WHO ARE WE?
African Rainbow Family (ARF) is the Leading UK Based Expert-by-Lived-Experience Grassroots Charity Campaigning and Advocating for Racial Justice & Human Rights of LGBTIQ+ Refugees and People Seeking Asylum of African Heritage & the Global Majority
ARF was established in 2014 by a lesbian in the wake of some Commonwealth countries in Africa’s toxic and draconian anti-gay laws, persecutions and an overall environment which sought to criminalise LGBTIQ+ people for the preference of whom they choose to love or how they identify.
Created, run and led by people who are affected by the issues we are aiming to change.
ARF Provides:
- Psychotherapeutic peer support, advocacy, advice, information and counselling for LGBTIQ+ refugees and people seeking asylum.
- Campaigning for global LGBTIQ equality
- Stand against hate crimes
- Support communities who face constant harassment, hate crimes and discrimination heaped on them by an ignorant society because of their sexuality or sexual preferences and or gender identity.
- Free Access to Justice Immigration Advice Services
WHAT DO WE DO?
Our Objectives
To support all marginalised, oppressed and discriminated others. To increase health and well being of LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum and integrate them into the British society and values.
To eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sexual or gender identity. Ensure in particular; dignity, respect and safety for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people who have immigration issues related to their sexual or gender identity.
Our Vision: A World without Prejudice
Our Mission: Building A Supportive Community.
We are lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, from here and abroad.
We understand each other, have got together to help each other and say to each other ‘It’s OK to be different’.
We believe that our experience has given us the insight and empathy needed to support each other.
We are a self-help collective, creating social change through the combination of systematic factors to influence government policies on LGBTIQ+ asylum application claims, network with a diverse social and political organisations in the LGBTIQ+ community.We remove isolation and support our emotional wellbeing through counselling and other confidence building and empowerment activities.
From nothing and with no money we have developed a national network of over 1,500 people with centres in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, London and Swansea.
We heavily rely on volunteers to deliver the crucial and life saving work that we do.
We will continue to help, support and nurture each other until our work is no longer needed.
Our Programme and Services
Free Refugee Access to Justice Immigration Advice Services: Asylum and Protection
Signposting to immigration advice and other mainstream services.
Organise social events and activities. Remove isolation through confidence building and empowerment activities.
Offer free counselling.
Support LGBTIQ people seeking asylum with no recourse to public fund by subsidising transport fares and other costs such as food.
Support our destitute members with weekly subsistence.
Offer hot meals for members.
Offer moral and practical supports to people in detention centres.
Offer moral support and evidence in court.
Offer buddy support for members to sign at immigration reporting centres
Moving-On and Integration.
The Need and Beneficiaries
Our beneficiaries are LGBTIQ+ people including those seeking asylum and refuge.
They experience many intersectional Health Inequalities
They have no recourse to public funds.
They are in social isolation.
Experience poor mental health and wellbeing
We are experts by lived experience therefore understand the plights of our Siblings and how to be supported.
Contact us if you need support for yourself or someone else. Check out our News section for regular updates.