I'm Michelle
“My name is Michelle and I work for the NHS.
When I get worried, or when my son asks me not to go to work because he’s scared that I will die, I remember: if I don’t do my job, we won’t beat the virus.”
Michelle is a single mother of two young children who puts her life at risk everyday for the NHS.
Every day she undertakes a three hour round trip to clean and prepare Covid-19 hospital rooms , feed patients and make sure that doctors and nurses can do their work in a safe environment.
“It is very scary, every day I see more people dying, and I have two children that I take care of by myself – if something happens to me, what will become of them?”
Frontline workers like Michelle keep the country going, but they face an impossible task when they are required to renew their visa during lockdown, without access the free legal advice or documents needed to comply.
The Home Office has offered doctors and nurses in the NHS a free visa extension, but Michelle and many other frontline workers in the most under-valued positions have been overlooked. Without access to legal support, she would have to navigate the complicated immigration system alone. At a time when everyone is worried about their income, Michelle was facing a bill of £2000 to renew her visa - £1000 of which is an NHS surcharge.
Those who can not afford to pay £2000 or are unable complete the necessary legal paperwork, are at risk of being left undocumented. They could lose their jobs, and be excluded from healthcare and government financial support. This could leave Michelle and her children destitute and homeless.
“We are not treated well. Not everyone can be a doctor or a nurse, but we all work together as a team.
If we are not there, the doctors and nurses can’t do their work and save lives”
At Praxis we are supporting Michelle to navigate the immigration system, and renew her leave to remain so she can live safely.
Our expert caseworkers are working tirelessly to support people like Michelle to live safely through this crisis. All our services have been adapted to be delivered remotely and we continue to work at full capacity to ensure that all migrants and refugees have access to the support, advice, guidance and basic essentials they need during lockdown. We are providing housing, specialist advice, emergency grants and food parcels and therapeutic support, while using the evidence we see on the frontline to campaign for the rights of migrants and refugees.
Will you donate today to help us to continue to offer support to people like Michelle?
Your generosity will ensure that we can continue to be there for those who really need our help.