Client Stories
Unless agreed, all stories are anonymous, to protect our client's identities.
I come from Liberia and my life has been quite a lot of hassle with family, lack of proper childhood and education because of war. One year everything is okay and coming normal and then next month it kicks off again. Your village is attacked and you escape by nearest exit. Sometimes you get separated from your family. You can’t cross through the village in an attack. When the military hit, you just have to run, you can’t return home. You miss your family but sometimes you find them later in the refugee camp.
When you run, you sleep in the bush. You meet other people running, you shelter together. We are hungry or we go to the bush and dig for yams. I spent 5 to 6 years with this life. Run and come back. Run and come back. Run and come back. Liberia borders with three countries. Cross the river and you are in a neighbour country. They gave us hassle across the river. They think you are a rebel and say we don’t want none of you here – stay in your own place. If you stay, you have to take a gun and defend your life, it’s the only option available.
The final time I ended up in Guinea in a refugee camp, there were thousands there. You’ve got the Voice of America radio station. You can go there and send a message saying where you are. Maybe your family hear it and get in touch. Some people that had gone to America and all over the world could still send you a message. The last time nobody knows where I was. I had lost my sisters and my mum and most of my family. I don’t think I will see any of them for the rest of my life. I had enough and I went back to Liberia and from there somebody helped me. I didn’t know I was going to England, I just wanted to get out of there.
When I arrived, the guy disappeared and took the passport I used to enter the country. I didn’t know why he did that, but now I know he would get done for human trafficking. I soon realised it was tough to stay in the country. Not like Liberia where you cross over into Guinea and when it calms down you go back – it was not like that here. In 2003 I claimed asylum. They gave me a house and a card to get some food and moved me to Portsmouth. Anytime I submitted an application they refused me.
They housed me up until a certain time. I met my partner and moved in with her and then we separated in 2007. After that I lost all my support and I couldn’t get it back. I started to report to Haslar Visitors Group.
They helped me with food packages and some money and to apply to solicitors and to write letters and all of that. I had lost my childhood education – I applied for an access course but they said they can’t take me because of my immigration status. So you just don’t know what the future will be like, its mentally stressful and its not good for the country economically. It was like a torture. Finally in 2011 I got papers from being on the legacy programme.
I was then with the JobCentre and I tried to find a job. I worked voluntarily for one year to get a reference with Computer Junction and then I got a job working as a CCTV operator.
Now I’ve got my driving licence and a car and I feel much better about my life. I wake up in the morning and don’t have to think about immigration problems – that was one of the toughest things I had to face in my life. You are so restricted, every door you knock, it is not open. Restricted for job, education and you have no money – how does that make sense? It is really depressing, you feel like you don’t care anything about your life anymore.
There are so many things I want to do in my life but I missed the Science and Maths and the English, the GCSE and A levels. Being an asylum seeker you have little evidence to say who you are. It is hard to sit down and wait and you are not entitled to do anything. It is a 12 year waste of time. If you can get education while you wait – you can contribute to society either here or there if you get sent back. I like gadgets very much and would love to get into electronics.
Ibrahim Barrie.
When you run, you sleep in the bush. You meet other people running, you shelter together. We are hungry or we go to the bush and dig for yams. I spent 5 to 6 years with this life. Run and come back. Run and come back. Run and come back. Liberia borders with three countries. Cross the river and you are in a neighbour country. They gave us hassle across the river. They think you are a rebel and say we don’t want none of you here – stay in your own place. If you stay, you have to take a gun and defend your life, it’s the only option available.
The final time I ended up in Guinea in a refugee camp, there were thousands there. You’ve got the Voice of America radio station. You can go there and send a message saying where you are. Maybe your family hear it and get in touch. Some people that had gone to America and all over the world could still send you a message. The last time nobody knows where I was. I had lost my sisters and my mum and most of my family. I don’t think I will see any of them for the rest of my life. I had enough and I went back to Liberia and from there somebody helped me. I didn’t know I was going to England, I just wanted to get out of there.
