The aim of the demonstration is to protest about the poor service and repeated ignoring of problems with Angel’s accommodation. Angel Group are a private housing provider who make big profits from providing housing to asylum seekers through the Home Office. The United Refugee Organisation is planning a series of demonstrations at Angel’s offices, involving MPs and media to bring attention to the bad situation in Leeds housing caused by Angel. Frank Stevens, of United Refugee Organisation says, ‘Angel Group are paid with taxpayers money to deliver a service, but they are making big profits from the taxpayer and not delivering.’ It is getting cold now, it’s the start of winter and many of Angel’s houses are freezing. Angel control peoples gas and electricity meters and they are leaving people for up to 3 or 4 days with no power to heat their house. When people have problems with their accommodation Angel are supposed to sort it out, but often they don’t. We have one man who had a gas leak, but Angel didn’t get it fixed. He said he preferred to sleep in the train station instead of the house, it was too dangerous. We have video footage and photos that show how bad some of Angel’s accommodation is. Angel are getting control of many of the houses previously held by M&Q, another housing provider in Yorkshire. Angel are abusing this situation to delay giving people vouchers, which are their only means of buying food and essential items. They are saying it is M&Q’s responsibility , sending people to M&Q’s office, but M&Q send them back to Angel. We don’t know what happens to the vouchers which they are not giving people. They have been adding extra rooms to houses, to fit as many people in as possible, putting people in small rooms in basements and lofts. We will be sending information to Leeds City Council. We have video and photos to prove how bad Angel Group is.

The United Refugee Organisation is a not for profit organisation which aims to promote English skills, social events and integration. We were set up two years ago, and now have more than 400 members in West Yorkshire. We are an independent organisation.