‘When I first got to the Ibis there was an Iraqi Kurdish guy who told me about Global Link, he says anything you want help with – lawyer, ID, clothing, food – you can go to them. We are having only £9 so we needed help.
There are three organisations giving help in Lancaster: Global Link, RAIS at Cornerstone, and on Wednesdays at the church [St. Thomas’].
From Global Link I got a lot of help, free clothes, I also got a bike free, applied for a GP and for a bank account, and lunch is very nice, I had good Iranian food.
From RAIS I got help to get a lawyer, Susan.
Wednesdays at the church is free lessons in English, free barber for haircuts, and food and games. Sometimes they gave us a cinema ticket, even a meal out. They don’t talk about their religion but they do invite to other events, like some music in the church on Monday evening. And I have seen someone go from there with people to a GP appointment, for translation.
After moving to Preston I am coming back to Lancaster for help.
Lancaster is smaller, so people can walk to get help. The location of Global Link is very good.
I have come back to Global Link for help many times, and so do other Kurds, I know men in Manchester who come back here. Global Link gives me a free sim card every 5 months, and I get photocopies made here for free.
When I got my BRP there was a problem with my name, but Global Link helped and today I have new card which is correct, and that is very nice.
Eleanor helped me get the classes in Preston, and gave me about 2 hours about my Master’s degree. I have a Bachelor’s degree from Iraq, once I have level 2 English I will apply for a scholarship to study.
Global Link also gave me a tablet with internet. There are so many ways they have helped me, I don’t know if I have said them all! And now they are helping me with advice about accommodation, I have until 28th to find a place. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the council but they will say to go private, you need to have a disability or children or other things to be on list A, but I am a single man and people on lists B, C, D will wait a long time.
The staff in Global Link are very lovely, they don’t get angry, they don’t act like they are too busy, every time they are saying “welcome”, they will help anytime. I have seen Vaso with 10 people waiting for help but she keeps working, even if she is tired. It’s good Ahmed is here now too. Even they give me their WhatsApp number so I can contact them, not buying a train ticket to come to Lancaster. They work quickly, it is not like the Home Office that don’t answer, Global Link does. Imagine some asylum seekers come, they have no internet, no money, no English, what can they do without an organization like this to help them?
I have seen some people with bad behavior, they don’t know English and can be horrible people, but still the staff help them, they respect you.