Our Stand With Refugee Families appeal aims to raise £15,000 to help support refugee children and their families facing financial hardship this winter. Here, one of our former Language & Learning Employability students describes how Action Foundation was a lifeline during a time of crisis for her and her family.

Two years ago, Bure left her home in Nigeria with the dream of building a better life for her family in the UK. As a nursing assistant and mum of five, she was thrilled to secure a job with a care provider. It meant stability, dignity and the chance to support her children, alongside her husband.

But everything changed when a letter from the Home Office arrived. Her employer’s sponsorship licence had been revoked.

She wasn’t alone. Between 2023 and 2024, 470 UK care agencies lost their licences, leaving more than 39,000 migrant care workers without legal permission to work. For Bure, it was devastating.

 “I was stranded,” she recalls. “I came on a working visa and thought everything would be OK. But this news left me emotionally, physically, and mentally done.”

Impossible situation

With three daughters aged eight, 13 and 16 ; a son of 18 and a grown up 26-year-old daughter who came to the UK on her own working visa, Bure faced an impossible situation. No income. No access to public funds. She relied on food banks, charities and her local church to survive.

“Life Transformation Church in Newcastle gave out food weekly. Through a friend, I found Scotswood Garden, where I volunteered and could take food twice a week. But my credit card debt kept growing.”

Employability student, Bure

Lifeline

Then came a lifeline. Through the Home Office’s Displaced Worker Scheme, Bure was referred to Action Foundation’s Language & Learning Service. Here, she joined employability training designed for stranded migrant care workers. She learned how to write a strong CV, search for jobs and prepare for interviews.

Earlier this year, her hard work paid off. Bure secured a new role as an Enabler, working with people with learning disabilities.

 “Getting a job is really transforming. You have bills to pay, children to support. Now I can provide for my family. I was in a hopeless situation. Sometimes you don’t know who to talk to and the feedback you get is discouraging. But Action Foundation is a voice to the voiceless and gives hope to the hopeless. It gives back your confidence.”

This Christmas Bure is planning something joyful – a trip to see her eldest daughter get married back in Nigeria in March. After months of uncertainty, she can finally look forward to the future with hope.

Will you Stand With Refugee Families this winter?

Make a donation to our Crowdfunder today and your donation (if it is £250 or under) will be doubled by the Aviva Community Fund. Just £10 could pay for a weekly travel ticket to help someone else like Bure get to their Employability class. Click here to go to our Crowdfunder page.