DJ Final Report

Doub|e Ieopardy ro[ect
A f|na| report on the 1rust for London funded Doub|e Ieopardy ro[ect

keport by A|asda|r Stuart at M8AkC
August 2013

M8AkC
Acorn nouse
314-320 Gray's Inn koad
London WC1k 8D
www.mbarc.co.uk

A f|na| report on the Doub|e Ieopardy ro[ect for 1rust for London

M8AkC age 2 September 2013

1A8LL CI CCN1LN1S

1 Lxecut|ve Summary ................................................................................................. 4
1.1 8ackground .............................................................................................................. 4
1.2 key learnlng .............................................................................................................. 4
1.3 key recommendaLlons ............................................................................................. 6
2 Introduct|on and background .................................................................................. 9
2.1 8ackground .............................................................................................................. 9
2.2 Crlglnal raLlonal for Lhe pro[ecL ............................................................................. 10
3 Act|on taken .......................................................................................................... 12
3.1 hase Cne - ro[ecL developmenL ......................................................................... 12
3.2 hase 1wo - 1ralnlng, supporL and organlsaLlonal developmenL .......................... 16
3.3 hase 1hree - Assesslng progress of organlsaLlons ............................................... 18
4 Learn|ng from the pro[ect ...................................................................................... 20
4.1 ro[ecL learnlng ...................................................................................................... 20
4.2 CrganlsaLlonal learnlng .......................................................................................... 23
4.3 Servlce dellvery learnlng ........................................................................................ 26
S Learn|ng from the Commun|ty kesearchers ........................................................... 30
3.1 leedback from Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers ......................................................... 31
6 Where next - Ca|| to Act|on and kecommendat|ons .............................................. 36
Append|x 1 - Case stud|es ................................................................................................ 40
Append|x 2 - Ach|evements of each p||ot organ|sat|on ..................................................... SS
Append|x 3 - Gu|de to serv|ce transformat|on ................................................................. 74



Acknow|edgements

M8A8C would llke Lo Lhank Lhe 1rusL for London for fundlng Lhls pro[ecL, as well as Lhe
followlng organlsaLlons for Lhelr guldance and supporL as parL of Lhe pro[ecL Advlsory Croup:

MeLro CenLre (as pro[ecL parLner)
raxls (as pro[ecL parLner)
8arneL 8efugee Servlce
CharlLles LvaluaLlon Servlces
Calop
Creenwlch unlverslLy
LvSC (London volunLary Servlce
Councll)
8LA (8efugees ln LffecLlve &
AcLlve arLnershlp)
8efugee ?ouLh
SouLhwark 8efugee CommunlLles
lorum
SLonewall Pouslng
ukLClC (uk Lesblan & Cay
lmmlgraLlon Croup).

We would also llke Lo acknowledge all of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons LhaL agreed Lo Lake parL ln Lhe
pro[ecL, parLlcularly for prlorlLlslng sLaff Llme on Lhe pro[ecL wlLhouL any resource conLrlbuLlon:

Camden LC81 lorum
Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL
Calop
Packney 8efugee lorum
lndoAmerlcan 8efugee MlgranL
CommunlLy (l8MC) (LaLln
Amerlcan 8efugee ro[ecL)
MeLro CenLre
raxls
8AMlLL (8efugee and MlgranL
lorum of LasL London)
8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy
8elaLe norLh WesL London
SouLhwark 8efugee CommunlLles
lorum
SLonewall Pouslng
WesL London Cay Men's
AssoclaLlon.

1he advlce, experlences and learnlng from Lhe 8efugees ln LffecLlve and AcLlve arLnershlp
(8LA) 'LquallLy for All 8efugees' pro[ecL was hlghly valued as Lhls pro[ecL developed.

We would llke Lo offer speclal Lhanks Lo all of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers, who shared Lhelr
own experlences generously, provlded helpful crlLlclsm, guldance and supporL LhroughouL, and
broughL Lremendous energy and commlLmenL Lo Lhe pro[ecL.

Crace Chlrambo
eLer 8achev
1ony lurlong
Mamle !allow
Alp ulgen
Cblnna Ckolo
Cnyeka lgwe
1ahlrl !ones
norda ualey.

llnally we wlsh Lo acknowledge LhaL Lhls pro[ecL bullL upon Cver noL CuL
1
and Lhe MlgraLlon
loundaLlon fundlng for LhaL pro[ecL.

1 hLLp://www.meLropollLan.org.uk/lmages/Cver-noL-CuL.pdf


1 LkLCU1IVL SUMMAk
1.1 8ACkGkCUND
ln Lhe summer of 2011 Lhe 1rusL for London provlded a granL of 44,900 for an acLlon research
pro[ecL, Lhe uouble !eopardy ro[ecL, Lo be conducLed by a arLnershlp beLween M8A8C, Lhe
MeLro CenLre and raxls, wlLh M8A8C acLlng as Lhe dellvery agenL.

