The UK indefinitely detains people seeking asylum, the only European country that does so. Women asylum seekers who are detained end up in the Yarl's Wood detention centre, including pregnant women. They are not told how long they will be kept there and some are there for as long as a year. They can be detained at any point whilst they are seeking asylum and are often released back into the community without a decision on their application. The process is unnecessary and cruel.

The centre made the news earlier this year when the women went on hunger strike: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/23/yarls-wood-women-feel-desperate-says-diane-abbott

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2018/03/message-women-yarl-s-wood-international-women-s-day

Rad Womxn is a small collective who organise events to fund-raise for different women's issues in the UK. Last year we made over £500 to support women who were travelling to Liverpool from Ireland for abortions. This year we're fund-raising for the women detained inside Yarl's Wood. We've been told that a useful donation to the women is mindful colouring and puzzle books to keep them occupied during the long incarceration.

We've got a team of womxn making some lovely pencil cases. My task is to collect some funds to fill those pencil cases and buy some colouring and puzzle books. I've found that The Works have puzzle books for around £1.50 and colouring books for £3. Let me know if you know of any cheaper! I'll also be giving the charity shops a visit.

That means a donation of £10 would provide 2 women with a colouring and puzzle book each and some pencils.

We're hoping to get this all together before the Yarl's Wood Christmas Party so need donations by the 1st December.

Your donation will on the one hand, provide the women with an activity but more than that it sends the women a message - that there are people in the this country who are thinking of them and care about them.

If you want to read more about the UK's asylum seeking process, or the women of Yarl's Wood I recommend the following organisations:

A good overview from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/11/britains-immigration-detention-how-many-people-are-locked-up

We are still here - a report by Women for Refugee Women https://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/2016/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/We-are-still-here-report-WEB.pdf

A campaign to end indefinite detention by l.iberty: https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/campaigning/oppose-indefinite-detention

Key facts about women asylum seekers and immigration detention: https://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/2016/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/WRW-FAQ.pdf