
Estelle’s Story
Refugee Action spoke to Estelle, a volunteer Asylum Guide, who trained as part of their Navigating Asylum Partnerships project, funded by Comic Relief. This is Estelle’s story.
Many LGBTQI people flee their country because of the persecution they face due to their sexuality, gender identity or intersex status. Those who find safety in the UK and become refugees have to build a whole new life. Micro Rainbow can help you in this process with employability and moving on support.
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Homosexuality is criminalised in more than 70 countries in the world and society persecutes and discriminates against LGBTQI people in even more countries. Those LGBTQI people who fear for their lives are sometimes able to reach the UK and claim asylum on the basis of their sexual orientation, and/or their gender identity, and/or the way their bodies looks. After going through the asylum determination process, successful LGBTQI claimants are subject to a number of further issues, including poverty, that extend their experience of marginalisation and exclusion in their new country.
Micro Rainbow’s work and consultations with LGBTQI refugees show that:
After piloting and testing activities for over ten years, we have shaped an LGBTQI-refugee centred moving on programme which is already showing three interesting results:
This consists of one-to-one support to those who have recently become refugees in order to:
Micro Rainbow works with various partners, including the third and private sector, to:
This programme is exclusively for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees. It is designed to ensure visibility and leadership of people with lived experience within Micro Rainbow and the wider society.
Refugee Action spoke to Estelle, a volunteer Asylum Guide, who trained as part of their Navigating Asylum Partnerships project, funded by Comic Relief. This is Estelle’s story.
Refugee Action spoke to Ericky, a volunteer Asylum Guide, who trained as part of their Navigating Asylum Partnerships project, funded by Comic Relief. This is Ericky’s story.
Ana Gonzalez, Partner at Wilsons Solicitors LLP, shares her experience in representing trans asylum cases and the challenges they may involve.
Micro Rainbow can help connect UK sponsors with LGBTQI Ukrainian Nationals. After arrival in the UK, Micro Rainbow can provide LGBTQI+ Ukrainians with employability support and social inclusion activities.
In August, Dr Martens teamed up with Micro Rainbow to deliver an employability workshop for beneficiaries.
The mentoring programme exclusively for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees is continuing for another year! 19 companies have committed to mentor 600 LGBTQI refugees. It is a great opportunity to learn new skills and get ready to find a job in the UK.
Launching the first ever helpline in the UK for LGBTQI people fleeing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Many people are asking us how they can support LGBTQI people fleeing persecution from Afghanistan. You can help us run a helpline in Pashto/Dari, buy winter clothes, volunteer as a counsellor and much more. Thank you for your support!
Are you a counsellor? Join our register of volunteer counsellors. You could play a vital role in helping LGBTQI refugees to live fulfilling lives in the UK.
Refugee Action spoke to Estelle, a volunteer Asylum Guide, who trained as part of their Navigating Asylum Partnerships project, funded by Comic Relief. This is Estelle’s story.
Refugee Action spoke to Ericky, a volunteer Asylum Guide, who trained as part of their Navigating Asylum Partnerships project, funded by Comic Relief. This is Ericky’s story.
Ana Gonzalez, Partner at Wilsons Solicitors LLP, shares her experience in representing trans asylum cases and the challenges they may involve.
The process of applying for asylum as an LGBTQI person can be very daunting, especially for those who may also be struggling to communicate in a new language. Interpreters have an important role to play in asylum claims and this article explains how.
Rahim shares his inspiring experience of how, after over a year of destitution and homelessness, Micro Rainbow’s moving on programme helped him get his foot in the door of a major UK retail company.
This activity, dancing at the Wetlands, allows LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees to use their bodies to express themselves and to heal past trauma. Micro Rainbow’s social inclusion programme is a key element of our holistic approach to integration.
Jill Power, describes Micro Rainbow’s view on a controversial issue that affects the lives of thousands of people seeking refuge every year: granting asylum seekers the right to work while their asylum case is determined.
“It is hard to survive in the UK when you don’t have a job, you don’t have friends with jobs, and your family members hate you because you are lesbian.”
Micro Rainbow
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