Urgent help for asylum seeker legal fees

Bukola fled Nigeria in 2015 with her two daughters, In fear for their lives the sought refuge in the UK. Bukola and her daughters were living in horrible conditions in a shared house, they didn't feel safe. But after an immigration raid she was given a house of her own and she was so incredibly grateful.

 

She told the Home Office everything that happened to her and why she fled her country with her children but due to the trauma she experiences and her poor mental health Bukola was unable to remember all the dates of when things happened to her. As a result the government didn't accept her claim.

 

She is terrified for what this means for her children who see the UK as their home.

 

Bukola told me: "I don’t sleep and I worry every day because I don’t know what is going to happen to us. If everything was fine, people wouldn’t leave their country. They wouldn’t leave all their family behind and go through all this. "

 

Bukola's case is not looking good. she has been to court twice, to tribunal and now we are very worried because she has been told she can no longer stay in the accommodation provided by the Home Office.

 

We have managed to find a solicitor who will help Bukola make a fresh application on the basis of her child who was born in the UK. The normal Home Office Fees would be over £3000, but the solicitor will request a fee waiver application first for all three. If granted, they would then have 28 days to make the 3 further leave to remain applications. So, that is 2 applications per person and 6 applications in total.

 

We are looking to raise £800 which will cover the reduced fees Bukola's solicitor has agreed to charge. If the solicitors fee waiver application is unsuccessful we will need to raise well over £3000.

 

Bukola said: "I go to the Home Office reporting centre but that place is like a trap. I have known many people in my situation who have gone there to report but then you don’t see them back in the community again. They are sent to prison and then deported. I am afraid that might happen to me."

 

We urgently need help to fundraise for Bukola's legal fees so she can continue her fight to provide a safe and stable home for her family.

 

Bukola is a proud member of the Manchester community who volunteers her time to support others who are struggling. Please help us fight for Bukola to stay in her home.