1he pro[ecL almed Lo Lackle Lhe lack of sLraLeglc supporL from boLh MlgranL and 8efugee
CommunlLy CrganlsaLlons (M8CCs) and LC81l organlsaLlons for Lesblan, Cay, 8lsexual, 1rans
and lnLersex (LC81l) asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs. 1hls lack of supporL was flrsL
ldenLlfled ln Cver noL CuL
2
, Lhe flrsL naLlonal sLudy of lssues affecLlng LC81l asylum seekers
and refugees ln Lhe uk.

1o achleve Lhls Lhe pro[ecL worked wlLh a range of M8CCs and LC81l organlsaLlons Lo help
Lhem lmprove Lhelr servlces for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs. 1he pro[ecL
LesLed guldance on how Lo do Lhls, and lnformed Lhe producLlon of Lhe gulde, 'Maklng your
organlsaLlon more welcomlng and supporLlve Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs',
whlch can now be used by oLher organlsaLlons seeklng Lo underLake slmllar change.

1.2 kL LLAkNING
ChapLer 4 of Lhls reporL provldes deLalls of Lhe full learnlng from Lhe pro[ecL, however key
polnLs lncluded:

!"#$%&" (")%$"#* )"+#,%,-

CrganlsaLlons need Lo ensure Lhey are publlcally and vlslbly welcomlng and supporLlve
Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
1he lnlLlal conLacL LhaL an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL has wlLh an
organlsaLlon ls vlLal ln esLabllshlng LrusL, and organlsaLlons need Lo ensure Lhls ls
handled approprlaLely.
CrganlsaLlons should Lry Lo engage wlLh any LC81l asylum seekers, refugees or
mlgranLs LhaL conLacL Lhelr organlsaLlon, raLher Lhan [usL referrlng/slgnposLlng Lhem
elsewhere lmmedlaLely, buL Lhey should be honesL abouL Lhe llmlLs of Lhelr
knowledge.
CrganlsaLlons LhaL have a dlrecL Lelephone enqulry number need Lo revlew Lhelr
proLocols for Lhls servlce Lo ensure lL ls sulLable for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and
mlgranLs (see p. 27)
Slmllarly organlsaLlons should revlew wheLher and how Lhey provlde face-Lo-face
appolnLmenLs (see p. 28).


M8AkC age S September 2013

.#-+,%/+0%1,+) )"+#,%,-

Whlle plloL organlsaLlons used Lhe same guldance as Lhe basls for Lhe changes Lhey
made, each Look declslons on Lhe parLlcular prlorlLles LhaL were mosL lmporLanL Lo
Lhem, and oLher organlsaLlons looklng Lo Lransform Lhelr servlces should approach Lhe
work ln Lhe same way.
lL ls vlLal for sLaff wlLhln organlsaLlons Lo lmprove Lhelr knowledge and lnformaLlon on
LC81l lssues and refugee/asylum seeker lssues, and recognlse oLher lssues LhaL may be
relevanL.
Slmllarly, organlsaLlons need Lo ensure LhaL Lhe aLLlLudes and skllls of sLaff who may
deal wlLh an enqulry from an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL are approprlaLe,
supporLlve and welcomlng.
lL ls lmporLanL LhaL organlsaLlons offer LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs
opLlons and cholce abouL how Lhey would llke Lo engage wlLh Lhe organlsaLlon and
whaL asslsLance Lhey would llke.
1he plloL organlsaLlons lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL beneflLed greaLly from Lhe lnvolvemenL
of LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs ln Lhe pro[ecL, and oLher organlsaLlons
underLaklng slmllar work would beneflL from lnvolvlng Lhls group ln Lransformlng Lhelr
servlces.
Some of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL had reservaLlons abouL
dlscusslng LC81l lssues wlLhln Lhelr own organlsaLlons, wlLh M8CCs and Lhe
communlLles Lhey work wlLh, however all found LhaL sLarLlng Lo dlscuss and addresslng
Lhese lssues was a poslLlve experlence, and suggesLed oLhers should noL be afrald Lo
conducL ouLreach on Lhese lssues.
A number of plloL organlsaLlons found LhaL Lhe LquallLy AcL 2010 was a useful Lool Lo
persuade oLher sLaff and servlce users Lo Lake LC81l and asylum seeker/refugee lssues
more serlously.

2#13"&0 )"+#,%,-

1aklng parL ln Lhls pro[ecL acLed as a slgnlflcanL moLlvaLor for Lhe plloL organlsaLlons
lnvolved Lo lmprove Lhelr servlces for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
ln general Lhe drafL guldance on Lransformlng organlsaLlons worked well, was
approprlaLe and helped organlsaLlons Lo lmplemenL change. Learnlng from Lhe use of
Lhls guldance lnformed Lhe flnal verslon of Lhe gulde lncluded ln Appendlx 3 of Lhls
reporL.
1he creaLlon of a number of Case SLudles, wrlLLen by LC81l asylum seekers and
refugees parLlclpaLlng ln Lhe pro[ecL, became a useful Lool Lo help plloL organlsaLlons
conLexLuallse Lhe work Lhey were dolng. 1hese are conLalned ln Appendlx 2 of Lhls
reporL.



