Help a good hardworking guy get by

Hey friends,

I’m reaching out to ask for a bit of help on behalf of someone some of you may already know — Yousef.

I met Yousef around 14 years ago. He’s a kind, hard-working painter/decorator who left Guinea in 2002 and has been living in the UK ever since — 23 years. Despite that, he still doesn’t have a passport. He’s been living under temporary residency, and it’s been a long, frustrating road dealing with the Home Office and endless paperwork.

About three years ago, I raised some money so he could fly back to Guinea and see his mother — something he hadn’t been able to do for over 12 years! Since then, I’ve tried to help him find work painting friends’ flats and houses. Many of you have kindly passed his name on to others too, which has made a huge difference with him being able to get by in life.

Last month, after saving and working around the clock, he paid over £5,000 to a solicitor and submitted an application for permanent residency which he was really looking forward to and excited about — only to be rejected. Instead, they granted him another temporary visa for just two years.

Now, with the cost of living spiraling and work slowing down, he’s struggling to keep up. I thought I’d reach out to see if anyone who’s feeling generous might be able to help him out — whether it’s a little or a lot, it would go a long way.

This isn’t about charity — it’s about supporting someone who’s worked hard, played by the rules, and still keeps getting the short end of the stick.

If you’re able to chip in, thank you. If not, even just sharing this would mean a lot.

Yours,

Naim