Shobna is a transgender woman from Syria who is seeking asylum in the UK. She is living with HIV and was also experiencing isolation, financial hardship, language barriers and difficulties accessing gender-affirming support.

After experiencing a violent sexual assault, Shobna was initially too frightened to contact the police. Her experiences with authorities in Syria had left her fearful that she would not be believed, respected or treated safely.

Sahir provided Shobna with consistent, compassionate and trauma-informed support. We gave her the time and space to make her own decisions, helped her understand the options available to her and supported her when she felt ready to report the assault to the police.

Alongside this, we helped Shobna remain engaged with her HIV care and medication and supported her to access follow-up sexual health testing and specialist services.

She is no longer facing these challenges alone.

Shobna told us: “I don’t know what I would have done. Without you, I would be alone.”

Through trusted, specialist support, Shobna was able to report the violence she had experienced, protect her health and begin rebuilding her sense of safety, confidence and control over her life.