AFTER five years in the asylum process, there is light at the end of the tunnel for one Glasgow-based asylum seeker.
Mariatu* (47) arrived in Scotland from Sierra Leone in January 2020, accompanied by two children who lost their parents from the same village.
On the first night, they had a rough sleep in Buchanan Bus Station, but later were accommodated in a hotel near Cowcaddens. Mariatu found herself in an extremely difficult situation, as she struggled to communicate in English.
Pandemic at the hotel
MARIATU adjusted to life in Glasgow during the early days of the pandemic, but it wasn’t easy. “We could not go out. I could not talk to people. That made me unhappy. It was difficult to get help,” she said.
Lockdown affected Mariatu’s mental health, as she had to stay in a small room with two children while not knowing anyone in a new city. Mariatu said she cried often during the pandemic because she could not leave the hotel or afford essential products like a bus pass.
At that time, asylum seekers received £39.60 per week. Later, in October 2020, the financial support was further increased by three pence. By the end of 2022, asylum seekers received a “standard weekly allowance” of £47.39, while those in hotels received £8.86 per week. The high cost of living impacted the asylum-seeking community, as covering expenses became challenging.
The Home Office said the financial support supplied should cover clothing, non-prescription medicine and travel. However, campaigners report asylum seekers having to rely on food banks in Glasgow and being left unable to afford travel expenses.
A warm welcome in Maryhill
NOT too long after moving to Maryhill – as the previous accommodation was unsuitable – Mariatu joined the support groups of Maryhill Integration Network (MIN), an organisation which supports positive social change for the community by campaigning for asylum seekers.
“My mental health improved after I joined the Joyous Women’s Choir,” Mariatu said.
She described the group, which is facilitated by MIN, as fundamental for her integration. “I felt relief,” she said, adding that it helped her regain confidence and built self-esteem.
The Joyous Choir has represented the community in many venues across Scotland, promoting empowering messages through their voices.
Mariatu is also part of the Women’s Group, where she has found friendship and emotional support from other refugees and women in the asylum process. ESOL classes (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and English conversation club helped Mariatu to improve her communication skills and now she feels more confident to speak.
MIN is part of the Lift The Ban coalition, a campaign petitioning the UK Government to overturn the ban on people seeking asylum having the right work. The organisation also actively campaigns to obtain concessionary travel for people seeking asylum, an initiative that was scrapped by the Scottish Government cuts but later included in 2026 Budget.
“I thank God for me joining Maryhill Integration Network. I never regret joining at all,” Mariatu said.
A long journey
“IT was long waiting time,” Mariatu said, reflecting on the years of uncertainty and her inability to work.
Many asylum seekers have been in the same situation, waiting for years to find out about their future. The backlog clearance implemented by the Suella Braverman-led Home Office in 2023 had an impact on cases, as many were displaced to the appeal process – creating another backlog.
As the Home Office requests permission to appeal Tier 1 decisions on cases, people like Mariatu are being delayed … even having to wait years for a definitive decision.
If the request to appeal is accepted by a Tier 1 judge, an upper tribunal must review the case based on the evidence and the declarations from the previous appealing trial. As there is only one upper tribunal in Scotland, based in Edinburgh, many cases are still waiting for a resolution.
As of December 2024, Mariatu has been granted the status of refugee after years in the asylum process. The decision was celebrated when she announced the news at the MIN Voices group meeting. Now she feels optimistic about her family’s future.
“I would like to find a job in the NHS or council. I will also continue my part-time studies and get 20 hours of work.”
*Fictional name
