©InfoLumitia’s husband abandoned her and their six children in a strange, new country where she could not speak the language. By the time she contacted the Red Cross, her situation was desperate.
Alongside our work with refugees and asylum seekers, in some areas the Red Cross offers support services to other vulnerable migrants who, for a variety of reasons, have found themselves in difficulty while in the UK.
Luminita is from the Roma community. She and her children left Romania to join her husband, who was already living in England. She explains: “I came in England more than three and a half years ago for a better life – for my children to have a better education and be able to go to school.”
Things did not go to plan, however. She says: “My husband left me and got married with another woman.” With six children to look after, no money and no means of supporting herself, she did not know what to do.
Crisis point
Luminita had no identity documents, no access to benefits – all of which were in her husband’s name – and didn’t know how to get her children into school. She cannot speak English and is also partially deaf, making it even more difficult for her to communicate.
She says: “It was very difficult in the beginning because I didn’t speak the language and I didn’t go to school in Romania.” Many Roma people who move to the UK are exploited for money when they look for help. Luminita was one of the lucky ones; a woman from her church put her in touch with the Red Cross Circles project.
She says: “Fortunately there wasn’t anyone who said: ‘Ok, I will fill in this form but you will have to pay for it.’ The Red Cross helped me a lot. They are very trustworthy and I had no problem whatsoever with trusting them.”
Getting back on track
Although her situation has improved, life is still not easy for Luminita. A Red Cross case worker helped her register with schools and a doctor, but ongoing problems with benefits meant she was left without money for weeks.
Despite the difficulties she faces, Luminita glows with optimism. She says: “I just hope for my children to have a better future and I will do whatever possible to achieve that. I am very happy here. I am grateful for the Red Cross’ support. I love my family and really want the best for them.”
With her children progressing well, their future is already looking a little brighter. Luminita says: “Everybody from the school tells me that they are very good. They speak very well, they write very well and they are very happy.”
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Read the stories of Nadia and Roxanna, who were also helped by the Circles' project