Resources

After 10 years apart, our client Rose was finally reunited with two of her daughters in London. But her eldest has yet to join her. She shares her story and asks: “How will this affect families like mine? Mothers like me?" Rose is one of hundreds of refugee parents in the UK whose children and families remain in conflict zones around the world, facing serious risks without the support of a parent or close relative. Refugee family reunion remains one of the few safe and viable ways for loved ones, particularly women and children, to reach protection in the UK.

The Home Secretary’s announcement that asylum support would be revoked for those who “have the ability to support themselves and have the right to work” (whether they have applied for this permission or have been granted it by the Home Secretary) risks pushing people who simply cannot work at that point in their lives towards homelessness, poverty and losing access to vital legal aid. This is particularly concerning for those who are traumatised or disabled, or who lack relevant skills and experience and cannot find appropriate employment

We conducted a study in collaboration with University College London to better understand how trust amongst survivors of human trafficking has been shaped by their experiences before, during and after trafficking. This study focuses on the lived ‘trust journeys’ of human trafficking survivors and includes interviews with 10 survivors of trafficking.

Evidence from research, survivors and Helen Bamber Foundation's clinical experience shows that the government's asylum reforms will not deter people seeking safety from coming to the UK but will instead significantly harm the mental health and social integration of those recognised as needing protection in this country. They will be left in a state of ongoing limbo and anxiety about being removed from the country, even once they have been recognised as refugees, and made to wait for over twenty years before they can settle here.

We conducted a small preliminary internal enquiry and spoke to 14 clients about their perspectives of research in general, experiences of research at the Helen Bamber Foundation, barriers to participation, and whether, or how they wanted to be more involved in the research. From this we shared our reflections on best-practice and a list of recommendations for engaging with survivors of trauma and human rights abuses in research.

The meagre financial support given to people seeking asylum is woefully inadequate to meet their basic needs. They are forced to live in poverty, which has a terrible impact on their mental health and impedes their recovery from trauma, torture and abuse. Free bus travel in London would go a long way to ensure they could live with independence and dignity.

Despite the government’s manifesto pledge to “uphold human rights and international law,” its recent proposals include the dilution of the protections offered by both Article 3 (protection from torture, inhuman or degrading treatment) and Article 8 (the right to private and family life) of the ECHR, on the basis that those protections are being used to ‘frustrate’ immigration and deportation decisions. This Human Rights Day we call for leadership that strengthens rights, not weakens them.

This clinical guidance for delivering psychological interventions for survivors of trafficking is written by psychologists and practitioners from the Helen Bamber Foundation and Freedom From Torture. Working therapeutically with survivors of trafficking is often complex and emotionally challenging for both the survivor and the therapist, but it can lead to significant improvements for a survivor’s quality of life.

The government's new measures will not deter people seeking safety from coming to the UK but will instead significantly harm the mental health and social integration of those recognised as needing protection in this country. These are men, women, children and families who have fled war, conflict, torture, trafficking, persecution and extreme cruelty. At a point when they most need safety and security, they will be left in a state of ongoing limbo and anxiety about being removed from the country, even once they have been recognised as refugees, and made to wait for over twenty years before they can settle here. Many will be denied the right to reunite with their children and other family members.

25 years ago, the landmark Palermo Protocol provided what is considered to be the ‘gold standard’ definition of human trafficking and mandated the protections and support for victims that governments must provide. It has been signed by over 190 countries. But two and a half decades on, many countries still lack the resources or the political will to enforce anti-trafficking laws effectively and, in the UK, we are witnessing an erosion of protections for victims of trafficking.

The suspension of refugee family reunion and proposed changes risk cutting off this vital legal path for families and driving refugees toward dangerous routes, such as small-boat crossings. In addition, they will have a devastating impact on the mental health of refugees in the UK. The government has repeatedly stated its commitment to preserving family unity, but these changes will only serve to keep families separated, worsening trauma, increasing isolation and preventing integration.

The Ambassadors for Change are a group of survivors with experience of the UK asylum system who campaign to ensure London is welcoming and fair for other people seeking safety. This briefing provides an overview of the difficulties that people seeking asylum and survivors of trafficking face when trying to access free, quality legal advice and representation, and shares lived experience testimonies. The final section of the document outlines recommendations from the Ambassadors that would help enable those seeking protection to access the legal support they need.