When I arrived, the guy disappeared and took the passport I used to enter the country. I didn’t know why he did that, but now I know he would get done for human trafficking. I soon realised it was tough to stay in the country. Not like Liberia where you cross over into Guinea and when it calms down you go back – it was not like that here. In 2003 I claimed asylum. They gave me a house and a card to get some food and moved me to Portsmouth. Anytime I submitted an application they refused me.
They housed me up until a certain time. I met my partner and moved in with her and then we separated in 2007. After that I lost all my support and I couldn’t get it back. I started to report to Haslar Visitors Group.
They helped me with food packages and some money and to apply to solicitors and to write letters and all of that. I had lost my childhood education – I applied for an access course but they said they can’t take me because of my immigration status. So you just don’t know what the future will be like, its mentally stressful and its not good for the country economically. It was like a torture. Finally in 2011 I got papers from being on the legacy programme.
I was then with the JobCentre and I tried to find a job. I worked voluntarily for one year to get a reference with Computer Junction and then I got a job working as a CCTV operator.
Now I’ve got my driving licence and a car and I feel much better about my life. I wake up in the morning and don’t have to think about immigration problems – that was one of the toughest things I had to face in my life. You are so restricted, every door you knock, it is not open. Restricted for job, education and you have no money – how does that make sense? It is really depressing, you feel like you don’t care anything about your life anymore.
There are so many things I want to do in my life but I missed the Science and Maths and the English, the GCSE and A levels. Being an asylum seeker you have little evidence to say who you are. It is hard to sit down and wait and you are not entitled to do anything. It is a 12 year waste of time. If you can get education while you wait – you can contribute to society either here or there if you get sent back. I like gadgets very much and would love to get into electronics.
Ibrahim Barrie.
I met Haslar Visitors Group when I was in Haslar in 2011. You came to the detention centre and asked me about my situation and gave me a phone. Every week a visitor came to see me – she helped me a lot with good advice and calmed me down.
I was moved from Haslar and got released eventually to a bad situation in a town where I know nobody. You helped me with accommodation problems and with travel tickets to sign and with food vouchers. You also helped me with clothes and toiletries and to get to a GP. Home Office ignores me and no-one wants to help me. I have been stressed and depressed and if not for Haslar Visitors Group, I am lost because there is no-one to help me. The whole week I have no-one to speak to and then I come to your office and you welcome me and we talk and I can express my problems. You are real human beings. Its not just the help given – you listen to us. When I come I feel happy because I know someone is going to listen to me.
Abdelkader Bettahar. Ex detainee. Detained 28 months.
I was moved from Haslar and got released eventually to a bad situation in a town where I know nobody. You helped me with accommodation problems and with travel tickets to sign and with food vouchers. You also helped me with clothes and toiletries and to get to a GP. Home Office ignores me and no-one wants to help me. I have been stressed and depressed and if not for Haslar Visitors Group, I am lost because there is no-one to help me. The whole week I have no-one to speak to and then I come to your office and you welcome me and we talk and I can express my problems. You are real human beings. Its not just the help given – you listen to us. When I come I feel happy because I know someone is going to listen to me.
Abdelkader Bettahar. Ex detainee. Detained 28 months.
“I was in Haslar IRC for about 3 months but it seemed like eternity as it is the most depressing place I can ever imagine to be. The thing that kept us going while in there were the positives we could muster in ourselves and the visits and assistance from HVG. Where most people in there lived either far away or got noone in the UK, HVG sort of stepped in as a family, bringing them comfort and hope. I can not begin to express the tremendous support I personally received from HVG, from the phone they gave me, as lacking communication in there can seriously make situations worse. It also comes down to the regular visits, I mean just a friendly face and chat to get your mind off the situation you are in. At the time, its like a breathe of fresh air.
I have been out for over 6 months now and I will say I am privileged to witness first hand how HVG work outside (as its not just with visiting detainees in Haslar), holding regular Monday and Thursday meetings for Detainees (released) and Asylum seekers, who just want to come for chat, meet other people and share stories basically. It has been a regular for me, as I get to meet people who have even been in more situations than I have and they full of hope and encourage me all the way through. Also, HVG assists with food, clothing and some money to keep us going daily and I do not know how to thank them enough. Speaking from personal experience, HVG is not just a charity organisation but also a family away from home who have dedicated their lives to bringing everything and anything positive to people like me who at some point had given up on life but now looking forward to everyday with a positive heart and belief.”
