Newsletter - Summer 2022
Welcome to the first Cotton Tree Newsletter! We had many changes during the year, with new staff, volunteers and members, plus a refurbished office. Sadly, our manager Janet Gilbert emigrated to Australia, despite our efforts to kidnap her. She continues to support our friends from down under, and we are very grateful. Our fantastic caseworker, Arnold Cristo-Leigh, took over as office manager, and we recruited two people to assist him with his heavy casework load.
Best of all, seven of our members were granted leave to remain, inspiring others with hope that they too will be able to rebuild their lives in the UK.
Summer Party
Our Summer party was a great success, with lovely homemade food as always and a brilliant (occasionally hilarious) magic show by trustee George, with volunteer Claire accompanying him on the flute. Everyone - kids and adults - loved it. It was a pleasure to meet in person again after many lockdowns.
Farewell to Janet
The party was tinged with sadness, however, as Janet was about to leave. With huge help from staff and Trustees, Janet enabled the Cotton Tree to support our members with wifi, food vouchers and other necessities through the dark days of the pandemic. She will be greatly missed, but we were delighted to hear that she plans to visit us in 2023.
Congratulations!!!
Last but certainly not least, we are so excited to tell you all that our longtime members Gabriel and Siska received their Refugee status! After 8 years of waiting, they were overjoyed with the news and here is the poem Gabriel wrote:
Like a bird my mind flying
Like a river my mind flowing
Everywhere I can travelling
The United Kingdom is the country of blessing
The freedom I am seeking
In the United Kingdom I am staying
The Judge allowed my Appeal on Asylum grounds after a day of the interview instead of 2 weeks.
To the God be the glory and the blessing
God is the source of the blessing.
