Asylum and Refugee Care have been supporting a group of approximately 100 male asylum seekers living in the Brentwood Hotel. These gentlemen have no recourse to public funds and they receive only £8 per week through their ASPEN card. Many of them arrived in 2021 and they are still residing in the hotel accommodation. The target of any funding has been for physical support, for example clothing needs, access to gym and English support. During a recent hotel committee meeting some of the gentlemen shared that they had not spoken to their families since they left the country. Being able to stay in contact with families and friends from home is vital for their recovery as they begin forming new lives in Scotland. By providing phone calling cards, the significant impact on their mental health cannot be underestimated. They will be able to retain those vital relationships from their home countries through speaking to their parents, spouses and children.
