Your donations are making a positive difference

Thanks to your donations, we gave laptops to two of the families from Afghanistan who have recently arrived in the Borough. Speaking to the families helped understand their difficulties and how they are settling in.

In Earlsfield, Hakim and Aadela had spent four months in a cramped hotel room in Leicester – quite a challenge with five active young children. In mid-January they were settled in a four-bedroom flat offered to Wandsworth Council by a private landlord under the Afghan Resettlement Scheme. They were delighted to receive the laptop (picture below), which the whole family will use. After our visit, Just Shelter sourced a bike and roller skates for the two older children, and a sewing machine for Aadela.

In Furzedown, Lateef and his family have had a different experience. Lateef has lived here before and has a British passport, but came from Kabul in August with his mother, sisters and brother. Although the rules changed, British citizens were not eligible under the resettlement scheme, even with Afghan family members.

Lateef came to Wandsworth as he had previously lived in Tooting. The Council offered temporary accommodation, but they still do not qualify for help under the Resettlement Schemes. A local volunteer helped them apply for Universal Credit, college and school places. They have been struggling to submit homework and to get online ESOL support, which the laptop (picture below) will now help with.

Your donations are making a huge difference to refugees and asylum seekers who now call Wandsworth home. We’re still on the lookout for unused devices, especially laptops, which we have run out of. Please ensure they have a charger and are in good condition. We ensure all equipment is fully wiped and reset and generally install a Cloudready Operating System to speed up older devices.

If you're able to help, please email us: wandsworthwelcomesrefugees@gmail.com