A personal reflection as a lesbian woman from Uganda
This blog is written by one of our former service users for LGBT History Month 2025.
The journey to becoming a refugee in the UK has been long and mentally draining for me as an LGBTQI+ individual from Uganda.
In April 2024, the Uganda Constitutional Court passed the inhumane Anti-Homosexuality Act endangering the lives of all LGBTQI+ people in Uganda with an up to life imprisonment sentence. For a Lesbian woman, fleeing my home country in fear of persecution was a decision born out of desperation, but the reality of seeking safety has often been at odds with my expectations. LGBTQI+ History Month holds very personal significance for me, not just as a member of the LGBTQI+ community, but as someone who has walked a long, stressful and emotional path to find safety, freedom, and acceptance. Reflecting on this month, I am reminded of the contrast between the growing recognition and celebration of LGBTQI+ history in countries like the UK and the harsh realities faced by LGBTQI+ individuals in Uganda, where I was born and raised.
“My existence was one of continuous vigilance.”
In Uganda, identifying as LGBTQI+ is fraught with danger. The laws against LGBTQI+ people are believed to be some of the harshest in the world not forgetting the societal stigma which is suffocating. I grew up in a deeply conservative community where the very idea of being different was treated as a moral failing or, worse, a criminal act. The fear of being “discovered” became a constant companion, an invisible weight that dictated every aspect of my life, from how I dressed to the friendships I cultivated. My existence was one of continuous vigilance.
For every fleeting moment of solidarity, there were countless others marked by fear of rejection, violence, or being outed. Amidst this, the words and activists like Dr. Stella Nyanzi in her work Homosexuality in Uganda: The Paradox of Foreign Influence, she highlighted the complexities of queer existence in Uganda and the impact of international advocacy. The late David Kato, often called the father of Uganda’s LGBTQI+ movement who laid a foundation of courage and advocacy that continues to inspire. These individuals reminded me of the resilience and tenacity required to fight for equality in the face of overwhelming hostility.
Seeking asylum in the UK
Amidst suffocating circumstances, moments of clarity emerged when I found a way out to the UK with hope of acceptance and freedom. My journey to safety was neither simple nor linear. Seeking asylum was a deeply isolating and emotionally challenging experience. Arriving in the UK, I naively believed that freedom would be immediate and unconditional. The reality, however, was more complex. The process of claiming asylum required me to recount the most traumatic and intimate aspects of my life, over and over again, to strangers. The system demanded evidence of something that is often intangible: my identity and my fear.
Throughout this process, organizations like Rainbow Migration and Women for Refugee Women became lifelines. They offered not just legal support but a sense of community a reminder that my journey, though painful, was not unique. These organizations affirmed that my identity was valid and my fears justified. Their advocacy ensured that I was seen as a human being, not just a case file.
“Hope is your greatest strength, it has the power to transform lives and I am a living testimony of this.”
Once granted refugee status, a new chapter began, one filled with both opportunities and challenges. While the right to live openly as an LGBTQI+ person was a profound relief, I was left with the emotional aftermath of suppression and trauma. Am currently on a journey to rebuild my self-esteem, mental wellbeing, exploring my sexuality with no limit and finding spaces where I truly belong. Joining LGBTQI+ networks and participating in events like LGBTQI+ history month festivities have become acts of reclaiming the joy and authenticity that had been denied to me for so long.
“The system demanded evidence of something that is often intangible: my identity and my fear.”
LGBTQI+ History Month reminds me of the importance of visibility and storytelling. Growing up, I had no role models or narratives that reflected my reality as a queer Ugandan. Now, as I share my story, I hope it can serve as a source of comfort and inspiration for others navigating similar journeys. For everyone out there feeling lost and alone, in the process of Asylum or hoping to leave the closet in their home countries, there is always hope and light at the end of the tunnel. Hope is your greatest strength, it has the power to transform lives and I am a living testimony of this.