Anonymous
I have been out for over 6 months now and I will say I am privileged to witness first hand how HVG work outside (as its not just with visiting detainees in Haslar), holding regular Monday and Thursday meetings for Detainees (released) and Asylum seekers, who just want to come for chat, meet other people and share stories basically. It has been a regular for me, as I get to meet people who have even been in more situations than I have and they full of hope and encourage me all the way through. Also, HVG assists with food, clothing and some money to keep us going daily and I do not know how to thank them enough. Speaking from personal experience, HVG is not just a charity organisation but also a family away from home who have dedicated their lives to bringing everything and anything positive to people like me who at some point had given up on life but now looking forward to everyday with a positive heart and belief.”
Anonymous
"I was transferred to Haslar [still in shock] three days after being arrested by the UKBA. I still had not contacted my family, because camera mobile phones are not allowed. To my relief and amazement, HVG issued me with a mobile phone and sim with credit, within four days, thereby enabling me to communicate with relations.
Gillian-Assistant Coordinator visited me. My esteem was very low at that point, but through that visit, I felt much better. My relations could not visit because they were full-time caring for one relative, so the Group’s visit was uplifting. I was introduced to a HVG visitor, whose visits were immensely therapeutic, psychologically and emotionally. The reading material and tobacco [had a relapse due to the stress] helped tremendously. The regular phone calls, e-mails she sent my solicitor
was very useful, as I was encountering communication difficulty. To end, words cannot explain or express the experience of immigration detention, but personally, I know and believe I would not have survived without the extent of friendship from HVG."
Ex detainee (9 months detention now with British partner & son).
Gillian-Assistant Coordinator visited me. My esteem was very low at that point, but through that visit, I felt much better. My relations could not visit because they were full-time caring for one relative, so the Group’s visit was uplifting. I was introduced to a HVG visitor, whose visits were immensely therapeutic, psychologically and emotionally. The reading material and tobacco [had a relapse due to the stress] helped tremendously. The regular phone calls, e-mails she sent my solicitor
was very useful, as I was encountering communication difficulty. To end, words cannot explain or express the experience of immigration detention, but personally, I know and believe I would not have survived without the extent of friendship from HVG."
Ex detainee (9 months detention now with British partner & son).
"I am a medical practitioner who came to the UK in 2008. I was immediately detained and put in a prison. The officers were polite enough but no one had any knowledge of how to deal with my case and were not able to help. I kept asking myself and others questions like “why am I here”; what is my crime”; “what will be the outcome of
this”. There were no answers. I wondered if and when I would see the light of day and I found myself frustrated, upset and depressed. Only when I kicked up a fuss, was I told that there was a “Foreign National Coordinator” who was away at the moment. I was there for about 2 months before I managed to see this official. He told me that I could see Refugee and Migrant Justice. They made an application for bail and asked the Home Office to examine the documents that I had given them at the airport. My
documents were found to be genuine and I was released on bail. One evening at 8pm, the doors were opened, and I was told to go. I had no knowledge of the UK and didn’t really have anywhere to go. I got in contact with friends who put me up overnight. I learnt that I had to apply for NASS (National Asylum Support Service) accommodation. It took a while for that to be sorted out and I only got about three weeks accommodation and subsistence. I then got a phone call saying I should come
to collect my papers from a UKBA office near Heathrow. The staff member apologised saying that the events that occurred, should never have happened. I felt a bit vindicated by this. I came out of there with my papers and I thought to myself that starting from now I would get back to practicing medicine, find my own place and get settled. It didn’t quite work out that way. The first thing I came up against was that I had no money and no records in the UK. Landlords, bank – everyone. They will ask
you where were you before, what were your previous addresses. Everything is a problem. It was really difficult to open a bank account. For one year I didn’t have
a debit card or a cheque book, just a basic account.Trying to get back into practicing medicine has been a struggle. My qualifications were non EU and so
not immediately transferable. Firstly, I had to take an English exam. Second was a medical theory exam and the third step was the practical exam. The costs for these ran into thousands of pounds and for the best part of a year, I just didn’t have the sums required. After a while I was blessed. Friends had spoken to their friends, cowere made and a private sponsor came forward. Starting a new life is not straightforward. There has been lots of hurdles - a lot of preparation, courses to take and
expenses to be borne. I just wonder why the UK is importing doctors when with just a bit of help I could have been put to good use serving the community and paying taxes a long time ago. It has taken me 3 years to begin to get my life back on track. It is now like a dream come true that I can now expect to fulfil my vocation. I
am eternally grateful to my sponsor for their generous support."
