Lesbian Immigration Support Group - LISG
This page is temporarily dedicated to the LISG fundraising appeal organized by Valley Sisters, Calderdale.
This appeal will close at the end of October.
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Lesbian Immigration Support Group,
Sadly, Valley Sisters were unable to go ahead with the planned fundraising event in April because of the lockdown. Also, continued restrictions concerning social gatherings suggest it will be difficult to arrange anything else this year.
For the past few years LISG have been able to rely on annual donations of over £1000 from Valley Sisters’ fundraisers and last year’s events reached £1,800.
Valley Sisters have considered a number of alternative online fundraising events but all seem to present some problems. So, as we are unable to run any fundraising events this year, we decided to ask you all if you could make a donation to LISG instead.
LISG members have not met as a group since March. Many of the women are living in just one room sharing bathroom and kitchen facilities with others and some women have been afraid to leave their rooms in case they pick up the virus. The only way members have been able to connect and keep in contact with others is by mobile phone so LISG has been trying to support women by buying phone credit. We worry about everyone`s mental health and well being.
Asylum Seekers are expected to live on only £37.50 a week. LISG has ongoing core expenses in supporting women who are destitute; without accommodation or money. The women are now reliant on local supermarkets instead of cheaper African and Asian shops a bus ride away. The provision of food vouchers has become an urgent need.
All donations through this fundraiser will go into a fund for basic necessities for LISG women.
Many thanks for your support and kindness.
Valley Sisters
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LISG is a volunteer-run group that help lesbian and bisexual assylum seekers through the heartless process of applying to stay in the UK on the basis of their sexuality. Our members have fled their homelands, often times experiencing great trauma and terrors, with the hope of a better life in the UK as free women loving women. Sadly for them the immigration assylum process is heartless and soaked in a culture of disbelief, submitting them to 4-5 hour extensive interviews where they are told they are lying after opening up about the hardships lived in their home countries and on their way to the UK. You can help us rise money for our organisation by donating whatever you can.
LISG supports lesbians and bisexual women who are seeking asylum by:
1. Providing a safe space to meet for emotional support
2. Giving the members a voice to speak out about their experiences of the asylum process
3. Helping to find good solicitors who understand sexuality based asylum claims
4. Organising online campaigns when members are detained and threatened with deportation
5. Writing detailed support letters and supporting members in immigration courts
6. Organising regular group meetings and social events
7. Helping with costs of transportation and food.
8. Helping with applications to different organisations such as rape-relief centres, learning courses and more.
Help however you can! Share!
