A retired newsagent and “local legend” from Merseyside has donated the vast majority of the £50,000 that was crowdfunded to three local charities: the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, the Boaz Trust and Wirral Foodbank.
Nelson Shardey, 75, fundraised almost £50,000 earlier this year after he was refused the right to stay in the UK permanently, despite living in the country since 1977 and running his shop, Nelson’s News, in Wirral for 31 years. Last year, Shardey was told by the Home Office to complete the 10-year route to settlement, which would require him to pay thousands of pounds for visa fees. Only then would he be eligible for indefinite leave to remain, a legal status which gives people the right to live and work in the UK.
However, before an expected court hearing in autumn, Shardey has now been informed that the Home Office has reversed its decision, granting the retired newsagent indefinite leave to remain in exceptional circumstances.
“With this settlement, I will be happy to move freely, I’ll be happy to see my children, I’ll be happy to keep smiling at people because I know we are all one people and they all believed in me and we shall be one complete family … I feel some healing in me.
All along I know I am part of this country because this is where I live and this is where I’ve been working, this is where I’ve contributed to everything.”
Shardey came to the UK from Ghana at the age of 28 on a student visa. He said he believed he had British citizenship until he applied for a visa to attend his mother’s funeral in 2019. His sons, Aaron and Jacob, said their father had no reason to doubt his legal status as he was granted mortgages, paid taxes, completed jury service and was able to get married.
The family say they are planning a celebration once Shardey has received his settlement. Shardey’s sons said: “Dad’s victory means the absolute world to us … We hope that this victory inspires others to speak out and come forward so they can seek the justice they deserve.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are working with Mr Shardey to process his application for indefinite leave to remain. We apologise for any inconvenience and distress caused.”
