Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group is a small charity that makes a giant difference to people held in immigration detention at Gatwick Airport. People in immigration detention are held
indefinitely, and the uncertainty of how long they will be kept in a cell has a terrible impact on mental and physical health. For 25 years GDWG visitors have been offering friendship to detainees, bearing witness to the realities of detention, and making weekly visits to people who would otherwise be completely isolated. The stories of people who have been detained have been shared in three volumes of Refugee Tales published by Comma Press, and every summer during a five-day walk organized by the charity, the stories are shared in evening events, as participants take up the call to end the inhuman practice of indefinite detention.

I have joined this walk every year since its inception in 2015. But this year we cannot walk together, and I am deeply concerned for the remarkable people I have come to know over the past five years.

The work of the charity is needed now, during the pandemic, more than ever, with people released from detention to destitution and homelessness, and GDWG stepping in to offer
support. This is a tough time for small charities and non-profits, so please show your support for those whose plight is frequently invisible and give generously to GDWG and Refugee Tales. 

In celebration of the 25^th anniversary of GDWG, I will be writing a narrative, in 25 daily paragraphs, about one former detainee and the context and history behind his extraordinary journey. I will post a paragraph each day on Facebook, and here as an update, from June 8 to July 2, the day before this year's virtual Refugee Tales walk begins.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.