Highlighting women asylum seekers

Friday week, my friend Hannah and a colleague from WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together, a brilliant group in Manchester) will be cycling from Dallas Court, the scene of so many abuses of asylum seekers’ rights in the North-West of England, to the notorious Yarl’s Wood detention centre near Bedford. That’s the 130 miles that many detained asylum seekers are taken to be kept in custody. The ride aims to raise awareness of the injustices and abuses to which asylum seekers, especially women, are subjected in the UK, and also to raise money for the WAST Destitution Fund, which helps women who have no means of support. Hannah has this to say:

Next Friday 27th July, Vicky Marsh from WAST and I will set off on a 130 mile cycle ride following the route travelled by many members of Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) in a Home Office van – from Dallas Court Reporting Centre in Salford to Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) near Bedford.
Please sponsor us if you can – no amount is too small, seriously!!! Or to come and see us off from Dallas Court at 5pm – we are expecting a small crowd and a bit of press coverage.
We aim to raise at least £2000 for the WAST Destitution Fund and to achieve media coverage of a side of the immigration system of which few people are aware.
There is a PayPal link at www.wast.org.uk or you can send a cheque made out for WAST to: WAST, Ada House, 77 Thompson St, Manchester M4 5FY
We are really grateful to Sustrans, Pedal MCR and UNITE the Union (NW 389 branch) for the support they have given this venture already!

There is also a Facebook ‘event’ for the ride here.