact Ros Holland at Boaz Trust on rosholland@boaztrust.org.uk.
- Please help us promote the fund by sharing online, on social media and with your friends by sharing this post.
More information
The purpose of the fund is to support people to get by and to lead fulfilled lives. The money may be used to cover everyday essentials such as food, toiletries, clothes, mobile phone top-up or travel (whether for a solicitor appointment or to see friends). Recipients are not asked to specify exactly how the money will be spent, since one of the aims of providing cash is to offer a degree of freedom, responsibility and security in case of emergencies.
Referrals are made on behalf of individuals by organisations participating in the Action Group. Decisions are made by a rotating panel which includes representatives of the participating organisations and members of the Action Group with lived experience, and the recipient is paid in cash by the referring organisation. Each case is examined on its own terms, though in general those with severe physical or mental health needs are prioritised.
To find out more, you can message the action group at mhp-migration-destitution@googlegroups.com.
Please donate what you can and spread the word: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/boaztrust
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