Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I'm raising money for Solace Surviving Exile and Persecution, a small charity that provides free counselling to the survivors of persecution and exile with mental health problems. Many of the people Solace helps have been traumatised by torture, rape, the death or disappearance of loved ones and often combinations of these and other atrocities.

So why Solace? Quite simply because my parents were refugees who experienced some of the traumatic experiences listed above. Whilst they were both fortunate to have had the support of the United Nations to get placed on the European Voluntary Workers Scheme, they were nevertheless deeply affected by their experiences, even though very little was spoken about them. They lost their national identity and became subject to the Aliens Act (did you ever see the TV sitcom, “My Parents are Aliens” that ran from 1999 to 2006? well that was me!). They had to start from scratch, living in lodging houses, making furniture out of orange boxes, sharing food so it went further. My mother never saw any of her family again and she was just 17 years old. If I think about my own 2 eldest daughters who are 18 and 20 in the same position it truly breaks my heart.

Unless there is a way to deal with them, such experiences can have very serious repercussions on a refugee’s mental as well as physical health. My own father became an alcoholic when I was just 8 years old, which I believe was directly linked to his earlier experiences. Who knows how much better my own family life would have been if an organisation like Solace had been available to my dad?

So now you know, and I hope it makes sense why I'm supporting Solace.

When my parents arrived in this country they were literally penniless, as are most people who end up as refugees or asylum seekers. For them, every penny counted, so that's what I'm asking you to do, count, and donate, your pennies, and 2pennies.

I've made a start in a jar and have managed £7 in a very short time. I don't miss the pennies or two pennies and it really does soon add up.

Come on - get the penny jar out and let's see what we can raise between now and 1st January 2011.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.