Urgent support needed: From Destitution to Dignity
We’re urgently raising funds to support women in our network who are currently experiencing homelessness, hunger and profound hardship.
We need your support to ensure these women, who are already fleeing desperate situations, have access to basic needs like food and shelter.
Everyone deserves to live with dignity.
Donate now or find out more about our campaign and why it matters below.
What is Destitution in the Asylum System?
Many of the women seeking asylum in our community have fled war, persecution, trafficking and violence, only to be met by a system that too often leaves them with nothing.
Women seeking asylum in the UK are not allowed to work or access benefits until a decision has been made on their asylum application. This can take months, if not years in some cases.
This means months of:
No home – unable to rent or access shelters.
No income – unable to buy food and basic essentials.
No support – at risk of homelessness, starvation and exploitation.
We believe everyone deserves better than this. No woman should be left destitute.
“With the Migrant Destitution Fund, I was able to buy food, toiletries, and top up my phone — just my basic needs. Since the fund closed, it’s been a struggle. I can’t afford what I need to survive. We can’t work, so that little help made a huge difference. Without it, my dignity is gone. Please help us.”
— WAST member
Why we need your support
Throughout the year, the Migrant Destitution Fund is a vital lifeline offering emergency support to women in our network. But for the next five months, the fund is paused, leaving many women without any source of income or means to meet their most basic needs.
In those months, WAST will provide direct financial support instead. But we need to raise the funds to do it! We already have some wonderful funders on board. Now we’re asking you, our amazing supporters, to help us raise the rest.
Can you help us raise the £3000 we need to support destitute women in our network?
What your support means
Every penny you donate will go towards helping destitute women in our network access safe accommodation, food and essential items, and much-needed emotional support.
£5 could pay for a woman’s bus fare to reach support.
£10 could provide a hot meal and essentials.
£25 could pay for a night in safe accommodation or help feed three women and their children.
£50 could support someone through a month of crisis.
£100 could support one woman for 10 weeks.
“Thank you for being there for us, you put a smile on our face thank you so much it gives us joy of waiting and expecting when the month is ending, we eat food we don't go hungry thank you so much”
— WAST member
How to help
There are lots of ways to support our campaign – every voice of solidarity matters and shows that we are stronger together!
Donate what you can – every pound counts!
Share our fundraiser on your blog, social media or with your community.
Speak out about the injustices women face in the UK’s hostile asylum system.
Thank you!
Destitution should never be used as immigration control. It’s hostile, inhumane and denies thousands of women basic human needs.
By supporting our campaign, you not only provide much needed support to a woman experiencing the cruel realities of destitution – but you stand with us for justice, compassion and humanity.
