#SaveLord
UPDATE 8th June 2017
With my most sincere apologies for the delayed update, I am delighted to inform you that Lord Apetsi was released from detention last April and given the right to resubmit his asylum claim thanks to the legal representation we were able to secure with donations to Lord's appeal. After being reunited with his family, Lord successfully completed his PGCert in Counselling Skills - a measure indeed of the man. Lord has spent this academic year undertaking the LLM at Strathclyde University, and volunteering for the National Union of Students, working to highlight the needs of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
This case is ongoing, and Lord's solicitors expect that his claim will be processed in a matter of weeks. This is excellent news, but this level of expert legal work is very expensive. There is currently an outstanding bill of approximately £8000 for Lord's legal costs, and there may be a small additional sum to cover the final work to be completed.
If you are able to contibute, it would be very much appreciated. Every penny will help.
Thank you in advance.
#SaveLord
On Saturday 19th March 2016, Lord Apetsi - a Postgrad student from Strathclyde University - was elected as the NUS Scotland Asylum Seeker & Refugee Officer. At the exact time he was elected, Lord was sitting in a Home Office detention centre being prepared for deportation, having been detained at his regular signing-in appointment at the UKVI in Glasgow.
Lord was scheduled to be removed on Tuesday 22nd March 2016, and due to the collective power of campaigning, he was not removed on that flight. However, in recent days there have been moves to push once more for his removal from the country and time is of the essence.
We have secured legal representation for Lord but now need to fund that. A conservative estimate is that this will cost in the region of £15000. The legal firm is not entitled to apply for legal aid on Lord's behalf and so we need to now raise that money on his behalf.
All proceeds will directly go to Lord's legal campaign, so please give anything that you can.
Lord has two young children who live at home in Glasgow who very much miss their Dad, and want him to come home. He is an active and popular member of his church, and his community.
In his time as a student at Strathclyde University, Lord has supported the student community by creating a job club which has secured employment for over 60 students. The work he has done on this job club exemplifies Lord's approach to citizenship, as his work - completed entirely voluntarily - benefitted fellow students but due to the terms of his asylum status, did not benefit Lord himself as he was not permitted to undertake paid employment.
Lord has been undertaking a postgrad certificate in counselling, a qualification which again demonstrates his compassion and dedication to improving the lives of people around him. He is a valued member of the student community, who has much to offer and contribute.
Thank you in advance for anything you are able to offer.
