Elijah’s Story

In the life of the Cotton Tree, many members have been granted leave to remain. Each is an occasion for joy. Last year we celebrated 11 successes. 

Elijah enjoyed the Xmas party, but he had something on his mind. He was waiting for a response from the Home Office, which was long overdue; he had been promised an answer several weeks earlier. The Home Office is not known for its accurate timekeeping.

We were hopeful for Elijah, but anxious. Even if the response was going to be positive, how long would it take? Would he have another uncertain Xmas?

On Christmas Eve 2022 Elijah announced that he had been granted leave to remain. He had been waiting for twenty years. What a Xmas present! 

Long waits aren’t unusual, but most members don’t wait this long. Elijah, a draughtsman and construction worker, left his home country not because of war or religious or sexual persecution, but because of threats to his life from vindictive family members. The threats were real, and he sought sanctuary in the UK. Luckily, he came to the Cotton Tree in 2017 and we have supported him for over 5 years.

Elijah is a kind, honest person, well-liked by everyone in the Cotton Tree. His new life as a settled person in this country is long overdue. We wish him every good fortune and hope he will remain part of our growing family.