Rose
When the Home Office asylum contractor Mears Group discarded all of *Rose’s belongings without her consent, she was devastated.
After years of waiting for asylum in Scotland, 29-year-old *Rose faced an unimaginable loss. She and her 9-month-old son were moved to temporary housing after a flood, leaving most of their belongings behind. Due to an administrative error, their home was cleared out, and six years’ possessions were discarded. Among the lost items were her son’s birth certificate, sentimental jewellery, and traditional clothing—profoundly personal and irreplaceable. Mears Group initially offered Rose just £150 in vouchers. Heartbroken, she reached out to us for support.
Our Advocacy & Campaigns Officer, Adam, intervened. After persistent pressure, Mears increased the compensation to £1,400. We also connected Rose with local community support to help the resettlement process. Despite everything, Rose’s resilience shone through as she celebrated her son’s first birthday. Rose's experience was no isolated case, and others have reported similar mistreatment.
I wake up thinking about the things I lost in that house. Money will never replace what I lost, but I am grateful to Positive Action in Housing for all their support.