Community Cook Up is supporting a vulnerable young woman who left her home country in the Caribbean after Hurricane Maria in 2017, to escape harassment from her father who abused her as child and served prison time for this. She came to the UK to stay with a family friend and continue her nursing degree. This 'friend' then went on to subject her to modern slavery. She was refused a visa by the UK Home Office, which means that she cannot claim benefits, access free healthcare or return to higher education, but is being supported legally by the British Red Cross, and has an appeal date in May. However, due to the abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her father, she has significant health needs because of damage to her reproductive system. The Home Office refused to continue the waiver to her health bills, and just three days’ stay in hospital has resulted in a bill of over £3000. If a repayment plan isn’t set up, it could negatively affect her legal case to stay in UK. She has now made a happy home here with a friend and wants to restart her nursing degree.

Please donate what you can to support this young woman to pay off her health bills and so improve her chances of continuing her now settled life in the UK and contribute to our NHS as a nurse.

Thank you for anything you can contribute!

Karen, Abi and Alison.