GDWG is a small charity that makes a huge difference to people held in detention at Gatwick. Whether a person has recently arrived in the UK or has been here for many years, the experience of detention is traumatic and can have a terrible impact on the mental health of those detained.The BBC1 drama, 'Sitting in Limbo'  gave an excellent insight into the cruelty and trauma of detention. You can still catch it on iPlayer if you've not watched it:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p08g29ff/sitting-in-limbo

For 25 years GDWG visitors have been offering friendship to strangers, bearing witness to the realities of detention and making weekly visits to people who would otherwise be isolated. The stories of people who have been detained are shared in three volumes of 'Refugee Tales' published by Comma Press https://www.refugeetales.org/books and every year on a long walk the stories are shared in evening events. This year the events will be online and walking will be socially distanced.

I signed up earlier this year to take part in Refugee Tales 2020 walk as part of my birthday plans. I loved the idea of combining  activism, walking and storing telling and supporting the great work of GDWG. But sadly due to Covid19  the five day walk was postponed.  So instead, as its the 25th birthday of GDWG,  I've taken up their 25 challenge and plan to walk  25 miles on Hampstead Heath in the days leading up to my 60th Birthday on July 6th.   There will also be Refugee Tales online events running from 3-5^th July which will include music, discussions, readings and new tales.   So please do take a look. You can register to attend events for free at this link: 

https://www.refugeetales.org/thewalkof2020 

This is a difficult time financially for small charities and GDWG is facing greater need from those it seeks to support with people released from detention facing destitution and homelessness. So please show your support for those whose plight is frequently invisible and give generously to GDWG and Refugee Tales. 

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