On Wednesday 22nd March, Micro Rainbow was awarded Charity of the Year at the Burberry British Diversity Awards. The award was presented by Denise Welch on the night and was awarded in recognition of Micro Rainbow’s work supporting LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.
Since 2012, Micro Rainbow has been delivering a holistic programme of support to LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers, encompassing social inclusion, moving on support and a pioneering safe housing scheme. In 2017, it opened the very first safe house for LGBTQI asylum seekers in the UK. In the years since, this unique safe housing programme has expanded to 20 houses across the country.
Micro Rainbow CEO, Sebastian Rocca said:
“This award recognises and celebrates all the fantastic work that the Micro Rainbow team has been doing since the organisation’s founding more than ten years ago. As inflation and bills continue to rise in the UK, this amazing donation will allow us to help many more people and continue to provide safe and supportive housing for LGBTQI people fleeing persecution.”
Micro Rainbow wins Charity of the Year as the refugee sector faces increasing challenges and a very hostile environment. In 2021, the Taliban swept back into power in Afghanistan. The UK Government executed a top-secret mission to rescue LGBTQI refugees, and Micro Rainbow played a key role in supporting in the integration of those who reached the UK. Since coming to the UK, these refugees have benefited from one-to-one casework, social inclusion activities to tackle their isolation and employment support to help them become economically independent.
February 2022 saw Russia begin a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Again, Micro Rainbow acted quickly, working to help LGBTQI refugees navigate the visa process, securing hosts in the UK and helping more than 50 LGBTQI Ukrainians in the process.
Moud Goba, Micro Rainbow’s National Manager:
“We are thrilled to have been awarded Charity of the Year at the Burberry British Diversity Awards and to be recognised in such a strong field featuring many of our peers. It costs £50 a day to support an LGBTQI asylum seeker in one of our safe houses – this donation will cover the costs of one safe house for more than six months.”
In 2022, Micro Rainbow supported over 1,200 LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees. It did so despite the threats of the Rwanda deal and of the series of immigration bills that put so many people’s lives at risk. Receiving this award at the Burberry British Diversity Awards is a reminder that Micro Rainbow’s work is needed and wanted.
Learn more about how Micro Rainbow supports LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers with housing, social inclusion and moving on support. You can make a long-term commitment to supporting Micro Rainbow’s beneficiaries by becoming an ally.
