We did it! GMIAU January Newsletter

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GMIAU Newsletter January 2021

Happy new year from GMIAU - and thank you

Our Crowdfunder campaign, "Support young people seeking safety in the UK", has now closed. We're thrilled to announce that we met our £5,000 target thanks to 123 wonderful supporters.

We'd like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who helped by donating and by sharing the page. With your help, we didn't just raise funds - we shared our story.

Our campaign was a chance to hear from the young people we support. We heard the stories of two young people, who explained how GMIAU supported them to claim asylum and make a life in Greater Manchester. Listen to them here and here.

To complement our Crowdfunder, we published a series of blogs in a series called The Long Journey to Safety. You can read them below:

Arriving in the UK

What happens when a child arrives alone in the UK?

"They got me a solicitor at GMIAU, Isobel. She told me about claiming asylum and helped me do this."

Making friends

“It makes you feel relaxed when you meet people from your country.”

We explained how GMIAU's All4One group helps young people feel less isolated.

Social Workers

Young people we support have created guidance for social workers.

"The pivotal role of social workers in a child’s search for safety cannot be underestimated."

Age Assessments

We explained the traumatic process of an age dispute that many children go through.

"It can feel awful at the time and sometimes like you are being treated like a criminal, but other people have been through this, felt like this and survived it."

Getting an asylum decision

Psychologically, emotionally, physically, everything has been put into this asylum decision.

For the final blog we interviewed GMIAU caseworker Isobel, who explained why the moment of gaining refugee status can be "a bit of a mixed bag".

Thank you from the GMIAU team!

Here is a video thank you (recorded before our campaign closed) from Maria, GMIAU's social worker.

We received many kind comments and messages of support from our friends in Greater Manchester and beyond.

Thank you for your support in 2020. We're looking forward to sharing more of our work with you in 2021 as we continue to fight the Hostile Environment and make sure Greater Manchester's most vulnerable voices are heard.

If you missed out on supporting our Crowdfunder, you can always donate through our JustGiving page.

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit

1 Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, M8 4QS
Tel 0161 740 7722 | Fax 0161 740 5172 | Email info@gmiau.org | www.gmiau.org

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