This month compels me to reflect on the broader struggles faced by LGBTQI+ refugees worldwide. While I have found safety, countless others remain in precarious situations, trapped in countries where being themselves is a death sentence. It is a sobering reminder that the fight for equality is far from over. Advocacy for fair asylum systems, support for LGBTQI+ organizations, and solidarity with those still at risk are essential components of this ongoing battle.
“LGBTQI+ History Month is more than a commemoration, it is a celebration of survival, resistance, and love.”
As I write this, I am struck by the paradox of my journey. The very things that once isolated and endangered me, my identity and my truth are now sources of connection and strength. I have learned that resilience is not about erasing pain but about finding ways to grow through it. My experiences have shaped me into someone who can advocate not only for myself but also for others who continue to navigate the intersection of queerness and displacement.
LGBTQI+ History Month is more than a commemoration, it is a celebration of survival, resistance, and love. It is an opportunity to honor those who paved the way and to amplify the voices of those still seeking refuge. For me, it is a time to acknowledge how far I have come and to recommit to the work that lies ahead.
In sharing my story, I hope to contribute to a growing narrative that recognizes the diversity and complexity of LGBTQI+ lives. Our histories are not uniform, but they are interconnected. Together, we are aiming and fighting for the same goals with resilience, courage, and hope. This month, I celebrate not just my own journey but the collective progress of a community that refuses to be silenced.
We are leaving X
We have been deeply concerned about the changes to X for some time now. The way content is moderated through automations and community notes, the reinstatement of hateful accounts previously banned for rule violations, and the removal of key safety features like blocking have all contributed to creating an environment that no longer feels safe.
Misinformation and harmful content have also become widespread, which goes against our values as an organisation.
We believe everyone should be safe to be themselves. The wellbeing of our community is our priority, and we can no longer ensure that on X. That’s why we’ve made the difficult decision to step away from the platform gradually.
To transition away from X while still staying connected with our community, we’ll be slowing down our posting over the next couple of months. This month (February 2025), you’ll see fewer updates, and by April 2025, we’ll no longer be sharing regular content. However, our account will remain live as a resource.
We value your continued support on this platform and would love to stay connected on other platforms. You can find similar content on Bluesky and Threads, and we are also very active on Instagram and Facebook.
You can also sign up to our monthly newsletter to receive regular updates.
To contact us directly, email us on hello@rainbowmigration.org.uk
If you, or someone you know, are an LGBTQI+ person seeking asylum in the UK that need support, please fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Tell your MP to end LGBTQI+ detention
This government is reviewing its policy on who is at higher risk in detention right now. We need your help to get them to recognise the dangers LGBTQI+ people face.
We know that immigration detention destroys lives, tears communities apart and has devastating consequences for those who are locked up with no idea when they might be set free. It is especially dangerous for LGBTQI+ people, who face harassment, bullying and abuse, including from staff and people they are forced to share locked rooms with.
Detention is a choice this government makes. There have been two pilot trials of compassionate alternatives to detention, where people received free, high quality legal advice and one-to-one support from a caseworker that was flexible and tailored to their individual needs – for example help with accessing healthcare, setting up bank accounts or social inclusion.
The results showed that these approaches are more humane, resulted in improved mental health and wellbeing, and are both cheaper and more cost-effective than detention. People were better able to understand their options and empowered to make informed decisions about their future. For LGBTQI+ people who have fled persecution, this meant having the chance to live openly and with dignity while claiming asylum in the UK.
So why is this government continuing to lock LGBTQI+ people in places they aren’t safe, when it benefits no one except the private contractors who are paid millions of pounds a year to run the UK’s detention centres? Since 2016, they have recognised that trans and intersex people are at serious risk of harm and should not be detained in most circumstances, but have so far refused to do the same for all LGBQ people.
Now is the moment to demand change, as the policy on who is at risk in detention is currently being reviewed. It’s long past time they extend that protection to the entire LGBTQI+ community.
Thank you for writing to your MP and spreading the word.
