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Joyce means business

Migration is a necessity not a luxury, says Joyce Ong, a Singaporean-born businesswoman who has lived and worked in London for 13 years. “For a city like London to thrive,” she explains, “you need sensible migration policies to bring the best and brightest to the country - but at the same time recognising that UK has a long record in helping migrants and refugees from certain parts of the world to have better life in this country. “The reason UK does that is because it is a basic right for…

Migration is a necessity not a luxury, says Joyce Ong, a Singaporean-born businesswoman who has lived and worked in London for 13 years. “For a city like London to thrive,”…

Kelly's Home Office battle

Moving from West Africa to Britain at the age of nine was hard enough for Kelly, but 10 years later staying here proved an even bigger crisis, when she was told she might not be able to stay in the country she considered home. As a child arriving in the UK with her family Kelly was the youngest of the children and spoke very poor English. Her diplomat father was advised by a colleague to place the children in public schools, so they could adapt quicker to the new culture.…

Moving from West Africa to Britain at the age of nine was hard enough for Kelly, but 10 years later staying here proved an even bigger crisis, when she was…

Kiran and David’s story

Kiran was born in a southern Asian country where being gay is a criminal offence and condemns him to being labelled a paedophile and mentally ill. It’s a country where custom dictates the disowning of family members because of their sexuality and where newspapers carry stories of homes being set ablaze because someone has been ‘found out’ and they and their family become targets for abuse. By the time he applied for asylum in the UK he had been in a relationship with his British partner, David, for four years.…

Kiran was born in a southern Asian country where being gay is a criminal offence and condemns him to being labelled a paedophile and mentally ill. It’s a country where…

Vilma Corpuz's Story

When I was young, I used to look at the sky and say “What is the feeling of going up there?” I really didn't expect I'm going to go to another country. Being the only daughter – the youngest – I never dreamed of going away from my parents. My mum she was a midwife. When I was in primary school my Dad decided to go to Saudi Arabia because the expenses were getting harder and harder. Back home you have to pay everything: if you don't have money you…

When I was young, I used to look at the sky and say “What is the feeling of going up there?” I really didn't expect I'm going to go to…

Ozlem Green's Story

I am from Turkey and grew up in Ankara, the capital city. I came to the UK to learn English in 1996 and met my husband in 1998 and stayed. I now live in Birmingham where I teach dance, English and Turkish. My love for dance came at a young age. I practiced dance from Primary School, throughout High School and University. While I lived in Turkey I performed in many cities across the country. I got my dancing qualification in 1996 and when I moved to the UK I…

I am from Turkey and grew up in Ankara, the capital city. I came to the UK to learn English in 1996 and met my husband in 1998 and stayed.…

Hiba Babiker's Story

I am originally from Sudan and I have a degree in economics and social studies from there but I left in 1999 to join my husband who was living in The Netherlands. I had a baby there. In 2003 I came to England for the first time to learn English and I continued to do a Degree in Human Resource Management at Coventry University. After achieving my Bachelors’ Degree I went on to do a Masters’ Degree in International Human Resources Management. The time at University was challenging because the…

I am originally from Sudan and I have a degree in economics and social studies from there but I left in 1999 to join my husband who was living in…

Nuria Tissera's story

I am 26 years old and was born in Madrid in Spain from Argentinian parents, but now live in Birmingham city centre. I came to the UK in 2014 because I wanted to learn English and try to become a more independent person. The economic situation in Spain is very poor even for someone who has a Degree in Economics. I came to Birmingham to work as an Au Pair. After three weeks I left the family I was working for due to bad working conditions. Luckily, I found…

I am 26 years old and was born in Madrid in Spain from Argentinian parents, but now live in Birmingham city centre. I came to the UK in 2014 because…

Gertrudes C. Samson's Story

I am 46 years old and from the Philippines but now live in Birmingham. I came to the UK as a missionary through the missionary society. They gave me orientation and input and immersion into various places where I could meet the people we would join and help – the asylum seekers and refugees. This place was totally new to me so without the help of other people who showed us around and gave us orientation on how to integrate of course it wouldn't have been easy, but we received…

I am 46 years old and from the Philippines but now live in Birmingham. I came to the UK as a missionary through the missionary society. They gave me orientation…

Nawazish Pervaiz's Story

I am an asylum seeker from Pakistan. Before I retired, I was a Civil Servant working in local government and rural affairs based in Lahore. I came to the UK in 2011 after having my life threatened. Unfortunately, law enforcement and the judicial system in my country offered me no protection. Therefore, I have looked for safety and sanctuary in Great Britain. I appreciate the help my wife and I have received whilst living as asylum seekers. We live very frugally. We have no cash – we survive by using…

I am an asylum seeker from Pakistan. Before I retired, I was a Civil Servant working in local government and rural affairs based in Lahore. I came to the UK…

Magdalena Kot's Story

All the changes - political, social, cultural - started to happen after 1989. I went from black and white film into colour. So many opportunities started to open. Before 1989, we had very little knowledge about what's going on outside the Russian bloc. When the Berlin wall broke down I was 15. Before, I didn't feel that we were lacking anything; it was a very nice simple comfortable life. We were not thinking about going to the UK, not thinking in terms of “it's not allowed” - it was just…

All the changes - political, social, cultural - started to happen after 1989. I went from black and white film into colour. So many opportunities started to open. Before 1989,…