Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group (GDWG) supports people during and after immigration detention by providing emotional support to people who are frequently isolated by language. They also give support at the moment of crisis when people leave detention and face homelessness and destitution.
A grant from the Foundation went towards supermarket vouchers. The vouchers gave people a choice about what they want and need to eat, ensuring good physical and mental wellbeing and improving people’s feeling of self-worth and dignity. This also positively impacts how integrated people feel in the local community in Crawley, enabling them to go to the shops, mix with others and buy the essential resources they need.
“I look forward to when I receive the voucher, it is exciting looking forward to it. To be able to get the food I need for my life. It makes my day, and it makes my week. I have a reason to be alive - looking forward to my voucher makes me realise that people care about me.”
When we first met T, he was in detention, and it took time for us to build trust with him. He had been refused asylum, and was very anxious in detention as he identified as LGBTQ and did not always feel safe. He had suicidal ideation and told us repeatedly that he felt that life was hopeless.
We connected him with a visitor and, through weekly visits, he initially made more eye contact and then talked more. After several months, he was visibly gaining increased social confidence from the volunteer visits, however, he continued to struggle with depression and paranoia. We supplied him with phone credit so he could keep in touch with his solicitor. And we gave him warm clothes so he had the dignity of a second set - he could wash one set and still have clothes to wear.
He was released to an area with little support for people who are LGBTQ. We maintained our support and helped him to connect with a solicitor to advance his case. On release to Home Office accommodation, he was eligible for financial support, but this was delayed, and he had no money and didn’t know anyone in the area. When he contacted us, he told us that he felt weak from hunger and was suffering suicidal ideation. The supermarket voucher we were able to provide was a lifeline and we worked with his solicitor to ensure that the Home Office financial support could reach him. He told us:
“Without GDWG I would not be alive today. It has been [a] godsend. I would 100% not be able to survive - it has been a saviour and a lifeline.”
Find out more about Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group.
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