Nationality and Borders Act and queer asylum
An article by our consultant lawyer Zehrah Hasan has been published today in OpenDemocracy, exploring the dangers the heavily-criticised NABA has created for LGBTQI+ people seeking safety in the UK. Find a summary below, or read the full version.
Since the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (NABA) came into law, we are in fact seeing a clear correlation between the higher standard of proof and more refusal decisions, a greater evidential burden on people seeking asylum, and higher expectations from decision makers. For LGBTQI+ people in the asylum system, there’s been a disproportionate impact.
We know that for many LGBTQI+ people escaping violence and harm, the only evidence they have is their own testimony. This is common for people who have been forced to hide their gender identity and/or sexual orientation, conform to cis-heteronormativity, or only lived their truth in total secrecy, due to the risk of imprisonment and criminalisation.
LGBTQI+ people who have fled domestic, societal and state violence may also need time to build and find community in the UK, due to internalised shame and fear. This can be further compounded by the social isolation and trauma they face here, especially if they are detained or housed in unsuitable asylum accommodation, where LGBTQI+ people are more likely to face abuse and harassment.
The NABA entrenches a culture of suspicion, particularly for LGBTQI+ cases, both in interviews and in decisions, with the unfettered influence of preconceived and often Western-centric notions of LGBTQI+ experiences.
There have been long-standing and well-documented problems with asylum decision-making in LGBTQI+ cases; including Home Office refusals being replete with harmful stereotypes, prejudices and misconceptions about LGBTQI+ people’s lives.
But ultimately, the higher standard of proof further marginalises, stigmatises and ostracises LGBTQI+ communities through the UK’s border regime. This injustice is heightened for people of colour, given the racism endemic to British immigration laws and the fact most countries in the Commonwealth that still criminalise LGBTQI+ people do so as a direct result of British colonialism.
It’s time to demand that the new government listens to us and turns away from the cruelty of the past and the mistreatment of people seeking safety. An essential step is to repeal the Nationality and Borders Act to reinstate the previous lower standard of proof which is vital to protecting lives.
'Two Refugees Walking' across London: A 2,500-mile journey
This week marks the beginning of “Two Refugees Walking”, an extraordinary 210-day, 2,500-mile walk across all 32 London boroughs undertaken by Joel Mordi, a Nigerian LGBTQ+ and human rights activist, and Amanda Kamanda, a courageous trans activist from Uganda.
The journey will raise critical funds for UNHCR, Minority Inclusion Foundation (MIF), Safe Passage International and Rainbow Migration whilst highlighting the work of each nonprofit, including our “No Pride in Detention” amongst other intersectional topics. The initiative seeks to bring attention to the journeys of refugees around the world, reflecting the treacherous distances many travel for safety, and highlighting the humanitarian crises faced by LGBTQI+ individuals escaping persecution.
The walk is inspired by the humanitarian legacy of Princess Diana and the memory of Joel’s elder sister of blessed memory, Mrs. Nwanne MaryJane Ikechi (née Mordi), who tragically passed away due to an acute asthma attack. Influenced also by Es Devlin’s recent work Congregation, the project draws together themes of community, resilience, and social justice to spotlight the ongoing plight of refugees and those affected by prejudice and persecution.
According to Joel, “This walk is a tribute to the millions of forcibly displaced persons worldwide, as well as a tribute to anyone who has lost someone—young or old.” By walking backward, Joel aims to symbolize the regressive laws and backward policies that continue to enable loss of lives of people seeking refuge due to lack of “safe routes to safety” and the impact LGBTQI+ lives globally, particularly in refugee detention and asylum processes. As Joel walks backward, Amanda walks forward, a statement of resilience and a call to action against persecution, discrimination, and the suppression of human rights.
Amanda adds, “Our walk is more than a fundraiser; it is a political statement against the LGBTQ+ witch-hunt, regressive laws, and attacks on human rights. Our hope is to spark awareness and action across communities, individuals, and leaders worldwide.”
