* Update *
As from 01/05/2024 we have made some changes to the way we can support LGBTQI people from Ukraine. This is mostly due to a lack of funding for this specific work, which means we have very limited resources for case work.
- If you have been assigned a Micro Rainbow case worker before 01/05/2024, nothing will change to your specific case.
- For anyone contacting Micro Rainbow after 01/05/2024 and for those who were not allocated a caseworker by 01/05/2024 these scenarios apply:
- If you have a host already and you need help with your visa to come to the UK, we can help by connecting you with a pro-bono lawyer. Please contact us at [email protected]
- If you are still in Ukraine (or any other country that is unsafe for LGBTQI people) and you need a UK host, please apply to Refugees at Home directly. You can still reach out to Micro Rainbow for social inclusion and employability support. We also run peer support groups specifically for LGBTQI people from Ukraine.
- If you think your visa application is complex due to your personal circumstances, we can help by connecting you with a pro-bono lawyer. Please contact us at [email protected]
- Please note that we do not have capacity to facilitate the introduction to a host in the UK either directly or via Refugees at Home. However, once you have a host and you think you need legal help or you want to connect with other LGBTQI people from Ukraine socially or you are interested in our employability workshops, do reach out to Micro Rainbow at [email protected]
Sponsoring LGBTQI people from Ukraine
The Homes for Ukraine Scheme provides housing to Ukrainians forced to flee their homes as a result of the war and who want to come to the UK. As of 18 March 2022, visa applications are available for Ukrainian Nationals (or immediate family members) who were residents in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022.
Since the scheme was announced, many of you have reached out to offer a bedroom to an LGBTQI person fleeing Ukraine. It is wonderful to see the solidarity of our community, thank you! Over the next months we will work closely with our regional partners to ensure that LGBTQI people from Ukraine can find safety in the UK and in people’s homes.
Once in the UK, Micro Rainbow will support newly arrived LGBTQI Ukrainians with a variety of integration services including “life in the UK” workshops, opportunities to meet other LGBTQI migrants, employability workshops, sexual health and much more. We are currently not being funded to deliver this work and we rely on the generosity of our supporters to deliver it. If you want to support our work, please become an ally today.
For UK sponsors wanting to host an LGBTQI Ukrainian
This process can be confusing, and over the last few weeks, we have coordinated with our partners, and we have agreed on the following process:
- If you live in an urban area, have a spare room and are willing to host for a minimum of 3-6 months, you can sign up with Refugees at Home. Please mark “Micro Rainbow” in the ‘Where did you hear about us?/Other’ box. This will help Refugees at Home to identify you as someone who would like to host an LGBTQI person. Micro Rainbow will then work with Refugees at Home to match you with someone from Ukraine who identifies as LGBTQI. Please note that it is still unclear how many LGBTQI people will come to the UK, so this process might take a while. This partnership will ensure that:
- Hosts are adequately vetted and receive support and guidance throughout the placement by expert caseworkers from Refugees at Home;
- That LGBTQI people from Ukraine can be matched with UK hosts.
- LGBTQI Ukrainians in the UK can access LGBTQI specialist support from Micro Rainbow’s outreach officers including dedicated peer support groups and social inclusion and employability programmes.
- If you don’t meet the above criteria we encourage you to check The No Accommodation Network and to find a hosting scheme near to you. However, you will need to communicate with the hosting scheme that you would like to host someone who identifies as LGBTQI. If they do not know anyone to match you with, please ask them to contact Micro Rainbow at [email protected] and we can liaise with them to make sure the match happens. However, as we have already said, please note that it is still unclear how many LGBTQI people will come to the UK, so this process might take a while.
For LGBTQI Ukrainian Nationals
If you are an LGBTQI Ukrainian National who want to reach the UK, please email us at [email protected]. We will support you to find a host in the UK and with integration activities once you are in the UK. Please note that Ukrainian Nationals must apply for a visa online. The application will require information from both the Ukrainian National and their sponsor in the UK. Individuals will need to upload photographs of a valid Ukrainian international passport or an expired passport with a formal extension stamp. If an individual does not have either forms of identification, they must book an appointment with a visa application centre in a neighbouring European country. All centres in Ukraine are closed. Learn more about the VISA process.
Support group
We are running a peer support group for LGBTQI Ukrainians who have arrived to the UK or who might be planning to come to the UK. To join, please email [email protected]
