Aidha's story
Clients coming through our doors should be looking to their future, they should be empowered to focus on their healing journey. But how can they prioritise their wellbeing when they’re struggling to survive?
When Aidha first came to Freedom from Torture, she was in crisis. Already dealing with the complex emotional toll her experiences of torture and unimaginable violence she had once fled, she was now faced with impossible decisions.
We all know that sinking feeling when a payment is declined, or when your card is momentarily misplaced. Now imagine that card is your only source of income - and without it, the sacrifices are survival for you and your child.
Aidha had lost her ASPEN card - the only way people seeking sanctuary can buy the essentials they need. Replacing it would take up to two weeks. She didn’t have that time. Her daughter urgently needed specialist, allergy-friendly formula immediately to stay healthy and basic care items all little ones need, like medicine, dummies, a hat. With no access to money and no way to provide for her child, Aidha was overwhelmed with fear and distress.
When Aidha needed help most, our Emergency Relief Fund was there. Her Clinical Therapist was able to secure an urgent grant, giving Aidha the means to buy essential items. Her daughter could be fed, cared for, and simply be a happy, healthy child again.
But Aidha’s experience is far from unique.
All too often, our clinical teams see clients pushed deeper into distress by financial insecurity. Rising living costs and constant uncertainty are hitting the most vulnerable hardest. At the same time, specialist charities like ours are under the same, increasing financial pressures - some have been forced to close, leaving fewer places for survivors to turn when they need help most.
This is why our Emergency Relief Fund matters so much right now. It means survivors like Aidha can get urgent support when they need it. To keep this lifeline open for the next 12 months, we desperately need to raise £12,000 before May 31st – without it, we risk facing the unthinkable - having to turn survivors away when they come to us in crisis.
At Freedom from Torture, we believe every survivor deserves the chance to heal with dignity and hope. Financial hardship should never stand in the way of recovery. With your support, survivors like Aidha will never be left facing their hardest moments alone.