Aminah’s baby appeal

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Initially, they were placed there by  Social Work and  then that responsibility was handed over after 9 months to the Home Office who appeared to have forgotten about them for the next 5 months. 

The food they were given included crisps for breakfast and sandwiches collected from a green crate in the dining room. 

During thiS stay, their laptop and jewellery was stolen, Aminah was harassed by strangers at the hotel room door by men asking to come in. We understand the hotel was used for mainstream homelessness where drug or drink was a problem. They faced abuse, and queued at food banks when the hotel food was inedible or consisted of pork. 

They also were too frightened to speak up about their conditions because they were terrified of where they were placed and they were terrified of being deported to Libya for speaking up and complaining about the Home Office, it’s contractor Mears and the failure to provide support. Aminah has witnessed terrible torture and fled in fear of her life. 

The Home Office also informed their lawyer that the couple would get s95 support (could stay in the hotel) but would not get the £8 a week each that they are also supposed to get until the Home Office accommodation provider Mears moved them into accommodation.

It appears to be a ploy to avoid giving people in hotels their subsistence. Throughout this time they received no money whatsoever. Aminah was 4 months pregnant when the Home Office first granted support. 

After our charity got involved with the couple last month, things took a turn for the better. With the support of sympathetic journalists, and some judicious letter writing, we questioned the Home Office about this case, within TWO days officials arranged for the couple to be moved into two bedroom accommodation. Aminah was 8.5 months pregnant by this time. When journalists questioned the situation, the Home Office claimed only one hotel was used in Glasgow. Clearly they forgot about this couple. As for the money the Home Office was supposed to hand over when they were moved to accommodation, Aminah and her husband were owed £304 for the previous five months, however the Mears employee who moved them gave them only £200, short changing this young couple by £104. 

This appeal is for the couples baby girl who is due any day now, a lovely couple Alison and Steven, and Helen , Aileen and Umran all volunteers from our Humans of Glasgow network, have been helping the couple make a home for their baby as they did not even have cutlery or a Moses basket or baby clothes or proper dishes or baby equipment. The couple are students as well as seeking asylum, and did not have wifi either. The appeal funds are therefore being used by volunteers to purchase much needed items. The fund is running low so if you would like to help please give a donation and our volunteers will keep a budget with receipts of what’s been spent. Baby is due any days now so we are all more than a little excited about this new miracle about to happen. To give a donation please see the link below. 
 

Robina Qureshi

 https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/AminahsBaby

update on this: 

Aminah and her husband have had a baby girl today. Please share this JustGiving link with your family and friends and colleagues and ask for a small donation to commentate , all funds are being donated to help the couple make a home for their new baby as they have nothing , and a lot of funds have already been spent on baby items and furniture.