Jo’s story 

Salusbury World’s painstaking, careful, trauma-informed support helped a victim of trafficking to secure indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Jo is continuing her nursing degree and making plans for the future. “I am so excited now. I don’t know what I would have done without you”. 

‘Jo’ (not her real name) was trafficked into the UK. She has 2 young children, both born after rape. She suffers from PTSD and her mental health is fragile. She is supported by a trauma therapist and, on her worst days, by her local mental health crisis team. 

Jo is courageous. She is determined not to be defined by her experiences, and she wants to become a nurse. Having completed the first year of her nursing degree successfully, she learnt she could not continue because of her immigration status, and she approached Salusbury World for help with an application for indefinite leave to remain.  

Like every refugee, Jo’s immigration status allowed her to stay in the UK for 5 years. 5 years later, she needed to make another application – or face deportation for herself and her children. 

The application required Jo to tell her history and relive her past experiences. This was an almost impossible task for her, triggering the most painful and distressing memories. Salusbury World’s advice team works slowly and gently and brings trauma-informed training to the fore. Our model means we are not required to limit the number of appointments we offer or to keep them to a prescribed length.  

Jo made several attempts to complete the application form – twice, she decided she wouldn’t do it despite the dire consequences that were likely to follow. Her trauma was so great she could not face going through it again. It took time and gentle support from her therapist and her Salusbury World advice worker to finally complete it. 

Indefinite leave was granted in October 2024 and means Jo can remain in the UK for as long as she wishes. She’s continuing with her training and making plans for her family’s future.  

Why did our work matter? Securing indefinite leave to remain was critical for Jo. Her life was in limbo. Uncertainty about the future put her and her daughters under enormous additional stress. And deportation would have put all three at significant risk from the traffickers in her country of origin. 

Jo said: “Thanks for all your support throughout this journey, for all you do for me and my children. I just want to be a role model for my children, to study and get a good job. 

I am so excited now. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”