1.3 kL kLCCMMLNDA1ICNS

ChapLer 6 of Lhls reporL provldes a full llsL of recommendaLlons for M8CCs and LC81l
organlsaLlons, second Ller supporL organlsaLlons, Lhe uouble !eopardy plloL organlsaLlons and
programme and 1rusL for London and oLher funders and commlssloners.

key recommendaLlons lnclude:

4"&155",(+0%1,/ 61# 748./ +,( 9:;<= 1#-+,%/+0%1,/
Ca|| to Act|on
As an organlsaLlon supporLlng refugees, asylum seekers and mlgranLs, or as an organlsaLlon
supporLlng LC81l people, you have a responslblllLy Lo provlde welcomlng and supporLlve
servlces Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
! use Lhls reporL and accompanylng gulde as a basls for Lransformlng your servlces Lo
make Lhem more welcomlng and supporLlve Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and
mlgranLs.
! PosL and publlclse Lhls reporL and Lhe gulde on your webslLe.
know|edge and sk|||s
! uevelop Lhe knowledge of your sLaff on LC81l lssues and/or asylum seeker, refugee
and mlgraLlon lssues, parLlcularly Lhose lssues affecLlng LC81l asylum seekers, refugees
and mlgranLs.
! 8ecognlse LhaL Lhe flrsL polnL of conLacL wlLh your organlsaLlon ls vlLal ln esLabllshlng a
poslLlve relaLlonshlp wlLh an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL, and ensure LhaL
sLaff have Lhe approprlaLe aLLlLude, knowledge and skllls Lo achleve Lhls.
! uevelop a llsL of known and LrusLed organlsaLlons for referral and slgnposLlng, and
make Lhls llsL avallable Lo servlce users.
Crgan|sat|ona| |eadersh|p
! Asslgn a key member/group of sLaff Lo drlve Lhe process, buL lnvolve as many people
as posslble wlLhln your organlsaLlon.
! rlorlLlse whaL your organlsaLlon needs and whaL ls achlevable.
! uo noL be afrald Lo dlscuss LC81l lssues wlLh M8CCs and Lhe communlLles Lhey work
wlLh. 8ecognlse LhaL Lhese may be challenglng lssues for !"#$ people Lo dlscuss, buL
encourage Lhese dlscusslons neverLheless. use Lhe LquallLy AcL 2010 as a Lool Lo press
Lhe lmporLance of Lhese equallLles lssues and Lhe legal requlremenL of organlsaLlons
noL Lo dlscrlmlnaLe on Lhe grounds of sexual orlenLaLlon, gender ldenLlLy, marrlage and
clvll parLnershlp sLaLus, race and rellglon or bellef.



Lngagement, |nc|us|on and partnersh|p
! 8ecognlse Lhe beneflLs of parLnershlp worklng Lo help wlLh Lhe process, and look Lo
parLner wlLh a local LC81l organlsaLlon (lf you are an M8CC) or a M8CC (lf you are an
LC81l organlsaLlon).
! Look aL lnvolvlng LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs ln your organlsaLlon,
parLlcularly ln Lhe process of change Lo become more welcomlng and supporLlve Lo
Lhls group.
! Lnsure LhaL your organlsaLlon ls publlcly welcomlng Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees
and mlgranLs and LhaL your servlce ls supporLlve Lo Lhem.
4"&155",(+0%1,/ 01 %,6)>",0%+) 9:;<= +,( #"6>-"" 1#-+,%/+0%1,/ +,( /"&1,( 0%"# />??1#0
1#-+,%/+0%1,/
! 8ecognlse Lhe lssues affecLlng LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs and your
responslblllLy Lo address Lhem, and use your lnfluence Lo advocaLe for change boLh
wlLhln your secLor and wlLhln oLher secLors.
! PosL Lhe reporL and gulde on your webslLe and promoLe lL uslng your webslLes,
newsleLLer, blogs, soclal medla eLc.
! Lncourage and creaLe debaLe on Lhese lssues aL a reglonal and naLlonal level (e.g., aL
conferences).
Second t|er support organ|sat|ons
! 8ecognlse your role ln ralslng awareness, dellverlng Lralnlng and provldlng supporL Lo
organlsaLlons (ln parLlcular small grassrooLs communlLy groups) and use Lhls reporL
and gulde as parL of your capaclLy bulldlng and champlonlng of equallLles and dlverslLy.
4"&155",(+0%1,/ 01 <#>/0 61# 91,(1, +,( 10@"# 6>,("#/ +,( &155%//%1,"#/
As funders you have Lhe power and lnfluence Lo address Lhese lssues, and a responslblllLy Lo
Lhe secLor Lo do so, parLlcularly as parL of an equallLles agenda.
Inf|uenc|ng
! use Lhe flndlngs of Lhls reporL and Lhe acLlons suggesLed ln Lhe gulde Lo challenge
organlsaLlons LhaL you fund and commlsslon on Lhe exLenL Lo whlch Lhelr servlces offer
equallLy Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
! ulscuss Lhese lssues wlLh oLher funders and lnfluence Lhem Lo promoLe acLlon on
Lhese lssues.
Iund|ng
! Conslder how Lhe acLlons ouLllned ln Lhe gulde could be adapLed lnLo fundlng
requlremenLs for LC81l organlsaLlons and M8CCs ln fuLure.
! Conslder fundlng co-producLlon pro[ecLs/servlces ln whlch LC81l organlsaLlons parLner
wlLh M8CCs Lo Lackle Lhe lack of approprlaLe servlces for LC81l asylum seekers,


