So, it’s happened. We’ve done it. The Secret Millionaire has been to Refugee Action and done his stuff, and the watching public has heard a little about the struggle faced by destitute asylum seekers.
My phone never stopped ringing and beeping after the programme started, with loads of wonderful and supportive messages from colleagues, friends, family etc. Some of you liked the cross-stitch on our wall (a wedding present from a friend nearly 17 years ago), my best friend wondered idly on exactly which date we had purchased our new car! My wife was relieved the house looked decent. I must confess I was slightly disappointed that Mo, our cat, despite being filmed outside the house on the day Jahan came to visit, didn’t make it into the final cut.
My first reaction after the programme finished was one of relief – that I didn’t say anything to make myself cringe, but actually I’m a whole lot more chuffed than that. It’s so pleasing to have had the chance to deliver more than a 30 second soundbite about the hardships faced by destitute asylum seekers. It was great to hear individuals speaking so powerfully about their frustrations and fears – they can say it so much better than I could ever do.
It was great too, to hear Jahan’s reflections on what he had learned and to see how his views had changed, as a result of meeting the people whose lives have been so badly affected by the violence and turmoil in their countries but whose search for long-term security has been such a difficult one.
Jahan’s call to me after the programme was also very welcome. I hope he’s pleased with how it turned out. I believe he certainly should be. Many messages commented on what a sympathetic man he is.
Jahan’s generosity to us (and to others featured in the programme) is very touching, but also hugely helpful. His gift of £15,000 is a fantastic contribution to the cost of getting Fresh Start up and running. We’ve got our local council approvals sorted out and are now getting the lease in place. After that we have some work to do and then we can start to recruit our residents.
While a new project is always a bit of a leap in the dark, we have high hopes for what we can achieve through Fresh Start, in terms of helping people to think hard about what their long-term future might hold and, in some way, take back the power to make their own decisions about how to respond to the outcome in their asylum case.
One brilliant piece of news since the filming is that Roseanne, the Rwandan woman whose plight so moved Jahan, has now been given indefinite leave to remain. It’s been a very long haul for her, and very difficult, but it’s great to see her joy at finally being told she can stay.
Read more about our work with destitute asylum seekers
Tags: destitution, Leicester, Secret Millionaire
Posted by Aidan Hallet
Great programme. I hope it really opened up viewers’ eyes to the misery experienced every day by thousands people who came to the UK for safety but find only official hostility and neglect.
I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that Roseanne has been given indefinite leave to stay, her plight reduced me to tears. I have emailed your head office to find out if there is anything happening in North Wales in which I might be of value as a volunteer. As Jahan says, giving money is easy (well, of course, depending on the amount you give). I would like to become involved in something which does not require me to work in a charity shop or an hospice, not my thing I am sorry to say.
It was a touching programme to watch, thank you for keeping me informed. Asylum seekers are not treated with the respect and diginity they deserve in the UK. It is very unfortunate that a human being has to go through such an ordeal, like destitution. Thanks to my fellow Zimbabwean brother who showed support with the little that he had to his fellow country people for the country is not safe to go. This should not happen like this in a democratic country like the UK. The publlic needs to be made aware of these issues. And a big thank you to the secret millionare for having such a heart of Gold and showing that although he is now British and an immigrant himself, he can help anyone.
Thank God the Rwandan woman got her asylum which she has a right to and has been denied for too long.
An excellent programme. Similar experiences to those we meet as volunteers working in Bradford with people seeking sanctuary. I hope it raises the profile of these issues in a positive way.
Is seems that good things do happen to good people. Apart from the obvious benefits to those who end up destitute and on the margins, I am very pleased that you and your colleagues, who push for change every day, got public exposure, recognition & a huge injection of joy into your job. Well done and may it be just a start.
Hi Aiden
It was a brilliant programme. Well done for getting the message across so well. I hope that it will continue to bear fruit for a long time to come
with best wishes
Elisabeth Burleigh
Hi Aiden
I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Secret Millionaire (I watched it on Youtube yesterday!) You are doing amazing work and it is so positive that Jahan exposed the plight of destitute asylum seekers to such a large audience. This can only be a good thing for your cause. I wish you all the best with the house and your continued work.
Best wishes
Morven MacLean
I too was very moved by this programme, at the unselfishness shown from one refugee to another, and the hostility and meaness shown by a government that has no integrity. Than goodness for people like yourselves who get the information out there. I am so pleased that Roseanne’s situation has been resolved, how can a civilised country allow people to be treated like this. My eyes have been opened, I hope others have too.
I wonder if asylum seekers could be allowed to work for charities who could then provide them with food, housing and an allowance?
It would be great if this were possible, but ,unfortunately, since providing ‘volunteers’ with anything other than out of pocket expenses in exchange for their time/labour is regarded as paying them a wage, the government would see this as working and wouldn’t permit it. It feels that allowing asylum seekers to work compromises the asylum system, because it would act as a ‘pull’ factor – attracting people to make asylum claims, not because they needed protection, but because they could then come here to work.