©InfoRoxanna is a single mother of Roma origin. When she moved to England a few months ago, she hoped for a better life for her three children.
“My older daughter was a very good student, but it was all for nothing. In Romania you can be a very good student but you still have no future there. That’s why I decided to come over here – because there are different possibilities for my children. I don’t care about me, but my children, yes.”
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.
A faltering start
On arrival in Birmingham, Roxanna found it hard to get by with only a few words of English. She says: “It was difficult in the beginning. Before I met the Red Cross Circles project I couldn’t do anything by myself. Basically, the Red Cross case workers helped me with everything. They made the phone calls for school places, for education, for the GP. They helped me with the housing contract, with gas and electricity.”
To make matters worse, her twins have medical problems. She says: “They apparently have a problem with the brain and need specific medication, which is very hard to find in Romania.” With the help of the Red Cross, the twins are now getting the medical help they need.
Looking towards the future, Roxanna has modest hopes for herself. She says: “I’m hoping to find a job, but I am aware that I have to start from very low – maybe a cleaner job or selling the Big Issue, but basically anything.”
Aiming high
When it comes to Roxanna’s ambitions for her children, it’s a different matter. She anticipates careers in dancing and handball for her daughters and says: “I’m hoping for my son to become a football player. A sporty family – I’ll have to go to gym!”
For now, Roxanna is simply pleased that her children can attend school. She says: “They are very happy because they are going to school in September. I’m hoping when they learn English that they’re going to teach me as well.”
While things are looking up, the family still has a long way to go. Roxanna says: “I am very grateful because the Red Cross helped me with basically everything. I really hope not to have problems, but when I need help I’ll be on the phone.” The Red Cross will continue supporting Roxanna until she gets back on an even keel.
Become a health and social care volunteer
Read the stories of Nadia and Luminita, who were also helped by the Circles project