Dabir and Faridah

Dabir and Faridah were students in their home town in Syria. Dabir also taught English. He travelled to the UK to find safety and they ended up being apart for almost two years. Their only means of keeping in touch during this time was through Whatsapp and other mobile apps. …

Atal’s story

An Afghan refugee. Atal has been in the UK for eight years without his family. His wife and children lived in a refugee camp in Pakistan where he was at least able to visit them occasionally. He and his brother established a life for themselves in the UK whilst he …

Tesfay’s story

Originally from Eritrea, Tesfay had been living alone in the UK whilst his wife Asmarina and son Semere were in Ethiopia. His sole source of income was a bursary giving him an annual income of less than £5000 a year. He applied for visas for his family to join him …

Kaden’s story

Kaden last saw his daughter Alima when she was 12 years old and a child he’d let help him drive by having her change the gears for him. Their life in Iran was very different to the situation they find themselves in now. Kaden lives in the UK and is …

Abdou’s story

Abdou was reunited with his wife and young son this month. He has another older child still waiting on a visa to the UK.  “We had been apart for just over two years and it hasn’t been easy at all. It has been the toughest thing that I have gone …

Abebe’s story

I have no words to describe when I first saw them. I was separated from my family for 12 years. I left my country in September 2004 and exactly 12 years later I am reunited with my son and wife. I had tried to keep in touch with them more …

Gulnar’s story

Gulnar was referred to us by a local charity that had helped her apply for a family reunion visa. She had been separated from her two eldest children, Sahar and Pamir for almost three years. Sahar and Pamir, then 11 and 12 were living with a family friend and were …

Family support programme: Leon

Leon is destitute. His wife and three children have had to leave their home and support network. Leon hasn’t seen his children for years but they stay in contact over the phone. These phone calls are really difficult for him as he is here in the UK and his wife …

Eraivan’s story

Eraivan, a Sri Lankan Tamil, had fled his home after becoming at risk from the authorities and being imprisoned and tortured. His case came to us though a charity helping him with his rehabilitation. As he sought asylum here his wife and young son and daughter were becoming increasingly at …

Kaleb’s story

Kaleb contacted us when he was still seeking asylum, his five children were still in Africa and living without either parent. We were unable to help him until he had refugee status and his children had the visas to enter the UK. He kept in touch with us and let …