Ifran and his family were forced to flee for their lives to escape torture and persecution in Iraq. He arrived in Scotland in search of safety with his wife, Fatima and their six children.
The couple have four daughters, aged 21, 19, 18 and 7, and two sons aged 14 and 10. Leaving everyone and everything they knew behind to start from scratch in an unfamiliar country was incredibly hard on the whole family.
But with the help of our Refugee Support Service, they are slowly rebuilding their lives.
Ifran said: “We were not safe in Iraq for many reasons. The law could not protect us. We had to leave our country and our family and friends behind. That’s so hard to deal with.
“My children didn’t ask for any of this. When we left Iraq, my eldest daughter was in her first year studying medicine at university. I felt so guilty. I blamed myself for how we left and what we’ve been through.
“I fell down so many times but Scottish Refugee Council was there for us. They supported me and my wife and children in so many ways. Each time I had a telephone appointment or a face to face meeting with my caseworker, it was giving me hope.”
When the family first arrived, the authorities moved them into temporary accommodation in Glasgow while they waited for their asylum claim to be processed. Our Refugee Support Service was on hand to make sure Ifran, Fatima and the children understood what was happening and felt supported on each step on their asylum journey.
We also referred Ifran to an organisation which provides torture survivors with specialist support, to help him deal with the trauma he had experienced.
“Coming to a different country, you feel like a stranger. We didn’t know how the system works. It’s a different culture, a different language. We didn’t know what the future held for us. I couldn’t sleep because I was so worried about what would happen.”
“Scottish Refugee Council gave us guidance and connected us with other organisations providing support. The first thing we received, which I will never forget, was a mobile phone. We didn’t have any devices, so that meant a lot to us.
“They helped us apply for bus passes and told us about activities and support for the children. They also helped us get in touch with a solicitor who would represent us for free. I didn’t have any idea I could do this.”
Support to appeal
After waiting over a year for a decision, Ifran and Fatima received devastating news. Although the Home Office believed that Ifran had suffered violent persecution in Iraq, it had chosen to reject the family’s asylum claim.
Our Refugee Support Service worked closely with lawyers to help them appeal against this decision and provide fresh evidence to support their case. On the day of the appeal hearing, we joined Ifran in court to offer moral support.
“When we got the negative decision from the Home Office, Scottish Refugee Council gave us support and advice on how to appeal and worked with our solicitor. They were here for me when I needed it. On the court date, Rachael [our Scottish Refugee Council caseworker] came with me. What she did meant a lot to me. I felt I was really supported.”
Following their appeal, the family were granted refugee status. But they had to wait over six months for written confirmation. It was a very worrying time.
The lengthy delay took a huge toll on Ifran’s mental health. He was desperate to earn money and provide for his large family. But people in the asylum system are not allowed to work. Without official documents to confirm his refugee status, he couldn’t look for a job.
When the family finally received paperwork confirming they had the right to remain in the UK, a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.
“It’s a feeling I can’t describe. We felt like we were born again. I could see a future for my children so clearly. And I realised the courts in this country are not corrupt. People can rely on their judgement.”
Housing issues
After getting refugee status, the family stopped receiving asylum support. They were given just 28 days to leave their temporary accommodation and find somewhere new to live.
Our Refugee Support Service helped them apply for Universal Credit and child support. We also applied for a welfare grant, so they could buy food and other essentials during the gap between their asylum support ending and their first benefit payments coming in. And when they had problems with their welfare support, we helped them raise the issue with the authorities and apply for payments to be backdated.
Unfortunately, due to the current housing crisis, no suitable properties for a family of eight were available. Instead, they were squeezed into two hotel rooms on separate floors. It was completely unsuitable.
“Living with eight family members in the hotel was so hard. We were four in each room, all living in the same small space. I have an 18-year-old girl and a 14-year-old son who were in the same room. They didn’t have privacy to get changed or have time for themselves. It wasn’t fair on them but I couldn’t do anything to help. I blamed myself.”
The hotel was on the other side of the city, many miles from where the family had been living while they were in the asylum process. Despite this, the council advised Ifran and Fatima not to look for closer schools, as it was likely they would soon be moving again.
As a result, the children had to catch several buses and travel two hours each way to attend classes. The couple tried their best to get their kids to school each day but the four-hour round trip was too much for their youngest children and they started missing lessons.
While in the hotel, the family had no living space, no washing machine, no kitchen and nowhere to store food. For months, their only option was to buy meals at the hotel, or sandwiches from local shops. It was an unhealthy and expensive diet.
“It was a very difficult time for us. The younger children were too tired to travel so far away for school. The food in the hotel wasn’t the kind of food my children wanted to eat but there were no facilities for preparing meals. Not even a toaster. It was hard for us to afford three meals a day for that number of people. Every two or three weeks a friend was kindly offering for us to go and eat dinner at their house.”
A fresh start
Our Refugee Support Service raised the family’s overcrowded living conditions and the fact the children were missing school with the social work department. We worked closely with lawyers to get the local council to do its legal duty and find them more suitable accommodation as a matter of urgency.
In the meantime, we gave Ifran and Fatima vouchers for local food banks and helped them apply for an emergency grant so they could buy hot meals for themselves and their children. With our help, they also applied for a school clothing grant so they could afford uniforms.
Ifran said: “When we got refugee status, we didn’t know what to do. We didn’t know our rights, or how to get the support we were entitled to. Scottish Refugee Council had a big role in advocating for us and getting lawyers involved.
“We went through a hard time, but with Scottish Refugee Council by our side, we knew things would be alright. They explained everything and gave us so much advice and support. They helped us with the vouchers so we could get food, which was a big help. I’m so grateful for that. Thanks to them, I could see a future for us.”
In September, after more than four months in two cramped hotel rooms, the family were finally moved into a temporary 3-bed flat. It’s still a tight squeeze, but they now have a living room, kitchen and washing machine and are delighted with their new place.
Ifran said: “It’s great! I can’t describe how happy we are. It’s not very big but now we can cook whatever the children want. My daughter has her privacy. We are definitely grateful for what we have now.”
The younger children are doing well at school, and the older ones are thriving at college and university. With our help Ifran and Fatima have enrolled for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes at the local college. They are enthusiastic students and both enjoy improving their language skills.
Ifran no longer worries about his children or what the future holds.
“It wasn’t our plan to come to Scotland but I’m glad we are here. I no longer blame myself for what we have been through. I know my children are safe here. They have a bright future. Two of my girls have chosen to become doctors and are studying medicine. My sons want to be engineers. I hope they will follow their dreams and serve this country, and themselves as well. I am so proud of them and I am so happy we are all safe.”
Find out more about our Refugee Support Service and how we’re helping people rebuild their lives in Scotland
*All names have been changed