Throughout the walk, Joel and Amanda will speak at events and engage with the public to amplify the voices of those impacted by refugee crises, discriminatory policies, and human rights abuses. Their organisation, Minority Inclusion Foundation UK (MIF UK), aims to foster inclusivity and support for minoritised communities, including forcibly displaced LGBTQI+ individuals, while empowering people from diverse backgrounds through arts, education, and advocacy.
Find out more and support Joel and Amanda during this inspiring action and in setting up their foundation.
A successful Parliament event to talk about ending LGBTQI+ detention
Joel Mordi, LGBTQI+ activist from Nigeria, telling his story in Parliament
A couple of weeks ago, our team held a successful drop-in event at Parliament. Our aim was to shed some light on the specific risks that LGBTQI+ people face in detention and persuade MPs to influence an upcoming review of an important Home Office policy – ‘Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention’ – which the government could use to end LGBTQI+ detention.
The event brought together policymakers, Rainbow Migration staff members and Joel Mordi, an LGBTQI+ activist who organised Nigeria’s first Pride protest in 2019 and was detained when he came to the UK seeking safety from persecution.
Thanks to our brilliant No Pride in Detention campaign supporters who emailed their MPs to inform them about the event, many MPs and staff members representing several political parties came along to hear Joel’s moving story. He talked about the bullying and verbal abuse he faced on a daily basis in detention and the inaction from staff members:
“We need safety and understanding, but instead, I was left to fend for myself in a place where isolation and fear were constant companions.”
Joel ended on a hopeful note for the future:
“No one should have to endure what I did, and it is in your power to ensure that LGBTQ+ asylum seekers are treated with the respect, care, and compassion we deserve. Thank you for listening to my story, and I hope it brings us closer to a future where LGBTQI+ people seeking refuge find the safety that we deserve.”
After that, our Executive Director, Leila Zadeh, went on to explain the wide evidence there is about the significant additional risk of harm in immigration detention that LGBTQI+ people face due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, and the inability of the Home Office to keep them safe.
The ‘Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention’ policy was introduced in response to the 2016 Shaw Review, which found significant human rights abuses in immigration detention and pervasive, systemic risks to vulnerable people.
At that time we provided extensive evidence to Shaw on the harm LGBTQI+ people face in detention and why they should be considered to be at extra risk of harm. This resulted in him recommending trans and intersex people should be presumed unsuitable for detention, in light of the inability of detention centres to provide an appropriate, safe and supportive environment.
However, the effectiveness of this policy has been undermined by recent changes to statutory guidance, which risk detaining more vulnerable people for longer periods. In the wake of the Brook House Inquiry Report, it is shocking that safeguards for people at risk of harm in immigration detention are being weakened rather than reinforced.
Members of Parliament showing their support for the campaign alongside Joel Mordi: Daniel Aldridge, Carla Denyer, Kevin Bonavia, Dawn Butler, Charlotte Cane, Steve Witherden
A historic opportunity for real change
The government announced it is reviewing the current ‘Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention’ policy by spring 2025, and will look to reform the policy to improve the effectiveness of the regulations and safeguards.
We told attendees that we welcome the new government’s recognition that there is a need to ensure the policy is more effective at safeguarding people. We believe this is a historic opportunity to both reverse the recent statutory guidance changes and recognise the specific harms that LGBQ people face in immigration detention, alongside the current recognition for trans and intersex people.
Joel’s powerful story resonated deeply with MPs, with many expressing support for our cause and afterwards writing to the Border Security Minister to ask for an end to LGBTQI+ detention. They left with a clear message: nobody benefits from detention, except the private contractors who are paid millions of pounds a year to run the UK’s detention centres. But we could all benefit from an approach that sees people supported in our communities and empowered to make decisions that are right for them. For LGBTQI+ people who have fled persecution and could otherwise be detained here, it would mean having the chance to live openly and with dignity while they claim asylum in the UK.
Thank you to all the MPs that came along, and thank you to all our amazing campaign supporters for writing to their MPs and making sure they knew about the event.
