I first came to the UK (Manchester airport) in April 2022 through family reunion.
I got help from Global Link and City of Sanctuary for English classes, ESOL at Lancaster & Morecambe College, also a bike. I got a job working with Dominos, doing pizza delivery on the night shift, I was working hard, long hours, I had a contract and I paid tax.
In June 2024 I separated from my wife. I got a place to rent, they said only 3 months, it was fine, it was easy to rent because I had a job and bank statements. After 3 months I found another place to move to, I applied with RightMove, they need to do credit check. But my wife had reported me to the Home Office, I was told ‘your visa will expire, you have to go back to your own country’. I said ‘I came here for Christianity, everyone in Iran knows, I can’t go back.’ So I got advice from Global Link and I applied for asylum.
I still had work and bank statements, but when Dominoes asked about my visa I showed them my new ARC card, which says ‘work permitted’, but they said ‘it’s only for work on the shortage list, you cannot work for us anymore’ and they sacked me. So to rent the new house, when the credit company went to get a reference from my employer Dominoes, Dominoes says, ‘he’s not working here now’ and they say ‘you cannot rent’….hey don’t care about my situation. Even they did not give the £80.70 I had paid to the agency.
So I could not rent. I was on the street, I slept 6 days in the car. I didn’t have anyone and every friend left me. I went to Lancaster University to the sports centre and paid £5 to go swimming but I was only going there for a shower, sleeping every night in the car I needed a shower. It was also cold in the car.’
After a few days, he found accommodation through members of his church. He was not allowed to access Section 95 housing or cash support because he had savings. But, as an asylum seeker, he no longer had the right to work and did not have the right to rent. In the end, one member of his church who is also a City Councillor, allowed him to live rent-free in her house until he got his Leave to Remain, when Global Link helped him secure housing. He is now living in Lancaster, working full-time and is soon to be a father.
About Global Link he said, ‘I can get help from my church but it is not like from Global Link, sometimes I can’t ask for help, I am shy, I don’t want to ask, maybe they want to help but they don’t know my situation, I have to explain and I can’t tell everyone. But Global Link already know about the situation for all ASR, especially Gisela and Eleanor and Vaso case worker is lovely, also Ahmed, Wael… all are very friendly, kind people, they are hard working and they always help. I’m not shy to ask them for help, if you have any problem they will help, with Section 95, with English class, and especially I really like maths class.
I love the outdoor trips. I was very upset, very depressed, I had lost my job, my life, and we went for 3 days holiday with Global Link, it was so very helpful for me.