refugees and mlgranLs, encouraglng organlsaLlons from Lhese Lwo secLors Lo work
more closely wlLh each oLher.
Grant mak|ng, mon|tor|ng and eva|uat|on
! Lnsure LhaL equallLles frameworks cover LC81l lssues speclflcally, and LhaL
organlsaLlons you provlde granLs Lo have a sulLable LquallLy and ulverslLy pollcy whlch
clearly welcomes LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
! Lnsure pro[ecLs you fund gaLher monlLorlng daLa on Lhe number of LC81l and asylum
seeker/refugee/mlgranL servlce users accesslng Lhelr servlces, and ask Lhem Lo show
how Lhey lnvolve Lhls cllenL group ln Lhelr organlsaLlon and servlces.


2 IN1kCDUC1ICN AND 8ACkGkCUND
2.1 8ACkGkCUND

ln Lhe summer of 2011 Lhe 1rusL for London provlded a granL of 44,900 for an acLlon research
pro[ecL, Lhe uouble !eopardy ro[ecL, Lo be conducLed by a arLnershlp beLween M8A8C, Lhe
MeLro CenLre and raxls, wlLh M8A8C acLlng as Lhe dellvery agenL.

1he pro[ecL was funded for Lhe perlod SepLember 2011 Lo !uly 2013, and addressed Lwo 1rusL
for London prlorlLles:

Alm 1wo - promoLlng Lhe lncluslon of recenL arrlvals ln Lhe uk, focuslng on Lhose who
have arrlved ln Lhe uk because Lhey are belng persecuLed for Lhelr sexuallLy (and
gender ldenLlLy), and
Alm 1hree - promoLlng soclal [usLlce - by Lackllng Lhe double excluslon experlenced by
Lesblan, Cay, 8lsexual, 1rans and lnLersex (LC81l) mlgranLs arlslng from Lhelr sexuallLy
and Lhelr lmmlgraLlon sLaLus.

lL ls lmporLanL Lo noLe aL Lhls sLage LhaL Lhls pro[ecL wlll lnclude Lhe Lerm lnLersex wlLhln our
deflnlLlon of LC81(l).

lnLersex" descrlbes a person whose blologlcal sex ls amblguous - a person whose sex
chromosomes, genlLalla and/or sex characLerlsLlcs are deLermlned Lo be nelLher excluslvely
male nor female. A person who ls lnLersex may have characLerlsLlcs of boLh male and female
sexes. 1here are many geneLlc, hormonal or anaLomlcal varlaLlons whlch make a person's sex
amblguous (e.g. kllnefelLer Syndrome, Adrenal Pyperplasla). arenLs and medlcal professlonals
usually asslgn lnLersex lnfanLs a sex and perform surglcal operaLlons Lo conform Lhe lnfanL's
body Lo LhaL asslgnmenL. 1hls pracLlce has become lncreaslngly conLroverslal as lnLersex
adulLs are speaklng ouL agalnsL Lhe pracLlce, accuslng docLors of lnfanL CenlLal MuLllaLlon
(lCM) lgnorlng Lhe human rlghLs of Lhe chlld Lo declde gender ldenLlLy.

lnLersex mlgranLs are slmllarly persecuLed for Lhelr sexuallLy and gender ldenLlLy as Lesblan,
Cay, 8lsexual and 1rans mlgranLs.

1he orlglnal appllcaLlon sLaLed LhaL Lhe pro[ecL would:

CreaLe a cohorL of LC81l refugees and mlgranLs who can supporL and challenge
volunLary CommunlLy CrganlsaLlons (vCCs) organlsaLlons Lo develop more responslve
servlces,
uevelop road-LesLed" guldance for communlLy organlsaLlons (boLh MlgranL and
8efugee CommunlLy CrganlsaLlons (M8CCs) and LC81l vCCs) Lo ensure Lhey provlde
responslve and welcomlng servlces Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs,
and


uevelop guldance for funders and commlssloners of servlces Lo ensure LhaL Lhe
servlces Lhey fund can provlde quallLy servlces LhaL deal wlLh Lhe dlverslLy wlLhln
communlLles ln relaLlon Lo sexuallLy, gender ldenLlLy, eLhnlclLy and lmmlgraLlon sLaLus.

