Help Anna, a heroine refugee doctor, furnish her empty flat

Hi, my name is Cathy, a 48 year old woman from Scotland, who suffered a life changing stroke in February 2022. I first met Anna*, a refugee carer/doctor, when she came to my flat as a carer to look after me. Anna* is a pseudonym for security reasons, as Anna is in danger outside of the UK. This Go Fund Me page is aimed at people who know both of us in the first instance but of course, if generous and altruistic strangers see this appeal and feel moved by Anna's story, they are of course willing to contribute. We thank everyone who can help from the bottom of our hearts. My address is used on the page to keep Anna's location private and my professional profile can be found at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-mungall-baldwin-61a96316/?originalSubdomain=uk in my capacity as an international aid, development and human rights sector worker when I'm well.

Anna came to the UK as a fruit picker to escape her country where she was struck off the medical register for protesting against its government for its part in murdering many masses of people in a brutal conflict. Her life was put in instant danger as she is wanted by the national authorities in her home country and when I discovered her story, I contacted my local MP (member of parliament, local jurisdiction's politician in UK terminology) and a human rights lawyer to help her file for asylum in the UK. As her case was so clear cut and the evidence of her case so strong, she was granted refugee status by the UK government's Home Office within one year by spring 2023.

Anna's struggles didn't end when she was granted UK asylum and became a stateless person without a passport. She has lived in a box room at a homeless shelter for nearly three years and whilst this should have been for the short-term, she has now been without access to a proper kitchen for nearly three year due to the chronic public housing shortage. She cooks with a communal microwave and single camping gas ring in her room where the windows are boarded up and she can't ventilate the room when she's finished, being forced to inhale the residue of camping gas fumes and cooking smells. This situation has become detrimental to her health as she can't maintain proper nutrition which has affected her physical health. She already carries an unimaginable burden of the mental trauma, depression and suffers continuous sleepless nights due to being separated from her family and friends for three years now, not sure if she can ever return home without being at instant risk of being killed.

Happily Anna has just been offered a safe flat by Edinburgh Council but it has no floor covering, just underlayer boards, and there is no furniture or white goods. None of these will be provided. Getting by on a monthly salary of just £700.00 or $910.00 per month, Anna will need these funds to pay the rent, electricity bills and council tax. She will need to rely on charities, churches, food banks and friends for food and clothing. She has no funds to purchase lino to layer over the floor or buy a bed, a desk, kitchen utensils and others basic goods needed to function. I am determined to help this human angel of a woman by trying to source what she needs from free websites but we need funds to even pay a 'man with a van' to collect free items and deliver them to the new flat. There are some goods that are better purchased new for hygiene reasons. I live with multiple disabilities and am not yet back at work. Whilst I can sometimes drive and research resources on the internet (only sometimes due to my multiple disabilities and chronic disease), Anna desperately needs a starter fund.

Not only is Anna an outstanding character for bravely speaking out against her country's government and protesting to save innocent lives there and abroad, but she has been an outstanding carer to and supporter of me in every way as I have slowly struggled to get back on my feet in the past 2.5 years. Now that she is no longer my carer, we are the best of friends. Anna is incredibly grateful to the UK government and its people for the sanctuary, protection, hospitality and support she has received. She remains working as a carer with elderly and disabled people until her English is good enough to pass the UK's medical qualifier exams for foreign doctors so that her non-UK qualifications (presently not recognised) can be converted and she can practice as a doctor or nurse within the NHS. The UK has a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses and there are many unfilled vacancies. Anna is determined to pay back the country that saved her life and offered her shelter and safety and will do the best that is humanly possible for its people by saving their lives.

We will be incredibly grateful for all the support we receive. In the first instance, we seek to purchase or receive a donation of cheap linoleum for the floors in the flat, source a mattress and bedframe, a desk, kitchen and bathroom utensils and bedding, in addition to cleaning products. Donations towards electricity and council tax are exceedingly welcome.

Thank you sincerely for any help you can give us both in this project. Even a few pounds or dollars will make a huge huge difference. The funds will go directly to Anna's account and we will put up some pictures of the flat and the things we've bought when we're done.

Love from Cathy and Anna xxx