That's why being able to put her powerful Congolese-inflected vocal range to good use, as well as teaching sewing and using the food bank to make ends meet, means so much to her. "This place is like therapy to me. When I come here I can dance, I can shout, I can do anything I want. All my stress, I leave it here," she said.
She is one of the hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees supported by Asylum Link Merseyside in Liverpool, a grassroots one-stop shop that fills in the gaps left by crumbling public services, including legal advice, healthcare and food banks, as well as activities that promote wellbeing and community cohesion, from yoga and rock climbing to litter picking and beach cleanups.
Asylum Link is a member of the No Accommodation Network (Naccom), one of three refugee and asylum seeker charities supported by this year's Guardian and Observer annual appeal, alongside Refugee Councils of Britain and Refugees at Home. Naccom will grant most of its share of donations to grassroots members such as Asylum Link.
Lately, a huge focus of Asylum Link's work has been housing, which the charity says has reached an unprecedented crisis point. Administrative changes in the summer meant refugees with leave to remain were given seven days instead of 28 days to quit Home Office-funded accommodation across Britain, leaving them with little time to secure somewhere to live. Many ended up on the streets. On Thursday, the Home Office reversed the policy.
This story is from the December 23, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 23, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Lammers blow against United as Twente hit back to share spoils
When Manchester United click as they did here for large swathes, their attack features organised chaos and their defence is compact, as shown by their four clean sheets this season.
Cricket: Jacks stakes his claim in crowded top order
It was a breakthrough century for Harry Brook at Chester-le-Street, that sublime unbeaten 110 his first in oneday international cricket and a first against Australia in any format. But the contribution from Will Jacks was not insignificant either, especially given the potential squeeze when some of England's big guns return.
Top football clubs breaking betting advert rules meant to protect minors
Half of Premier League football clubs have advertised gambling on web pages aimed at, or featuring, people under the age of 18, prompting concern about a voluntary code of conduct drawn up with the help of the betting industry.
Economic inactivity: Why cutting NHS waiting lists is key to boosting growth
Wes Streeting was in the right place when he announced plans to prioritise cutting NHS waiting lists in areas with the highest numbers of people out of work due to ill health. Liverpool, where the health secretary was speaking at Labour's annual party conference yesterday, is top of the list.
UK growth forecast upgraded as global outlook improves
The global economy is \"turning a corner\", according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which yesterday upgraded the UK's growth forecast for this year to be faster than that of Japan, Italy and Germany.
World's first AI art museum to look at 'creative potential of machines'
A prominent AI artist has announced he will open the world's first artificial intelligence art museum in Los Angeles, which will highlight the \"intersection of human imagination and the creative potential of machines\".
Officials brief Trump on suspected Iranian plot to kill him
US intelligence officials have briefed Donald Trump about a suspected Iranian plot to kill him, his campaign has said.
EU trust fund for Africa 'has not addressed risks of abuse'
A €5bn EU fund aiming to stem the mass movement of people from Africa to Europe lacks focus and fails to address the risk of human rights abusers who could benefit, the bloc's spending watchdog has found.
Letby case: father tells of 'headless chickens' at hospital unit
The father of two triplet babies murdered by Lucy Letby has described frantic scenes as the children collapsed, with medical staff in a neonatal unit appearing to search online for tutorials to guide them through \"everyday\" medical procedures.
Music review: Monster hits perfectly reshaped by new female vocalist
Linkin Park laid the foundations for modern metal with their 2000 debut Hybrid Theory. They weren't the first band to bring together rock, hip-hop, electronic music and a whole lot of angst - but they were the most successful.
