I'm Sylvester
My name is Sylvester, but many people still know me as Albert Thompson, the name that I used for most interviews during the Windrush scandal.
Thinking back about 2018, it was such an incredible year, especially compared to what had happened to me in the years before: because of the Windrush scandal I had been made homeless, and at the end of 2017 I was denied cancer treatment.
When I got to Praxis, first they started sorting out my documents and eventually supported me to share my story with the media to see if that would help to get my treatment, as the legal process was slow. My primary concern was getting my treatment.
From that moment on my life became a real rollercoaster. My story became public and so many newspapers and TV channels wanted to speak with me, no one could believe that what had happened to me was possible.
It worked in the end. Two months after my first interview with The Guardian I went with Praxis to the Home Office to get my No Time Limit card – with that I was sure I could get my treatment.
The day I started my treatment David Lammy invited me to speak at the Houses of Parliament, I couldn’t believe it, my heart was pumping so fast! I was very excited to be able to tell the MPs in Parliament that what happened to me wasn’t fair, all the world should know it, and it didn’t happen just to me, so many other people were in my situation.
I have heard that since the publicity around my case, thousands of people have sorted their papers too, I am very happy to know that so many people got help also because of something that I did.
Throughout all that time Praxis was always there with me. I don’t know where I’d be without them, probably deported back to Jamaica, or worse. I don’t want to think about it. Always look on the bright side.
Thousands of people are struggling to have something to eat for themselves and their families and to be safe. More and more people come to Praxis needing support - together, we can help more migrants at risk to escape destitution.