1he key ouLcome lndlcaLors were ldenLlfled as:

lncreased use of LC81l and M8CC communlLy servlces by LC81l mlgranLs,
1he numbers of LC81l and M8CC communlLy servlces adopLlng Lhe speclflcaLlon" for
LC81l mlgranL-frlendly servlces,
1he numbers of funders ln London uslng Lhe Lools developed by Lhls pro[ecL Lo ensure
LhaL Lhe LC81l and M8CC organlsaLlons LhaL Lhey fund are provldlng welcomlng and
accesslble servlces Lo LC81l mlgranLs, and
Accesslble servlces for LC81l mlgranLs.

2.2 CkIGINAL kA1ICNAL ICk 1nL kCILC1

LC81l lndlvlduals face more exLreme soclal and flnanclal excluslon and greaLer rlsk of
explolLaLlon Lhan oLher groups of refugees and mlgranLs. WhllsL llfe ls Lough for all asylum
seekers lL can be doubly so for Lhose who are LC81l. lor example, LC81l asylum seekers can
experlence hlgh levels of homophobla/blphobla and Lransphobla, lncludlng vlolence, when
dlspersed Lo uk8A accommodaLlon and clusLered wlLh Lhelr eLhnlc communlLy. 1hls can lead
Lo Lhem glvlng up uk8A accommodaLlon, resulLlng ln a loss of all oLher governmenL funded
supporL.

1here ls no accuraLe daLa on Lhe number of LC81l refugees and mlgranLs ln Lhe uk, as uk8A
does noL currenLly publlsh sLaLlsLlcs on Lhe numbers of LC81l asylum seekers enLerlng Lhe uk,
however lL ls esLlmaLed LhaL Lhe number of LC8 asylum seekers arrlvlng each monLh ls around
130, plus 2-3 Lransgendered asylum seekers
3
. LsLlmaLes of Lhe number of LC81l asylum
seekers, refugees and newly arrlved mlgranLs ln London are beLween 30,000 and 30,000.

1hls acLlon research pro[ecL almed Lo Lackle some of Lhe lssues ldenLlfled ln %&$' )"* %+*
,

(M8A8C, 2009), Lhe flrsL comprehenslve sLudy of LC81l asylum seekers ln Lhe uk. ln parLlcular
Lhe pro[ecL almed Lo Lackle Lhe double [eopardy" or excluslon experlenced by LC81l asylum
seekers, refugees and mlgranLs, wlLh LC81l organlsaLlons lll equlpped Lo supporL asylum
seekers and M8CCs unwllllng Lo acknowledge Lhe exlsLence and needs of LC81l people ln Lhelr
communlLles.

M8A8C's subsequenL %&$' )"* %+* -$.'$!/$0
1
(2012) reporL examlned progress agalnsL Lhe
orlglnal recommendaLlons of %&$' )"* %+*, and found LhaL Lhere had yeL Lo be a seL of acLlons
by Lhe volunLary secLor aL a sLraLeglc level Lo address Lhe shorLfalls of supporL for LC81l asylum
seekers, refugees and mlgranLs. 1hls acLlon research pro[ecL almed Lo address LhaL shorLfall.

3 uk esLlmaLes now valldaLed agalnsL Canadlan CovernmenL sLaLlsLlcs slnce Lhe lnLroducLlon of daLa collecLlon ln 2006, see
hLLp://www.meLropollLan.org.uk/lmages/MeLropollLan-Ml-LC81-Cver-noL-CuL2012-flnal1.pdf
3 hLLp://www.meLropollLan.org.uk/lmages/MeLropollLan-Ml-LC81-Cver-noL-CuL2012-flnal1.pdf


WlLhln Lhe currenL flnanclal cllmaLe lL ls worLh noLlng LhaL Lhls pro[ecL was noL abouL creaLlng
new servlces, buL maklng exlsLlng servlces and organlsaLlons more responslve and lncluslve.
We suggesL LhaL Lhere are sLrong parallels wlLh Lhe poslLlon of women ln M8CCs flfLeen years
ago, whlch was Lransformed Lhrough supporL and leadershlp, releaslng Lhe poLenLlal of female
refugees Lo conLrlbuLe Lo Lhelr own well-belng and Lo wlder socleLy. 1hls pro[ecL seeks Lo do
Lhe same for and wlLh LC81l mlgranLs.


3 AC1ICN 1AkLN
1he pro[ecL lnvolved Lhe followlng key phases and acLlvlLles.

3.1 nASL CNL - kCILC1 DLVLLCMLN1

Set-Up of Adv|sory Group

An Advlsory Croup was convened ln auLumn of 2011, wlLh Lhe followlng members:

1rusL for London (as funder)
M8A8C (as pro[ecL parLner)
MeLro CenLre (as pro[ecL parLner)
raxls (as pro[ecL parLner)
8arneL 8efugee Servlce
CharlLles LvaluaLlon Servlces
Calop
Creenwlch unlverslLy
LvSC (London volunLary Servlce Councll)
8LA (8efugees ln LffecLlve & AcLlve arLnershlp)
8efugee ?ouLh
SouLhwark 8efugee CommunlLles lorum
SLonewall Pouslng
ukLClC (uk Lesblan & Cay lmmlgraLlon Croup).

1he flrsL meeLlng was held ln november 2011, wlLh subsequenL meeLlngs Laklng place aL leasL
quarLerly, and more frequenLly where requlred.

