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CASE 1 - Housing and Welfare

Ms. O was referred to the project from Social Services. She is a Somali woman aged 32 who does not speak English. She came to the UK as an Asylum Seeker with her two children aged five and three. Her third child was born in the UK.

She lives in a self contained flat and is waiting for re-housing from the housing department. She has been refused child benefit for the two older children as she has no birth certificates or legal documents providing that the children are her own.

She was also unclear about her immigration status, was isolated from the Somali community, and was suffering from some health problems.

CASE 2 - Legal Advice

Mr. F contacted our offices in a very distressed state. One of his children had recently been admitted to hospital where he had latter died. Due to conflicting reports from two coroners, Mr. F's second child was removed by social services.

Mr. F was angry, confused and upset; he contacted our offices for advice and support. BWHAFS was able to intervene with the social services on Mr. F's behalf in relation to the foster placement of his child. The foster family did not speak the same language as the child and there was some confusion regarding access visits. Mr. F visited our offices regularly where he received advice on his legal and parental rights. He also received support, counselling during this very difficult time in his life.

CASE 3 - Female Genital Mutilation

A social worker from social services department telephoned BWHAFS regarding a case involving Female Genital Mutilation. The social worker had received a referral from a teacher who has concerned about two young girls in her school. The social worker had little knowledge about this subject or the many issues surrounding the practice. She was also unsure of the next step of action she should take.

BWHAFS was able to provide her with information on the subject and to advise her on her statutory obligation and duties. We were also able to inform her of our role as a voluntary organization working to eradicate FGM with the direct involvement of the communities who practice it. The social worker was thus unable to persuade the family to visit our centre for counselling, advice, support and information regarding the practice. It is hoped that this will dissuade the family from having their daughters circumcised.

CASE 4 - Counselling

Ms. F contacted our offices requesting counselling. She had heard about the organization through word of mouth. Counselling had left her feeling alienated from the mainly white statutory sector. She was keen to be counselled by a black woman working in a black organization.

Ms. F suffers from acute anxiety attacks, coupled with that she terms as 'mild agoraphobia'. At times when her anxiety is particularly acute she is unable to leave the house for weeks resulting in serious implications for the care of her daughter. She also described being trapped in obsessive rituals e.g watching the same film over and over again.

Ms F has been coming to BWHAFS for counselling on a regular basis where she has been able to explore these issues, worries and concerns in depth. She has been able to attend regularly and feels she is beginning to be able to cope with her agoraphobia more effectively and we are helping her to work through some of the issues in her life.

CASE 5 - Female Genital Mutilation

Mrs A along with her family left her country of origin because of war. They were referred to BWHAFS by social services, because they were considering having their young daughter circumcised. Both parents saw this as a valuable religious experience that they did not want their daughter to miss out on.

BWHAFS was able to successfully intervene in challenging the parent's point of view by educating and empowering them. In this work we liaised with Social Service who held a "Child Protection" Conference about the situation and placed the child on the Child Protection Register. A positive point about this case was the family's willingness to talk openly about FGM with us and eventually with others.

CASE 6 - Hospital Complaint

Mrs. B was diagnosed as having cancer when in fact she suffered from piles. She was X-rayed at an East London Hospital, Where she was admitted and operated upon wrongly. In the course of the operation her appendix was removed unnecessarily, and it was not until two weeks after that she was told she had not had cancer.

Mrs. B and her husband contacted BWHAFS desperately seeking legal advice to redress the situation. We were able to support the community Health Council in insisting on an apology from the hospital.

CASE 7 - Housing

Mrs. C is a 38 year old mother of 4 children who separated from her husband due to domestic violence. She is currently living in a two bedroom council accommodation on the third floor with no accessible lifts. She has difficulty walking up or down the stairs due to fibroids on both sides if her uterus. She also has a 3 year old child who refuses to walk on the stairs due to their unhygienic condition. She therefore has to carry her up and down the stairs.

Mrs. C sent several letters to the council regarding her health and bad accommodation conditions. After no reply from the council she sent an appeal but did not hear from them. She was depressed and contacted BWHAFS for counselling and practical help. We are continuing our work with Mrs. C.

CASE 8 - Child Protection

Miss. D is a mother of 2 daughters, aged thirteen and eleven years old. The children have an uncle who visits them against their mothers wish. One of the daughters has been sexually abused by the uncle. Despite a court order against him, he continued to see them at school.