You can read the full briefing on the review of the ‘Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention’ policy or learn more about our ‘No Pride in Detention’ campaign.
At least 259 LGBTQI+ people held in detention in 2023
A Freedom of Information request published exclusively by Metro has revealed that at least 259 LGBTQI+ people were locked up in immigration detention in 2023. That is twice as many as in 2022, when at least 129 LGBTQI+ people were held in immigration detention.
However, the true number is likely to be significantly higher. Many LGBTQI+ people will hide their sexual orientation or gender identity in detention to keep themselves safe, rather than voluntarily disclosing it to detention officers (currently the only way this data is collected).
Furthermore, the Home Office was unable to provide comprehensive data. 8 months’ worth of data was missing from Derwentside detention centre, and 9 months’ worth from Colnbrook and Harmondsworth – some of the biggest detention centres in the UK. We can assume, therefore, that these numbers are nowhere near the true picture.
Detention is harmful for everyone. It isolates and re-traumatises people who have had to flee their countries because their lives were in danger.
LGBTQI+ people are particularly at risk of harm when locked up in overcrowded conditions, often alongside others from the countries they have fled. Inside detention, LGBTQI+ people are bullied and discriminated against, with long-term effects on their mental health. Many will go back into the closet to stay safe, but this is not always possible for everyone.
Joel, whose story is featured in the Metro article, was not able to conceal his sexual orientation in detention and was targeted as a result. He was dismissed by the staff he went to for help, and suffered a serious assault.
“It felt like I had a target on my back, but the officer I was with didn’t do anything.” – Joel
We need the government to understand that detention is inherently dangerous for LGBTQI+ people, and it’s not the only way to manage immigration and asylum cases. Compassionate, community-based schemes that support people to resolve their cases in the community have been shown to be both more humane and more cost-effective. The only ones who benefit from locking people up in detention centres are the private contractors who are paid millions of pounds a year to run them.
The new government has promised to review its policies on protecting people who are at risk of harm in detention in the coming months. This is our chance to finally end LGBTQI+ detention.
We are organising an event in parliament on 12 November where MPs can learn more about the dangers LGBTQI+ face in detention and how they can help. They’ll have the chance to speak to Joel first-hand about his experiences.
Invite your MP to meet Joel and help end LGBTQI+ detention today.
We are hiring a Fundraising Officer
**This position is no longer open**
Are you passionate about making a difference for LGBTQI+ people navigating the asylum and immigration system?
We are looking for a Fundraising Officer to play a key role in supporting the effective delivery of our fundraising strategy.
This is an exciting time to join the organisation. We have grown rapidly over the last five years from a small charity generating £200k in 2019 to £833k in 2023. We are now expanding our fundraising team so that we can reach and sustain our target income of just over £1 million by 2027. The Fundraising Officer is a new and varied role that will work with all areas of the organisation and an opportunity to develop fundraising skills in a range of income generating activities.
We are looking for an individual with previous experience in fundraising or a related field with excellent writing skills and an ability to build lasting relationships with our supporters. You will support the delivery of our fundraising strategy as a whole with an emphasis on individual giving. You will also fundraise from corporate supporters, trusts and foundations and support the Fundraising Manager with other fundraising initiatives. Your responsibilities will include:
- Support the development, implementation and monitoring of donor acquisition, stewardship and retention plans and strategies
- Plan and deliver individual giving campaigns and appeals
- Work with colleagues to ensure Rainbow Migration’s digital channels are optimised for individual giving
- Support community fundraisers and corporate supporters to deliver their fundraising activities, and attend and speak at events
- Prepare and submit funding applications and reports for small grants to trusts and foundations and other grant-giving bodies
- Keep fundraising materials up to date and develop new materials as needed
- Maintain the database, systems and record-keeping relevant to the fundraising function
Find our more about our values as an organisation.
At Rainbow Migration, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. We do not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We consider all qualified applicants, consistent with any legal requirements.
We strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the community we work in and welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of going through the UK asylum system or who have been subject to immigration control, and also people of colour who are currently underrepresented among our staff in relation to our service users. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if they meet the essential criteria. If you wish to qualify under this scheme, please make this clear when applying.
Owing to the nature of the work, the successful applicant will be required at the point of conditional job offer to disclose all unspent criminal records and subsequently to undergo a basic DBS check.
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week). Working part-time (minimum 28 hours a week) or job-sharing will be considered. When applying, please state what hours you are looking to work. Occasional evening or weekend work is required, but with plenty of notice. Rainbow Migration encourages staff to maintain a good work life balance and has a TOIL system in place.
Salary: Starting at £30,236 with potential annual step increases up to £33,899 (pro rata if working part-time), plus statutory employer’s pension contribution. In addition to an annual step increase, the trustees consider giving a separate inflationary increase every April.
Location: Remote or from Rainbow Migration’s offices which are based in London between Vauxhall and the Oval. Hybrid working will also be considered. The successful candidate could work from anywhere in the UK but would be expected to occasionally travel to London and other parts of the country for meetings and events. At the time of posting this advert, none of our staff are going into the office every day. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Annual Leave: 25 days per year rising after 24 months by 1 day after each year of service to maximum of 28 days per year (pro rata if working part-time).
How to apply:
Closing date: 9am 25 November 2024
Interview dates: 6 December or 10 December
Please read the job description and person specification. If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, then you can contact us via recruitment@rainbowmigration.org.uk.
Please send to recruitment@rainbowmigration.org.uk:
- Your CV
- A written statement (max 1,000 words). Instead of a written statement you may submit your statement by video or audio recording (max 8 minutes)
We’d also be grateful if you would complete this optional monitoring form.
In your statement, please:
- Explain why you are interested in this role and give examples of how you meet the person specification. In addition to what is on your CV, we want to hear about any relevant skills and experience that demonstrate how you meet the necessary criteria for the role, and if you meet any of the advantageous criteria. Skills and experience could be from training, volunteering, interests or life experience.
- Confirm if you wish to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ effect on your ability to do normal daily activities).
- Accept that, if successful, you will be required to disclose all unspent criminal records at the point of conditional job and subsequently to undergo a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please complete this form to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.
By submitting an application, you:
- Confirm that you have the right to work in the UK and will produce the necessary documentation if you are offered this post.
- Declare that to the best of your knowledge and belief, the information provided with your application is true and correct and that you understand that any false information or statement given will justify your dismissal from Rainbow Migration if appointed.
Privacy notice
If you apply for this role, the information you provide will be processed according to Rainbow Migration’s privacy policy. Rainbow Migration will not share your information with any third parties unless part of the recruitment process or are legally required to do so. By applying, you are permitting Rainbow Migration to access and use the information for recruitment purposes. Information is kept for the minimum period necessary, which for CVs, covering statements and/or audio or video submissions for unsuccessful applicants is 12 months after the conclusion of the recruitment campaign. Monitoring information is kept separately and is pseudonymised to avoid identification of applicants. It is amalgamated for statistical purposes and the original data is then deleted after six months.
Join our Refugee Advisory Panel
We are recruiting people who have personal experience and knowledge of migration that is relevant to our work on LGBTQI+ asylum to form a new Refugee Advisory Panel.
As part of our commitment to developing lived experience engagement and empowerment, we now have an opportunity for people who identify as having lived experience to advise our management team on all aspects of our operations.
We want to ensure people with lived experience inform the development of our services, policy work, communications and partnerships. The purpose of the Panel is to give advice and feedback on operational and strategic matters to Rainbow Migration’s management team. Panellists will use their experience of migration and LGBTQI+ rights to inform decisions to be taken by the management team and board of trustees.