Deve|opment of a draft 'Serv|ce Spec|f|cat|on'
ln consulLaLlon wlLh Lhe Advlsory Croup, M8A8C drafLed a 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' wlLh
suggesLlons of how vCCs could Lransform Lhelr servlces Lo ensure accesslblllLy Lo servlces for
LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
1he documenL conLalned dlfferenL secLlons for M8CCs and LC81l vCCs, seLLlng ouL pracLlcal
and reallsLlc sLeps Lhey could Lake Lo lmprove servlces for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and
mlgranLs ln Lhe shorL (6 monLhs), medlum (12 monLhs) and longer (2-3 years) Lerm.
kecru|tment of p||ot organ|sat|ons
M8A8C worked wlLh 1rusL for London and Lhe Advlsory Croup Lo devlse a llsL of vCCs LhaL
could be approached Lo parLlclpaLe ln Lhe pro[ecL. M8A8C Lhen conLacLed Lhese organlsaLlons
ln sprlng 2012 Lo explaln Lhe purpose of Lhe pro[ecL and Lo lnvlLe Lhem Lo parLlclpaLe.


A semlnar was held ln early !une 2012 for lnLeresLed organlsaLlons Lo flnd ouL more abouL Lhe
pro[ecL and whaL Lhey would be requlred Lo do lf Lhey became plloL organlsaLlons. M8A8C also
vlslLed a number of oLher organlsaLlons LhaL had been unable Lo aLLend Lhe semlnar Lo dlscuss
Lhe pro[ecL ln more deLall.
ln LoLal slx LC81l organlsaLlons and slx M8CCs were recrulLed, as follows:
7%-#+,0A #"6>-"" +,( +/*)>5 /""B"# 1#-+,%/+0%1,/
Lve|yn C|df|e|d Un|t - 1he Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL ls an lndependenL, membershlp-based,
charlLable organlsaLlon, almlng Lo provlde, develop and coordlnaLe speclallsL ald and supporL
servlces for esLabllshed 8efugee and MlgranL CrganlsaLlons ln order Lo lncrease Lhelr capaclLy
and poLenLlal for meeLlng Lhe needs of Lhelr communlLles.
hLLp://www.evelynoldfleld.co.uk/
IndoAmer|can kefugee M|grant Commun|ty (IkMC) - Lat|n Amer|can kefugee ro[ect -
l8MC's mlsslon ls Lo promoLe any charlLable purpose for Lhe beneflL of people of lndoamerlcan
orlgln, prlmarlly buL noL excluslvely resldenL ln CreaL 8rlLaln, by Lhe advancemenL of educaLlon
and culLure, Lhe proLecLlon of healLh and Lhe rellef of poverLy, slckness and dlsLress. lL provldes
advlce, lnformaLlon, Lralnlng and educaLlon Lo promoLe and develop Lhe general welfare and
prosperlLy of people of lndoamerlcan orlgln (especlally Lhe slck, Lhe unemployed, Lhe elderly,
women and chlldren).
hLLp://www.lrmo.org.uk/maln/

nackney kefugee Iorum C Packney 8efugee lorum ls an umbrella organlsaLlon whlch was
founded ln Aprll 2000 Lo supporL refugee organlsaLlons ln Lhe London 8orough of Packney.
PosLed by Packney CvS, lL has 11 dlfferenL refugee organlsaLlons on lLs SLeerlng Croup and
works wlLh 62 dlfferenL refugee and asylum seeker communlLy organlsaLlons. lLs role ls Lo
sLrengLhen refugee communlLles and represenL Lhelr [olnL lnLeresLs ln Lhe borough of Packney.

hLLp://www.hackneycen.org.uk/lndex.php?caLegory=14&sec=64&page=204

rax|s C raxls CommunlLy ro[ecLs works wlLh vulnerable mlgranLs, provldlng supporL, advlce
and a welcome meeLlng space for vulnerable mlgranLs and refugees ln London. lL operaLes a
walk ln advlce servlce and pro[ecLs whlch seek Lo address Lhe fundamenLal human rlghLs of
new mlgranLs.

hLLp://www.praxls.org.uk/

Southwark kefugee Commun|ty Iorum (SkCI) C SouLhwark 8efugee CommunlLles lorum
(S8Cl) was esLabllshed by 8efugee CommunlLy CrganlsaLlons (8CC) ln 2003, wlLh Lhe alm of
enabllng Lhe volces of refugees Lhemselves Lo be heard and Lo develop muLual supporL
beLween newly arrlved and more esLabllshed communlLles.


