We are so grateful to all the members of our Advisory Board who give us the benefit of their lived experience as refugees.  We spoke to one member who we shall call Layla, recently given refugee status, who also volunteers at one of the hotels.   

Here is what Layla shared with us, with our thanks:
 
Can you tell us a little bit about what brought you to the UK?
My family is from Sudan. Out of fear for our lives, we were left with no choice but to claim asylum in the United Kingdom.

How did you hear about Herts Welcomes Refugees?
When I was staying at the asylum hotel, other residents told me about the volunteers from Herts Welcomes Refugees who came for regular drop-in visits. Through those encounters, I became familiar with the charity and the work it does.

Congratulations on obtaining refugee status. What has been your experience of claiming asylum here? How have things changed since you were granted refugee status?
Claiming asylum was a very difficult and emotional process, full of uncertainty and stress. Life in the hotel was particularly challenging, and I experienced some very hard days. I was fortunate to receive a decision on my case fairly quickly, unlike many others who waited much longer. Overall, I felt I was treated fairly, but the process takes a big toll on you.

Since being granted refugee status, life has started to move forward. Leaving the hotel was difficult at first because everything felt new and overwhelming, but gradually I have been able to settle, integrate into the community, and begin building a future here.

Can you tell us a bit about how you have been volunteering at the asylum hotel? Is there a particular motivating factor?
I have been volunteering at the asylum hotel and providing interpretation support for Arabic and Turkish speakers. My main motivation has always been to help others who are going through the same struggles that I faced. I know how important it is to have someone who understands and supports you, and I wanted to give that back to others.

We are very grateful that you have joined the Advisory Board. What led you to joining the Board?
It was actually one of the Trustees who encouraged me to join the Advisory Board. I was very excited about the opportunity, as I knew I would be able to learn from his experience and contribute more directly to supporting refugees. I also wanted to share my perspective as someone who has lived through the asylum process, so that the voices of refugees themselves are included in shaping the work of the charity.

What is most challenging about your work with Herts Welcomes Refugees?
The most challenging part is when I am unable to help someone because of limitations or rules that are beyond my control. It can be frustrating to see people in need and not be able to give them the full support they require.

What is most rewarding about your work with Herts Welcomes Refugees?
The most rewarding part is seeing the difference that even small acts of support can make in someone’s life. Whether it is helping with interpretation, offering advice, or simply listening, it is wonderful to see people feel more hopeful and less alone. Being part of a community where people care for each other is truly uplifting.

What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming involved with Herts Welcomes Refugees?
I would say: please do it! Volunteering with Herts Welcomes Refugees is not only about giving, but also about receiving. You meet incredible people, you learn so much, and you experience the joy of making a real difference in someone’s life. It is a beautiful and rewarding experience.

What are your hopes for the future?
I hope to continue building a new life here in the UK and to contribute positively to the community. I want to pursue my education and career goals, but also remain involved in supporting refugees and asylum seekers. My dream is to see more people volunteer and get involved in organisations like Herts Welcomes Refugees, so that together we can make the journey a little easier for those who are forced to leave their homes.
 
Thank you Layla, we are in awe of your energy and commitment, helping others as you make a new life here.

Since this profile, Layla spoke up eloquently on BBC Three Counties Radio in an interview with Amir Suleman.  This is part of what she said, and you can hear the clip below:

The help received from Herts Welcomes Refugees:
"I think it just gave me a sense of security, initially obviously  fleeing a place where I didn’t feel safe… they welcomed me with open arms, made sure that they would support me with everything that I would need… it just gave this real sense of security that I’m not alone in this process.

Volunteering for Herts Welcomes Refugees:
The most rewarding part is seeing the difference that even small acts of support can make in people’s, whether it’s interpretation, offering advice or simply just listening to what people have been going through. I think it’s wonderful to see people feel hopeful and less alone and being in a community where people care for each other.  Because of the volunteers, people started helping out, people started caring for each other."

The asylum process:
"It’s a very stressful process to be honest. I’ve seen people develop mental illnesses, physical illnesses during this wait, even listening to the new updates that are going on in the asylum system, people have been, they haven’t felt safe yet, they don’t feel like they have the sense of security, that they initially came and asked for. So it’s a very stressful process. And I have seen people who have been waiting for years…just to hear something back and know that they are completely settled and safe."

And here Layla speaks out for children in the light of the government's proposals to make family reunion more difficult and citizenship more uncertain: 

Today we are delighted to hear from Carlos who volunteers at the local drop-in.  He is kindly offering his time teaching English while waiting for his asylum claim to be heard. This is what he told us:

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what brought you to the UK?
​I came to the UK from Venezuela because I needed international protection and safety.
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How did you hear about Herts Welcomes Refugees?
​I found out about the organisation through HWR volunteer Jane.
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Can you tell us a bit about how you have been volunteering with Herts Welcomes Refugees? Is there a particular motivating factor?
​I use my university degree in language education to volunteer as an English teacher for other asylum seekers. My motivation is to give back the support I received and help them with integration, because learning the language is so important.
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What is most challenging about your work with Herts Welcomes Refugees?
​The hardest part is teaching students who speak very different languages, like Arabic or Farsi. Back in Venezuela, I could use Spanish to help explain things, but here I have to teach people from many mother tongues without that common linguistic link.

What is most rewarding about your work with Herts Welcomes Refugees?
​The most rewarding thing is helping people directly and feeling like I’m useful. It makes me feel connected to the local community.

What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming involved with Herts Welcomes Refugees?
​I would tell them go for it. It is such a rewarding experience, and even a small amount of support makes a huge difference in the lives of asylum seekers.

What are your hopes for the future?
​My hope is that my asylum case will be resolved positively soon, so I can start working legally and contribute fully to UK society.

Is there anything else you would like to say about being an asylum seeker here?
​Being an asylum seeker is a long and difficult emotional process. The support from organisations like Herts Welcomes Refugees is essential for helping us keep hope and stay connected to life here.

​Thank you so much Carlos. We are inspired by your dedication and wish to help others whilst facing a difficult situation yourself.