Reclaiming his narrative: Charles’ story
In this piece for Black History Month, Charles talks about reclaiming his narrative as an LGBTQI refugee.
31 October 2024
Moving on
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.
About our moving on programme
Homosexuality is criminalised in more than 60 countries around 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:
- they often live in poverty
- the major obstacles to finding employment are:
- the lack of UK-based work experience as well as their refugee status, race, sexuality and gender which are intersecting issues that put them at the fringes of the job market
- the qualifications that they have gained in their countries of origin are often not valid in the UK
- low confidence and self-esteem
- the material hardships of their everyday lives emerging from the simple fact of being an LGBTQI refugee include:
- opening a bank account when presenting their refugee documents;
- the sudden suspicion of potential employers as soon as they became aware that they are refugees; and
- the rejection of their family members, co-nationals and places of faith in the UK.
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:
- it creates new, practical and life-changing opportunities for LGBTQI refugees
- it changes social attitudes and the negative stereotypes that society often associates with LGBTQI refugees
- it provides new data and life stories that are powerful tools for advocacy.
Getting started
This consists of one-to-one support to those who have recently become refugees in order to:
- obtain National Insurance numbers
- register with Universal Credit
- open bank accounts
Employability
Micro Rainbow works with various partners, including the third and private sector, to:
- provide one to one support over a period of six to twelve months to prepare and review a moving on plan (e.g. to find employment)
- organise workshops around CV writing and interview skills
- facilitate job opportunities
Fellowship programme
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.
Improving employability skills with Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP
Learn about how employability workshops can help you progress
CV masterclass with Trinnovo Group
The team from Trinnovo Group worked with Micro Rainbow to deliver a CV masterclass to our community.
Other services for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees
Success stories
I may never see my family again: Khojimat’s story
Khojimat came to the UK when he was only 17. He may never see his family again, but he cannot be safe in Uzbekistan.
13 May 2024
Finding my purpose: Biruk’s story
We spoke to Biruk for LGBT+ History Month about working in healthcare and finding his purpose in his caring role.
5 February 2024
What you can do to help
Latest updates
Reclaiming his narrative: Charles’ story
In this piece for Black History Month, Charles talks about reclaiming his narrative as an LGBTQI refugee.
31 October 2024
Connecting UK sponsors with LGBTQI Ukrainian Nationals
Helping connect UK sponsors with LGBTQI Ukrainian Nationals. After arrival in the UK, we can provide LGBTQI Ukrainians with employability support and social inclusion activities.
23 August 2024
Interview skills and contracts
The second Trinnovo session focused on interview skills and contracts – find out how beneficial this was for attendees.
23 May 2024
I may never see my family again: Khojimat’s story
Khojimat came to the UK when he was only 17. He may never see his family again, but he cannot be safe in Uzbekistan.
13 May 2024
CV masterclass with Trinnovo Group
Micro Rainbow worked with Trinnovo in January and February to deliver a CV skills masterclass to our community.
1 May 2024
Finding my purpose: Biruk’s story
We spoke to Biruk for LGBT+ History Month about working in healthcare and finding his purpose in his caring role.
5 February 2024
A mentoring programme exclusively for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees
Check out the mentoring programme for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees and take the first step towards your next role!
12 December 2023
From Kyiv to the UK
Learn how Micro Rainbow helped a gay doctor from Kyiv escape persecution and find safety in the UK. Read Bohdan’s inspiring story of resilience and hope.
30 November 2023
Improving employability skills with Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP
Law firm Weil, Gotshall and Manges LLP worked with Micro Rainbow to hold an employability event for our community.
31 October 2023
Maria’s story
Maria is a trans woman from El Salvador, she recently received the right to work and is working in a cancer ward support role.
11 September 2023
It’s a year since Ukraine’s invasion: this is what we have done
In the year since the invasion of Ukraine, Micro Rainbow has been working to support LGBTQI Ukrainian refugees.
23 February 2023
Dr Martens employability workshop
In August, Dr Martens teamed up with Micro Rainbow to deliver an employability workshop for beneficiaries.
14 November 2022
Helpline for LGBTQI people fleeing the Taliban regime
Launching the first ever helpline in the UK for LGBTQI people fleeing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
28 February 2022
Queer Afghanistan, what can we do?
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!
9 November 2021
Join our register of counsellors!
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.
4 November 2021
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.
22 July 2021
Ericky’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.
25 June 2021
Winning trans asylum claims: an interview with Ana Gonzalez, Partner at Wilsons Solicitors LLP
Ana Gonzalez, Partner at Wilsons Solicitors LLP, shares her experience in representing trans asylum cases and the challenges they may involve.
15 November 2019
Tips for interpreters working with LGBTQI asylum seekers
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.
1 May 2019
Rahim’s story
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.
27 February 2019
Sanctuary at The Walthamstow Wetlands
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.
25 July 2018
Why asylum seekers should be granted permission to work
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.
19 July 2017
Lesbian refugee from Nigeria
“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.”
3 March 2015
This work could not happen without the transformational support of Paul Hamlyn Foundation
To support the Body and Movement work or Micro Rainbow’s broader programme, contact [email protected]