hLLp://www.souLhwarkrefugeecommunlLles.org.uk/srcf/lndex.hLml
kAMILL (kefugee and M|grant Iorum of Last London) - 8AMlLL ls Lhe 8efugee and MlgranL
lorum of LasL London. Crlglnally esLabllshed ln 1992 as 8edbrldge 8efugee lorum, ln 2007 lL
changed lLs name Lo beLLer reflecL lLs work across London, and Lo develop new servlces for
mlgranLs. lL ls a noL-for-proflL organlsaLlon worklng Lowards ellmlnaLlng dlscrlmlnaLlon and
dlsadvanLage.
hLLp://www.ramfel.org.uk/
9:;<= .#-+,%/+0%1,/
Camden LG81 Iorum C Camden LC81 lorum ls run by LC81 people for LC81 people and holds a
monLhly meeLlng open Lo all LC81 people ln Lhe London 8orough of Camden and Lhose wlLh
concerns abouL LC81 lssues. 1he lorum ensures LhaL Lhe rlghLs and lnLeresLs of LC81 people
are represenLed ln Camden Lhrough a comblnaLlon of casework and advocacy, schools/youLh
work, pollcy/advlsory work, mapplng and crlme analysls, Lralnlng, evenLs and ouLreach and
ralslng awareness of LC81 lssues.

hLLp://camdenlgbLforum.org.uk/

Ga|op C Calop ls London's leadlng LC81 anLl-vlolence charlLy. lL glves advlce and supporL Lo
people who have experlenced blphobla, homophobla, Lransphobla, sexual vlolence or
domesLlc abuse. lL also supporLs lesblan, gay, blsexual, Lrans and queer people who have had
problems wlLh Lhe pollce or have quesLlons abouL Lhe crlmlnal [usLlce sysLem.
hLLp://www.galop.org.uk/
1he Metro Centre C 1he MeLro CenLre ls a charlLy worklng ln parLnershlp wlLh sLaLuLory and
volunLary organlsaLlons Lo supporL people experlenclng lssues relaLed Lo sexuallLy, ldenLlLy,
gender and dlverslLy, worklng prlmarlly across SouLh LasL London, buL lncreaslngly across Lhe
whole of London, naLlonally and lnLernaLlonally.

hLLps://www.meLrocenLreonllne.org/

kedbr|dge ka|nbow Commun|ty (now kedbr|dge ka|nbow) - 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy
ls a forum based group prlmarlly for Lesblan and 8lsexual Women, Cay and 8lsexual Men, and
1rans-gendered people, who llve, work, sLudy and/or soclallse wlLhln Lhe London 8orough of
8edbrldge. eople from organlsaLlons wlLhln 8edbrldge who are supporLlve of LC81 people
and Lhe lssues Lhey face are also welcome Lo Lhe group. lL dlscusses and Lrles Lo resolve Lhe
lssues faced by Lhe CommunlLy ln 8edbrldge and has sLrong Lles wlLh Lhe ML1 ollce,
8edbrldge 8orough Councll, 8AMlLL and oLher local volunLary groups.

hLLp://www.redbrldgeralnbowcommunlLy.org.uk/

M8AkC age 1S September 2013

Stonewa|| nous|ng C SLonewall Pouslng ls Lhe speclallsL lesblan, gay, blsexual and Lransgender
(LC81) houslng advlce and supporL provlder ln Lngland. lL provldes houslng supporL for LC81
people ln Lhelr own homes, supporLed houslng for young LC81 people, as well as free,
confldenLlal houslng advlce for LC81 people of all ages. lL also researches and lobbles for LC81
houslng rlghLs, so LhaL all LC81 people can feel safe and secure ln Lhelr homes.

hLLp://www.sLonewallhouslng.org/

D"/0 91,(1, :+* 7",E/ 2#13"&0 FD9:72G C WLCM exlsLs Lo offer servlces and supporL Lo a
dlverse communlLy of men who have sex wlLh men (MSM) and oLhers. lL seeks Lo empower
lndlvlduals and communlLles Lo make poslLlve, lnformed cholces abouL Lhelr sexual healLh and
overall wellbelng, and provldes servlces dlrecLly Lo MSM, and oLher under-served groups ln
Lhelr area, and Lo oLher professlonals worklng wlLh gay and blsexual men and MSM.

hLLp://www.wesLlondongmp.org.uk/

ln addlLlon 8elaLe norLh WesL London was also recrulLed Lo Lhe pro[ecL, as whlle noL sLrlcLly an
LC81l organlsaLlon or a M8CC, lL works wlLh boLh of Lhese communlLles.
4")+0" H1#0@ D"/0 91,(1, C 8elaLe norLh WesL London ls a member of Lhe 8elaLe lederaLlon
whlch has a naLlonal neLwork of 73 cenLres and ls afflllaLed Lo Lhe 8rlLlsh AssoclaLlon for
Counselllng and sychoLherapy (8AC). lL offers relaLlonshlp counselllng, sex Lherapy, famlly
counselllng, famlly medlaLlon, Lralnlng and workshops ln Lhe flve London 8oroughs of 8arneL,
8renL, Lallng, Parrow and Pllllngdon, as well as a locaLlon ln WesLmlnsLer.