Anonymous.
this”. There were no answers. I wondered if and when I would see the light of day and I found myself frustrated, upset and depressed. Only when I kicked up a fuss, was I told that there was a “Foreign National Coordinator” who was away at the moment. I was there for about 2 months before I managed to see this official. He told me that I could see Refugee and Migrant Justice. They made an application for bail and asked the Home Office to examine the documents that I had given them at the airport. My
documents were found to be genuine and I was released on bail. One evening at 8pm, the doors were opened, and I was told to go. I had no knowledge of the UK and didn’t really have anywhere to go. I got in contact with friends who put me up overnight. I learnt that I had to apply for NASS (National Asylum Support Service) accommodation. It took a while for that to be sorted out and I only got about three weeks accommodation and subsistence. I then got a phone call saying I should come
to collect my papers from a UKBA office near Heathrow. The staff member apologised saying that the events that occurred, should never have happened. I felt a bit vindicated by this. I came out of there with my papers and I thought to myself that starting from now I would get back to practicing medicine, find my own place and get settled. It didn’t quite work out that way. The first thing I came up against was that I had no money and no records in the UK. Landlords, bank – everyone. They will ask
you where were you before, what were your previous addresses. Everything is a problem. It was really difficult to open a bank account. For one year I didn’t have
a debit card or a cheque book, just a basic account.Trying to get back into practicing medicine has been a struggle. My qualifications were non EU and so
not immediately transferable. Firstly, I had to take an English exam. Second was a medical theory exam and the third step was the practical exam. The costs for these ran into thousands of pounds and for the best part of a year, I just didn’t have the sums required. After a while I was blessed. Friends had spoken to their friends, cowere made and a private sponsor came forward. Starting a new life is not straightforward. There has been lots of hurdles - a lot of preparation, courses to take and
expenses to be borne. I just wonder why the UK is importing doctors when with just a bit of help I could have been put to good use serving the community and paying taxes a long time ago. It has taken me 3 years to begin to get my life back on track. It is now like a dream come true that I can now expect to fulfil my vocation. I
am eternally grateful to my sponsor for their generous support."
Anonymous.
"I hope everybody is doing well. I wish to express my sincere thanks to you
guys at HVG. I was at Haslar for few weeks and the situations I witnessed
there gave me the conviction that without your help many people will be
in total darkness as to what to do either to get out or have a smooth departure to
their home countries. Due to your help, you managed to get my belonging to
me so that I felt OK when I arrived in my home country.
I was there [Haslar] when one Chinese man was brought in, the man was so
worried that he did not know what todo, because we had known what you
can do, we introduced you to him and within few days the man was calm. All
these things you do to make people feel that there are people in this world who
have the welfare of others at heart.
May the Almighty God richly bless you so that you can continue to calm
people’s hearts and bring smiles on people’s faces. I am now at home
peacefully, honorably and happy.
Thanks a million."
Email from an ex-detainee, now home.
guys at HVG. I was at Haslar for few weeks and the situations I witnessed
there gave me the conviction that without your help many people will be
in total darkness as to what to do either to get out or have a smooth departure to
their home countries. Due to your help, you managed to get my belonging to
me so that I felt OK when I arrived in my home country.
I was there [Haslar] when one Chinese man was brought in, the man was so
worried that he did not know what todo, because we had known what you
can do, we introduced you to him and within few days the man was calm. All
these things you do to make people feel that there are people in this world who
have the welfare of others at heart.
May the Almighty God richly bless you so that you can continue to calm
people’s hearts and bring smiles on people’s faces. I am now at home
peacefully, honorably and happy.
Thanks a million."
Email from an ex-detainee, now home.
Our registered charity number is: 1080187
