In the mid of 2022, Gema, a refugee in her 50s from Latin America, found herself alone in the UK, living as an asylum-seeker in a contingency hotel.
In the mid of 2022, Gema, a refugee in her 50s from Latin America, found herself alone in the UK, living as an asylum-seeker in a contingency hotel. Several months had passed since her arrival, but she felt isolated in her accommodation. Gema lacked meaningful connections, shared language, and ties to local services.
Gema’s initial plea for help, when Refugee Women Connect (RWC) visited the hotel, was for clothing. However, within her first month after joining RWC, she began attending their weekly drop-in sessions and actively participated in various workshops. Over the course of the following year, Gema continued to engage in RWC’s activities and even took on the role of a volunteer at the drop-in Centre. She became an informal organiser in the contingency hotel, guiding new arrivals to RWC and assisting them in attending drop-in sessions, including navigating public transport.
When Gema was dispersed far from St Helens, she expressed her disappointment at not being able to attend face-to-face activities, including a photography project. Nevertheless, she remained connected through RWC’s WhatsApp groups, a lifeline given the limited support services available in her new area. Once she obtained refugee status, Gema reached out to RWC to share her news and seek guidance for the next steps in her journey. She received a move-on session and embarked on the path to open a bank account, secure housing, and access benefits.
However, Gema faced a crisis when she was on the verge of homelessness due to Home Office (HO) support ending and incorrect documents preventing her from securing local authority housing. RWC’s Refugee and Asylum Support team stepped in, successfully extending HO support and facilitating a local authority housing assessment, ensuring no gap in support.
Today, Gema has settled into her new home, continuing to enhance her English language skills and actively seeking employment. She aspires to find a job that will enable her to reunite with her friends at Refugee Women Connect in St Helens and once again play a vital role in supporting women asylum seekers.
Gema’s journey with Refugee Women Connect highlights the resilience of individuals who, with the support of dedicated Organisations like RWC, can overcome daunting challenges and look ahead to brighter futures filled with hope and opportunity.