No bank account, no benefits, no right to work

Aged 20, Sara fled her home in Albania because her dad was trying to force her to marry a 56-year-old man.

She came to the UK, hidden in the back of a lorry and slept in a park in London until another Albanian offered her a place to stay.   She’s been here for five years and is still waiting for the Home Office to decide her fate.

Now aged 25, she has two small children and, without the right to remain, she’s not allowed to work.

She’s one of many asylum seekers supported by Hackney Foodbank.

She said: “I go to the Hackney Playbus with the kids and they help me. I don’t have a bank and I don’t get any benefits.  My daughter’s dad gives us a little but the lady at Hackney Playbus has been helping me and referred me to the food bank.

“My Dad was not good to me. It was scary leaving to come here but life is better here.  It’s hard – I don’t have money and the baby bank helps me with clothes but I’m fine.

“I don’t have any family here, it’s just me but I have Albanian friends here who help. My friend lets me stay in her home.  I make food and freeze it and the food from the food bank helps.”

Sara is learning English and hopes to be granted permission to stay so she can find work. Every month she has to sign in to immigration at Heathrow.  She’s unsure whether she’ll be allowed to stay in the UK.

Demand for Hackney Foodbank has increased by 53% in the past year. The charity, which relies on the public for donations, is currently supporting around 630 people per week.  They also have a caseworker, who helps people escape the root causes of poverty and their Community Change Manager Farhan Jaisin works closely with asylum seekers like Jeta.

To support the food bank, visit www.hackney.foodbank.org.uk/donate#donatemoney