Aldo’s interview

An asylum seeker who had been destitute for 3 years, with no cash or accommodation support from the Home Office, with Global Link’s support, won his right to this support and is now being housed and receiving weekly cash support. In this own words:

So I have a friend and he told me about you guys that you guys are quite helpful and, and also I am someone that likes to play football. So he said, let’s go to Global Link and then we would take it from there. So as soon as I came to Global Link I liked the environment and I joined the football. And the moment I played for you guys I also realize sometimes new faces come in. Which is good. And the more I come to the building the more it was just fun to come. As soon as I walked in, I felt comfortable like, oh, this is actually a nice place. Yeah. So I actually liked it.

We have football several times a week and, of course, and I play most of them. …Well, recently we’ve been having more tournaments, which I actually love a lot…..Football helps me socialize with others because I personally have a hard time socializing with people, so it helps me. It brings me out of my room.

Like I just want to mention again, I’m quite the introvert. I keep things to myself until I couldn’t any more….That’s where I kind of spoke to you this year. But everything from there was okay.

You helped me a lot with my Section 95. If I think back I don’t know the wordings in terms of the section 95, Section 4. I only hear about it, but I don’t really know the meaning. So when I came, I came and just set my situation. And you actually picked it up – you educated me about my own situation. I even asked like, what’s the difference between Sections 6 and 95.

I was really glad I came to talk because this is something I don’t do. And for me, in the first place, for me to talk, I had to be comfortable. It takes time for me to get comfortable with someone. So I’m glad that I got comfortable with you guys…. It did help me… I mean so many years passed by [with no support]. Now in just a few weeks already things are happening which makes me feel or puts me in a better place as a person as well. At first, I was just lost or don’t know what to do. Mentally stressed….But at least things are picking up. My spirit seems to be lifted.

So with the appeal. After we appealed, like you mentioned, Christine came. She wrote the statement. My understanding is Christine is a lawyer…. And you guys actually took her out of a probably busy schedule. Make time for me, which I appreciate as well. She wrote the statement. And so there was a solicitor. Richard [from Asylum Appeals Project] was a very calm gentleman. But I spoke to him over the phone. He reassured me. I even made a joke with him, too. I thought that you would be told and that he was nothing to do with. But he made me feel calm. He explained to me. He told me the judge’s name. And briefly, this described the way she is. He told me the name of the first lady. Briefly, just so that I can be ready. And he even told me that at any point, if I’m overwhelmed, I can always put up my hand, go out. Which is also a good thing to know.

Nevertheless, I’m just glad about the outcome. But the appeal went good. It was a roller coaster. There was a moment where I thought, Oh, no, I don’t think it’s going my way because of the reasons that the Home Office gave. But then the judge also gave the solicitor [representing me] a chance….the Judge decided [that I should get Section 95]. After that, I was I was just a happy person. Honestly, honestly, I couldn’t wait to come to you to tell you.

[Without Global Link] I would have never been in a good mental space. I was under stress. This really lifted up a lot. I feel this actually helped me. I hopefully will be here, but who knows where I’m going to go. I will always, always remember my experience here.