Panellists will receive training and support as needed to fulfil the following responsibilities:
- Attend meetings around four times a year, for 2-3 hours, and contribute opinions
- Read papers in advance of these meetings
- Contribute to development and monitoring strategies, operational plans, budgets and procedures or processes
- Contribute to our wider work on lived experience involvement, including identifying gaps and new opportunities
- Take part in online/remote meetings (i.e. by Zoom or telephone) from a private space where you cannot be overheard and where you have a reliable connection
Payment: There is a sliding scale for payments to Panellists depending on how long an activity is expected to take. For example, Panellists will receive a payment of £75 for attendance at each principal forum meeting. Training and travel costs will also be covered. Please see the draft terms of reference for more information.
Location: Meetings will normally be on Zoom, but we expect one meeting a year to be in-person. There will also be a full day induction in London (tentatively scheduled for Wednesday 29 or Thursday 30 January 2025).
How to apply
Please make sure you read the full advert and the draft terms of reference before applying.
Closing date: 9 am on Monday 4 November
Interview dates: 25, 26 or 27 November. Interviews will be online using Zoom, as that is how most of the Panel meetings are expected to take place. We can pay for travel or a mobile phone data top-up if you need help with the costs.
If you would like to find out more before applying, you can attend a webinar on Thursday 24 October 2024 from 1 to 2pm. This is an opportunity to meet Rainbow Migration’s management team, hear more about our ideas for the Panel, and ask us any questions. It is not part of the application or selection process. Please register using this form and a link will be sent to you. If you cannot attend, you can still fill out the form and request a recording afterwards.
If you have any questions, you can also email recruitment@rainbowmigration.org.uk.
You can apply in one of two ways:
- You can send an email to recruitment@rainbowmigration.org.uk
Please include both:- Your CV
- A written statement (max 1,000 words). Instead of a written statement you may submit your statement by video or audio recording (max 8 minutes).
In your statement, please give examples of how you meet the person specification. In addition to what is on your CV, we want to hear about any relevant skills and experience that demonstrate how you meet the necessary criteria for the role, and if you meet any of the advantageous criteria. Skills and experience could be from training, volunteering, interests or life experience
- You can use this online application form
We would also be grateful if you would complete this optional monitoring form
We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network, which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. Please feel free to use their information and resources.
By submitting an application, you:
- Confirm that you have the right to work in the UK and will produce the necessary documentation if you are offered this post
- Declare that to the best of your knowledge and belief, the information provided with your application is true and correct and that you understand that any false information or statement given will justify the dismissal from Rainbow Migration if appointed
Privacy notice
If you apply for this role, the information you provide will be processed according to our privacy policy. Rainbow Migration will not share your information with any third parties or are legally required to do so. By applying, you are permitting Rainbow Migration to access and use the information for recruitment purposes. Information is kept for the minimum period necessary, which for unsuccessful applicants is 12 months after the conclusion of the recruitment campaign. Monitoring information is kept separately and is pseudonymised to avoid identification of applicants. It is amalgamated for statistical purposes and the original data is then deleted after six months.
Call for government to better protect LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in the UK
Together with academics, charities and activists we have sent a letter to the Home Secretary, calling for the government to implement changes to the Home Office system to better protect LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum and refugees from abuse.
The letter has been signed by organisations, experts and activists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and calls on the government to; offer LGBTQI+-specific accommodation, establish a specially trained team to deal with sexual orientation, gender identities, gender expression, and sex characteristics claims, end immigration detention for LGBTQI+ claimants, increase access to legal aid, and give people seeking asylum the right to work.
The letter follows the publication of the Queer SEREDA report from the University of Birmingham and support from us. The report details that people trying to escape their home country because of violence and discrimination due to their sexuality or gender identity, face dangerous living conditions, homophobic abuse from Home Office contractors and sexual harassment once they reach the UK.
Minesh Parekh, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Rainbow Migration said: “LGBTQI+ people come here escaping unimaginable horrors and seeking safety, but the UK’s asylum system is failing to protect them. Our report shines a light on the dangers that LGBTQI+ people face while navigating the asylum system and now the government must act so that people are properly supported and safeguarded from harm while they seek to rebuild their lives in safety here.”