One of Refugee Actions fantastic supporters is living on £5 a day (£35 a week) for Lent, in order to better understand how it is to live on asylum support.
She’s been writing a blog to document her daily experiences and struggles, with phone calls, launderettes and transport. Now on week two, it makes for very interesting reading.
Posted by Sara Ayech
My name is Tapiwa. I am a single father of two daughters and we arrived in the UK in August 2003. I had no idea that I would be prohibited from working for the upkeep of my family. It seemed so strange I was told that I would be given money from the state every week, instead of being allowed to work.
After a few weeks of this money, it became clear to me that the amount of money I was receiving was calculated to allow me to simply stay alive while the Home secretary decided whether or not to grant us leave to remain. I called it “Breathing Money”. It was enough to keep us breathing and not much else. (more…)
Posted by Sara Ayech
Reproduced with kind permission from The Guardian
As the government cuts benefits to asylum seekers, Rowenna Davis spent a week with Shakira Begum and her daughter, Farzana to see how they survive
Posted by Sara Ayech