Lenine, Cardiff

Lenine came to the UK in December 2004, from Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was a political activist in opposition to the government, and suffered arrest and repeated torture at the hands of Congolese security forces. In September 2005 he received refugee status in the UK and was moved to Cardiff, where he has been given accommodation and Job Seeker's Allowance. However, he is finding life very difficult.

Once asylum seekers are given leave to remain in the UK and thus become refugees, they face a huge transition. The support they received as asylum seekers is replaced by new social workers and a different set of benefits. The network they built up is no longer available to them and they find themselves alone. "I'm on my own now", said Lenine. "It's worse having papers than before when I didn't." He is struggling to learn English, and wants to find work as an electronics engineer for which he is qualified, but he is still obviously suffering from the effects of his experiences in the DRC and finds it difficult to remain positive.

Lenine's flat, on the outskirts of Cardiff, is huge for one person. But it has nothing in it. There are bare floorboards and a sunlounger which he calls his bed. There is no electricity or gas. This may be because he needs to pay a bill, or it's on a key system, or it's been permanently disconnected. There is no hot water, and what comes out of the tap looks distinctly like diluted white emulsion. As far as I could tell there was no food in the flat, not even the usual milk, coffee and sugar. Along with bare boards, the whole place has been stripped. Lenine has bought himself some wallpaper to start on the living room.