Help us provide vital wellbeing support
Life in the asylum system is incredibly hard. Most days are filled with worry. And, there is very little opportunity to forget about the endless cycle of reporting to the Home Office.
Vital support such as our destitution fund and wellbeing activities help women to survive the asylum system by taking away some of their daily worries and helping them to experience new things and explore different places
“As refugees, we often carry deep emotional and mental wounds, and being far away from our families can be incredibly challenging. However, thanks to the support of WAST, we have found a sense of belonging and support that feels like a true family.”
Why we need your support
35 women in the WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together) Network are homeless and have no recourse to public funds. The Migrant Destitution Fund provides a lifeline for these women but it has now paused leaving the women in our network with no financial support. We urgently need to raise funds to support these women.
We are also looking to take 120 women and their children on a beach trip before our wellbeing activities close for the summer holidays.
Why this matters
Our destitution fund and wellbeing activities provide a vital lifeline for women seeking asylum who experience poor mental health.
“These activities are a deeply therapeutic and healing experience for all of us asylum seekers and refugees. It provided us with an opportunity to escape from our daily challenges, connect with each other, and make new friends, creating beautiful and unforgettable memories that we will cherish forever.
Research by Women For Refugee Women into women seeking asylum in destitution in 2020 found that:
95% of the women were hungry
25% of the women had been raped or sexually assaulted whilst sleeping outside
95% felt depressed; a third tried to kill themselves.
How your donation will make a difference
We are looking to raise £5000 to help support the women in our network so we can provide vital funding for wellbeing activities, culturally appropriate food, hygiene products and safe places to sleep.
£5 could pay for one woman's bus fare
£25 could help towards food for 3 women and their children
£100 could support 1 destitute woman for 10 weeks
“Your support will bring happiness and positivity into our lives in a way that we never thought possible. We are immensely grateful for the exceptional support you show us, and we will always hold this close to our hearts. From the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity.”
