Back to the main blog page

Archive for the ‘destitution’ Category

Lights, action, sound … Secret Millionaire

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Aidan Hallet

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.

(more…)

Posted by Aidan Hallet

Tags: , ,
Posted in News, destitution | 10 Comments »

Shhhh… don’t tell anyone – we’re on Secret Millionaire

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Aidan Hallet

So, at last, the secret’s out. It’s been hard enough keeping it to myself since October. By now you’ll all know what’s been happening.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before I tell you what’s happened, I need to tell you how we got to this point.

Over the last few months, as well as raising money by walking to Loughborough and back, I’ve been part of a team thinking about the problem of destitute asylum seekers and how we can find long term solutions to their destitution.

(more…)

Posted by Aidan Hallet

Tags: , ,
Posted in In depth, News, destitution | 1 Comment »

The kindness of strangers

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Aidan Hallet

One of the striking things about doing the walk to raise money for destitute asylum seekers has been people’s generosity in giving. I have raised significantly more on my justgiving page than I ever anticipated, and some of those gifts have been very generous.

(more…)

Posted by Aidan Hallet

Posted in Events, In depth, destitution | No Comments »

Food for tired feet

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Aidan Hallet

So… it’s over. 25 miles after starting, I finished. I had two brave souls, Danielle and Erica, for company the whole way, and another 16 people who did one way only – a great crowd. All walking for destitute asylum seekers, all hoping to raise money for Refugee Action’s walk with destitute asylum seekers and all hoping to raise awareness of the extraordinary challenges faced by these ordinary people.

It rained as we set out from Refugee Action’s Leicester office at 0635 and we were glad of the waterproofs for the first hour, but the weather turned and we enjoyed a grey, dry day, which was all we wanted really.

(more…)

Posted by Aidan Hallet

Posted in Events, destitution | No Comments »

Going for a dander

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Aidan Hallet

Tomorrow morning, early, too early, I’ll put on my walking boots and head off into the rain towards Loughborough. It’s about 12.5 miles from Leicester, and another 12.5 back. I’ll be walking with a collection of people, some of whom I know well, some of whom I’ve never met, to raise money for Refugee Action’s work with destitute asylum seekers.

(more…)

Posted by Aidan Hallet

Posted in Events, destitution | No Comments »