ASSIST

USE YOUR IMAGINATION

Imagine you have the courage to speak out for what you believe to be right.

Imagine that, for your own safety, you have to flee from your country, your family and everything you know.

Imagine you arrive in Britain and the authorities won’t believe your story.

Imagine you are now destitute with no home, no income, nothing.

But then you hear about ASSIST – Asylum Seeker Support Initiative Short Term - where each week about 80 people, like you, can get basic support to buy food and pay transport costs for legal and medical appointments. Also, ASSIST may be able to provide some short term accommodation while you collect more evidence to reapply for political asylum and find better legal aid.

ASSIST desperately needs your help to support destitute assylum seekers who are

Denied refugee status

Fleeing war or persecution

Afraid to return home

Denied benerits

Denied accommodation

Not allowed to work

ASSIST provides basic support for over sixty destitute assylum seekers to buy food and pay transport costs for legal and medical appointments. ASSIST also provides accommodation for destitute assylum seekers through volunteer hosts who offer short stays whenever they can.

You can make a difference to these people's live by making a donation or by offering your time as a volunteer. There are always more people in need than available funds to support them. Can you or your church or group help? Cheques should be made out to ASSIST (Sheffield), and sent to: ASSIST treasurer, c/o Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JB. As ASSIST is a registered charity your donation can be Gift Aided. The ASSIST office phone number is 0114 275 4960.

Robert Spooner, the deputy chair of ASSIST, and a Methodist Local Preacher would be pleased to tell you more or speak at your meetings. Robert can be contacted directly by phone on 0114 258 5715or by email at rmspooner@btopenworld.com