A light in the Darkness

Even with 90 years of experience, seeing the range of people who are accessing the service is giving us a new perspective on what it is we do, and who these homeless people we serve, are.

One such gentleman came to Leeds fleeing torture and persecution in Sudan. He was working in security, had to have an operation on his knee, lost his job, and found himself with us.

With the stability we have been able to provide, he has now got a new job and plans to move on into his own home.

‘I am from a small village in North Darfur, Sudan. I have four brothers and four sisters. My father passed away in 2005 and my mother was left to care for us on her own. She did everything she could to keep us in education and provided food and accommodation for us.

Unfortunately, I had to flee the country in 2013 because my life was in danger. I had been working with one
family member, bringing supplies from the capital city to our village but the government officials accused us of supplying food and medication to insurgents.

We were incarcerated for close to three months and severely tortured, leaving me with a very damaged knee.

We were released on condition that we were to report to the station every week and provide intelligence on the insurgents, information that we did not have.

So, every week they would torture us and order us to come back with information at the next sign in and they threatened to hurt our families as well if we didn’t have any information. The weekly tortures got worse and, in the end, I had to flee.’

He had to endure a harrowing journey fleeing from violence. When he arrived in Leeds, he applied and was granted asylum.

‘I went through the asylum system and managed to get a job but my health was not good due to the torture.

I had to have two major surgeries on my knee and lost my job, couldn’t pay rent, and ended up homeless.

I got support from refugee organisations; they got me registered for English classes and when my English improved, they supported me to get my security badges.

I was referred to Don Robins House as I was homeless. I now work as a security guard and have
managed to reunite with my wife. We now have a beautiful daughter and really appreciate all the support St George’s Crypt is giving us here.

My plan is to get my own house and raise my family and hopefully I can travel to see my family back in Sudan; it has been over nine years since I last saw them.’

St George’s Crypt has always met the need of vulnerable and marginalised homeless people as they have come to our doors.

We try to be a light in the darkness for anyone who is in need. Like the Good Samaritan, we will not leave the battered and bruised lying by the side of the road. It’s great to see people succeed, flourish and thrive.