A lifeline refugee charity is going from strength to strength and now helps 50 people a week in Huddersfield.

Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield was formed at the Ark Church in Lockwood four years ago.

Lucy Lucy, a tutor, founded the charity with others to help those fleeing violence and fear in other countries try start new lives. So far the group has helped dozens of people gain leave to remain and be counted as a refugee.

Since then the charity has provided more than 2,000 nights of accommodation to those in need, has fought to have the accommodation and housing benefits of some clients restored and also teaches English to asylum seekers and refugees which the charity also now supports.

The group initially helped by hosting asylum seekers who were no longer eligible to stay in the council-run accommodation provided to them when they are first moved here by the Home Office due to the failure of their first asylum claim.

One of the long-standing trustees, Ethiopian asylum seeker Abiey Legesse, explained how the charity had developed.

“When we first started we only had a few clients but since then it’s grown a lot,” he said “We have helped dozens of people get leave to remain and helped many more escape being forced onto the streets.

“We now help up to 50 people a week with legal support to help with their claim and take them to appointments.

“But we also help people find accommodation, get essential items for their families such as food which they can’t afford on the limited funds they get from the government and provide a strong, emotionally supportive community for them at a very difficult time.

“There are quite a lot of destitute asylum seekers in Huddersfield so our presence has been significant”.

Lucy is fighting to stop people becoming destitute.

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She said: “People fleeing violence should be able to have a place of safety where they can start new lives. We are all humans at the end of the day wanting the same thing.”

DASH is looking for donations of real or fake Christmas trees.

Anyone who would like to make a donation should call DASH on 01484 937999.