the nia project>legal and advice>testimonies
Legal and Advice Testimonies
In their own words.
I came to UK 6 yrs ago to visit my boyfriend then, when he finished the relationship I was upset and didn't know what to do or where to go and ended up homeless, sleeping around various friend's sofas. After having my child my situation got worse and his father took my child accusing me of not being a good mother and not able to provide anything for my child. My child and I were separated for 8 months. I eventually found my child by knocking on every door I could to find his father. I couldn't get any help from the authorities because of my immigration status. After a while my son's father took my son from me
again and left him with his girlfriend. I was devastated, but was powerless to do anything about it. I was staying at my friend's house at the time, but her boyfriend started abusing me. I was so scared and alone and I missed my son terrible. I couldn't leave because I had nowhere to go, so I stayed there and lived in fear of not knowing what he would do to me next, constantly crying. I told another friend what was happening and she called the nia project. I was immediately given a room
... After a couple of weeks I felt strong enough to talk about my experiences, the things I'd lived through and about my child being taken away from me. Through the
nia project I found out that there was a lot I could about getting my son back. The in-house solicitor acted immediately and 3 days later my child and I were sleeping in the same room. Since than I feel much better and catching up with my child, enjoying each others company. I still need to overcome the abuse I suffered and my immigration problem, but the nia project's helping me deal with everything. Without the nia project's support, I would still be living without my son and being abused because I wouldn't have known my rights, or been able to achieve what I've achieved so far.