French family wanting to return-can't afford tickets

[Boborab]

Hi
I'm working with a French family who came to the UK in July 2009. It's a couple with 3 children. The children are settled in school, but parents have failed to get jobs here and are struggling financially.

They have asked me to try to find out if there would be any financial help available to help them return to France. They haven't got any savings and are living in a private rented house that takes all of their spare money and is poorly insulated - they have some outstanding utility bills.

Do any of you have info on what they can do to get themselves back home?

Thanks in advance.

[ca.funke]

Hi Boborab,

while I can´t answer your question, I would encourage you to change the title of your thread >>as per these suggestions<<. This might attract more attention to your questions.

Good luck and regards,
Christian

[jamhelmcor]

They could ask help from their embassy.

[Boborab]

The embassy wont help.... they also don't have the fare to get to London to do that.

I have heard that they can present themselves as destitute at the police station, but they are very worried about the children being taken away from them by social services and being forced into a far worse situation than the one they are already in, if they do this.