The school authorities were given orders to ban him from the school grounds, so he waits for them outside the school's gate. The daughter run away from her mother's place and stayed at her uncle's. On her return, she alleged sexual misconduct by her uncle. Miss D reported the incidence to social services and the police, but neither authority gave enough help or support. Miss D and her daughter are being counselled by BWHAFS

CASE 9 - Hospital Complaint

Mrs. E contacted BWHAFS for counselling in some distress. She had given birth at a local hospital and was discharged without problems. After nine days Mrs. E began to bleed heavily and was returned to hospital in an ambulance.

She arrived at 11am when she was seen by a doctor, given a drip, and then left in a cubicle where she continued to bleed. She was not seen again by hospital staff until 9pm that evening. By this time she was weak and disoriented. When staff realised how weak she was, she was given several blood transfusions and rushed to the operation theatre where a hysterectomy was performed (removal of the uterus).

Mrs E was not consulted or informed about the operation and was not asked to sign a consent form. The staff did not use an interpreter to translate information about her condition, nor did they make use of her accompanying relative who could have translated for her.

Hysterectomy has severe implications for Somali woman in relation to cultural and religious beliefs, the loss of a woman's uterus is traditionally seen as the end of her useful life. The staff gave no thoughts to these issues. BWHAFS sent letters to the Community Health Council and then made a written complaint to the hospital on behalf of Mrs.E. A meeting was then held, an apology and explanation of Mrs. E's condition was given by the hospital.

CASE 10 - Referral

Ms. B is a 22 year old girl who fled her country during the civil war. On escape she was wounded. She later received a blood transfusion in the neighbouring country. At the refugee camp she was raped.

On arrival in the UK, she became sick and was taken to hospital. She was not given any pre-or-post-test counselling nor was she informed of any appropriate services available. She did not understand the Implications of the virus. Subsequently she went into hiding fearing that she would be deported if the if the Home Office discovered her status. She became aware of BWHAFS through word of mouth and got in contact with us. The project referred to Ms. B the relevant organisation and she is now re-housed and is receiving counselling and medication.

CASE 11 - Health

Mr J is 25 year old man who worked as a haulage driver throughout Eat Africa after fleeing his country because of his political activities. After arriving in the UK as a refugee, he became suddenly sick and was taken to hospital for emergency treatment.

He was found to be HIV positive, and the hospital told him without pre-or-post counselling. He did not believe what he was told because he thought it was a racist assumption.

We were contacted by another agency who asked for the projects assistance. When the implications of the virus was explained to Mr. J he stated that he was confused as he had not been informed about anything. Eventually Mr J was counselled and rehoused with his unaffected family members and is receiving medication.

CASE 12 - Health

BWHAFS received a call from a hospice in Bethnal Green. A nurse asked if one of the Somali workers could come to the Hospice to visit a Somali patient.

An outreach worker visited the Hospice and was directed to the patient, Mrs A who was suffering from muscular dystrophy. The outreach worker writes 'as I approached her, she noticed me coming and began to cry and I cried with her. I didn't know why she cried, but I think she was longing to see a familiar face, was frightened of the fact that only very sick people with no hope of recovery are put in Hospices.

After this ordeal I managed to calm her down and gave her a tissue to wipe her face and told her to have faith. We talked about the Harshin refugee camp in Ethiopia where Mrs A and family fled after their town in Somaliland was bombarded by the military regime.

After an emotional farewell, I promised to bring praying beads for her. My second visit didn't disturb Mrs A as the previous one because she was expecting me this time. She asked me to sit on the side of her bed and we talked about her feelings and her family had visited her lately. I stayed with her for nearly an hour and gave some praying beads.

CASE 13 - Health and Well being

Mrs D is a Afro-Caribbean woman who referred herself to the project, for practical support. She wrote on behalf of their father, who is an older person with physical disablilities, receiving a sporadic chiropody service.

Despite his daughter writing several letters to the health authority, his appointments were being cancelled and BWHAFS was able to help by liasing with the health service.

CASE 14 - Education

Mr H is a Somali man who referred himself to the project. He is applying for naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6 (1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 and has been refused naturalisation, as he did not satisfy the Secretary of state that he has sufficient knowledge of the English language.

BWHAFS has been conducting adult literacy classes with Mr H, and advocating for his naturalisation as he has family in the UK.

CASE 15 - Housing

Ms A is a Somali woman aged 50.She is currently living in Bed & Breakfast accommodation. She has been offered a permanent residence from the Housing Department and wanted assistance in viewing the property.

An appeal was made against the residence on offer as Ms A cares for a nephew, with mental health problems, and the property is not in the locality of her friends whom support her in caring for him. Ms. A also has no possessions and furniture and the house was unfurnished property.