On Thursday 24 February, Russia invaded Ukraine. On Saturday 26 February, Valentyna arrived in Paris, having travelled thousands of miles in conditions we can only imagine, with the hope of joining her daughter in the UK. She was denied entry by the UK Border Force and told she would need to apply for a visa. 

Fortunately, Valentyna was offered free advice and assistance from an immigration lawyer. A visa application was prepared and submitted. Her case made the news and resulted in a question in Parliament to the Home Secretary. After significant legal and political pressure, she arrived in the UK on Tuesday 01 March.

Valentyna's story had a happy ending, but there are thousands of Ukrainians fleeing conflict that could fall foul of the Home Office's complex immigration rules. Some already are.

Many urgently need legal advice to secure their rights and begin rebuilding their lives. That advice can only be given in volume if there are lawyers funded to provide it.

What We Can Do With Your Support

Here for Good are crowdfunding to raise funds for a full time not-for-profit caseworker role to be based at the London office of Wilson Solicitors LLP. This person, who can begin work immediately, will be dedicated solely to supporting Ukrainian citizens and their family members to secure their immigration rights in the UK.

There is lots of goodwill within the legal community which is already going a long way to supporting those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, and we look forward to working with anyone who shares our commitment to supporting vulnerable migrants - including existing pro bono initiatives. 

However, from experience we know that traditional pro bono can only go so far, so we want to increase capacity in the sector through a full time role. Whilst legal aid may be available in some circumstances, law firms with legal aid contracts are stretched and already at full capacity.

How The Money Will Be Spent

We are starting our target low so that we can guarantee some funding for this role. 

If we reach £17,500, we will be able to fund a full-time caseworker for 3 months. These funds will cover the salary, overheads, and supervision costs of the post. Beyond this, with more funding, we will look to extend the time the caseworker dedicates to these cases (e.g. to 6 months) based on need. Any excess funds will be directly spent by Here for Good in providing free immigration advice to other in-need European nationals and their family members.

Why This Model Will Work

Here for Good is a trusted charity in the sector. Its successful model of partnering with law firms to deliver high quality legal advice that is free for its beneficiaries has seen the charity partner with the EU Delegation, Mayor of London, UN Migration Agency, and other NGOs. It's a tried and tested model that has ensured thousands of European migrants have successfully secured their rights in the UK, as well as the Home Office making significant policy concessions as a result of strategic litigation.

The model has also been tested with Wilson Solicitors and a small number of other organisations. A Here for Good caseworker was based at Wilson Solicitors for the entirety of 2021, and continues to conclude cases relating to European nationals and their families.

One beneficiary said: "I would thank Here For Good, Wilson Solicitors and my deepest gratitude to [my caseworker] for her outstanding work...Thank you for your help, you basically saved my life...if it wasn’t for your kindness, compassion and knowledge, surely I would be doomed. Remarkable charity organisation and superb solicitors chamber."

About Here for Good and Wilson Solicitors

Here for Good is a legal charity founded in 2018 to support in-need EEA nationals and their family members to secure their status in the UK. With a wide network of volunteer lawyers supporting its team of full-time caseworkers, it is well-placed to extend its beneficiaries to support Ukrainian nationals during the current crisis.

Wilson Solicitors is a leading immigration, public, and family law firm based in London. Chambers UK describes the firm's "dedication and expertise" as "exceptional". In 2021 it was awarded the Law Society Excellence award for Access to Justice in part for its collaboration with Here for Good to increase capacity in the sector. The firm has already been supporting Ukrainian nationals since the start of the 2022 conflict.