"I have never welcomed the weakening of family ties by politics or pressure" - Nelson Mandela.
"He who travels for love finds a thousand miles no longer than one" - Japanese proverb.
"Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence." - Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
"When people's love is divided by law, it is the law that needs to change". -
David Cameron.

Thursday 5 December 2013

Sarah & Joe

“I can’t work full-time in enforced single-parenthood with four children to look after. I need my husband.”

Sarah is a British citizen. She is married to Joe, from USA. Together they have four children, all British. Cameron is 14, Sarah Grace 12, Samuel 10 and Daniel 8.

Sarah has skills acquired from Central St Martin’s College of Art & Design, London. She is enrolled in the NWES program and is pursuing a career as a jeweller, illustrator and artist. However she is also battling the Home Office for the right to have her husband and father of their four children, with her.

She is receiving the jobseekers' allowance, applies for twelve part-time jobs every two weeks though it’s not particularly realistic given she does not have a car and has four children to look after. Sarah is adamant that with Joe by her side, she would not need to be on benefits.

Sarah is being denied the right to live with her husband. Her four children are being denied the right to live with their father. Sarah worries – what if something happens to her? What happens to her children? Would they be handed over to social services? Would they be split up?

It’s a terrifying thought even while she tries to make ends meet on benefits while juggling being a single parent to four children. All of whom are missing out on having their father with them.

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