Support Sim Family after Arson Attacks on Home

The Sim family are survivors of multiple arson attacks. The arson has destroyed the family home and place of business, a guest house, that they have run since the early 90s. The fire on Saturday 14 May involved an initial fire which was given the all clear by the fire brigade, which resulted in the family returning to the house, only to be confronted with a second fire. This has traumatised the family, who include three elders, one of whom has mental health issues and all are disabled immigrants. 

Their priority is to repair and rebuild our home and livelihood as quickly as they can.

The house has been deemed unsafe to live in and they have been staying in temporary accommodation 13 miles away (a double hotel room shared between 4 adults and 2 dogs). The top floor of the building has been gutted by the fire so the building currently does not have a roof. The remaining floors have had significant fire and water damage. The guests staying on the top floor have had their possessions burnt to cinders. On the night of the fire, the only accommodation available to the elders in the family was the floor of a takeaway which was found without aid from the local authorities. If they are eventually able to claim insurance, it will be a matter of months if not years.

This means the Sim family are relying entirely on the council, a small amount of savings, and bank loans to cover the costs of rebuilding. They hope to raise some money to help cover the immediate upfront costs and will do everything in their power to ensure money goes right back into the community. If they raise enough funds to cover our rebuild and loss, anything extra will support guests staying at the Guest House at the time of the fire.

This incident is the latest in a long line.

Situated in a white dominated area, the family has been subjected to racism xenophobia and specifically sinophobia which has intensified over the past 3 years of pandemic. Passers-by as well as guests have broken windows, trespassed, tagged racist graffiti on outside walls and banged on doors threatening violence and/or shouting racist abuse. The Sim family's home has been purposely flooded and vandalised on multiple occasions. False flag reports have been made to the anti-terror squad and the Home Office, leading to dozens of unsolicited, traumatising raids. Countless times, the police have been called out to attend due to guests’ physical aggression and significant threats to life against the family. A recent incident involved a man chasing a female family member around the house with a large knife.

Reviews and comments made about the Guest House often resort to insulting the family’s lack of fluency in English, making scathing remarks about their Chinese / Asian heritage, and/or complaining about things like weird smells, behaviours, accents. The Guest House's non-white guests often face disproportionate surveillance and scrutiny from the local authorities.

This incident is the latest in a long line of traumatic events. No other guest house, hotel, business, or home in this white-majority area has been treated in this manner. The Sim family are sick of the bullying and intimidation. They will not stand for it any more. They ask for your support so they can focus on seeking justice as they rebuild. 

Any help or solidarity you can offer will be invaluable. The Sim family appreciate that times are tough so are grateful for any donation of any size. Sharing the petition on social media and with friends, family, and colleagues will go a long way.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and compassion during this time.