WAST Manchester is one of three WAST organizations in the UK. Its primary goal is to provide a supportive and empowering environment for women asylum seekers. Participants now come from over thirty countries, including Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sudan. While the British government has provided asylum since 1999, it has not been sympathetic to women claiming asylum for gender-based persecution. Many barriers make it difficult for women asylum seekers to navigate legal and social systems. In addition to language barriers, poverty, and limited access to social and mental health services, women asylum seekers experience isolation and depression. WAST provides a physical space, travel expense reimbursements, warm meals, and weekly support group meetings.

In the first year of Martín-Baró Fund support, WAST expanded the number of women attending the weekly support group meetings up to 55-60 per week. There were increases in individualized support through one-on-one counseling, phone advocacy, formal counseling, internet access and assistance in dealing with solicitors for small groups of 8-10 women. In addition, WAST set up separate anti-deportation group meetings to help women interested in running anti-deportation campaigns of their own or learning from others. About 15 women regularly participate in these sessions.

With a second grant from the Martín-Baró Fund, WAST plans to introduce monthly access to legal advisers and make private space available on members days so that women asylum seekers are assured confidentiality and privacy as needed. These additions will enhance the support structure that WAST makes available to Manchester’s women asylum seekers.