Whlle Lhe organlsaLlon ls nelLher an LC81l or refugee organlsaLlon, lL has worked wlLh Lhe
LC81l communlLy and refugees and asylum seekers ln Lhe pasL, and was lnLeresLed ln
lmprovlng lLs undersLandlng of Lhese lssues, and Lhe servlces lL offers Lo Lhese communlLles.

hLLp://www.relaLelondonnw.org.uk/

kecru|tment of team of Commun|ty kesearchers
ln order Lo recrulL a Leam of CommunlLy 8esearchers, Lhemselves all LC81l asylum seekers,
refugees or mlgranLs, an adverL was clrculaLed by pro[ecL parLners Lhrough varlous relevanL
neLworks.
AlLhough Lhe lnlLlal response was slow, by !uly 2012 M8A8C was able Lo appolnL a Leam of
nlne CommunlLy 8esearchers. 1wo of Lhe Leam were uk naLlonals (raLher Lhan asylum seekers,
refugees or mlgranLs), buL had exLenslve personal and professlonal experlence of Lhe asylum
sysLem, and Lhree were currenL asylum seekers (worklng on a volunLary basls), Lwo refugees
and Lwo mlgranLs. All CommunlLy 8esearchers were Lhemselves LC81l.
1ra|n|ng of Commun|ty kesearchers


Pavlng appolnLed Lhe CommunlLy 8esearcher Leam, a Lralnlng sesslon was held ln AugusL
2012, coverlng:
8ackground Lo Lhe pro[ecL ,
lnformaLlon abouL Lhe uouble !eopardy ro[ecL,
8ole of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers,
1ralnlng ln performlng an 'audlL' role,
lnLervlewlng skllls and pracLlcallLles, and
LmploymenL and volunLeerlng agreemenLs wlLh M8A8C.

3.2 nASL 1WC - 1kAINING, SUCk1 AND CkGANISA1ICNAL DLVLLCMLN1

Deve|opment day for VCCs
A developmenL day was held on 13
Lh
AugusL 2012 wlLh plloL organlsaLlons, CommunlLy
8esearchers and members of Lhe Advlsory Croup Lo furLher dlscuss Lhe drafL 'Servlce
SpeclflcaLlon' and lLs lmplemenLaLlon wlLh Lhe plloL organlsaLlons, ouLllne whaL supporL would
be avallable from M8A8C and Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers Lo asslsL wlLh Lhls process, agree
mechanlsms for allowlng plloL pro[ecLs Lo learn from each oLher, descrlbe Lhe role of Lhe
CommunlLy 8esearchers, and seL ouL how organlsaLlons would be 'audlLed' by Lhe CommunlLy
8esearchers aL Lhe beglnnlng and end of Lhe pro[ecL Lo see whaL progress Lhey had made
agalnsL Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon'.
Commun|ty kesearcher V|s|ts to ||ot Crgan|sat|ons
Lach plloL organlsaLlon was palred wlLh a CommunlLy 8esearcher, wlLh Lhe CommunlLy
8esearcher maklng an lnlLlal vlslL Lo Lhe organlsaLlon ln order Lo meeL wlLh sLaff Lhere, flnd ouL
more abouL Lhe organlsaLlon and make an lnlLlal assessmenL agalnsL Lhe drafL 'Servlce
SpeclflcaLlon', Lo enable comparlson agaln aL Lhe end of Lhe pro[ecL.
ro[ect Meet|ngs
M8A8C faclllLaLed a serles of four pro[ecL meeLlngs durlng Lhe pro[ecL (AugusL 2012 - May
2013), wlLh Lhe purpose of allowlng plloL organlsaLlons, CommunlLy 8esearchers, Advlsory
Croup members and M8A8C sLaff Lo dlscuss progress and challenges, and share learnlng wlLh
each oLher.
lssues dlscussed ln Lhe pro[ecL meeLlngs lncluded:
rovldlng background lnformaLlon on Lhe pro[ecL and Lhe lssues lL soughL Lo address,


leedback on Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' and lLs use,
8eporLs from plloL organlsaLlons on Lhelr progress Lo daLe (lndlvldually and ln Lerms of
parLnershlp worklng),
Llnklng plloL organlsaLlons so Lhey could work more closely wlLh each oLher, and
allowlng Lhem Llme Lo dlscuss collaboraLlon,
resenLlng and dlscusslng a number of case sLudles developed by CommunlLy
8esearchers,
A sesslon on deflnlLlons of LC81l, provlded by ukLClC,
ulscusslon of 'mysLery shopplng' phone calls, and level of servlce LhaL LC81l asylum
seekers, refugees and mlgranL oughL Lo be able Lo expecL from organlsaLlons,
ulscusslon of oLher acLlon organlsaLlons could Lake Lo lmprove Lhelr servlces for LC81l
asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs,
SLaff challenge sesslons (wlLh sLaff from dlfferenL organlsaLlons challenglng each oLher
on Lhe progress made durlng Lhe pro[ecL), and
CommunlLy 8esearcher feedback on Lhelr experlences of belng lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL.
Cn||ne Support
M8A8C creaLed an onllne lacebook age Lo promoLe Lhe pro[ecL and a ?ahoo Croup Lo allow
pro[ecLs Lo communlcaLe onllne, however upLake of Lhe ?ahoo Croup was mlnlmal, and only
some of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons [olned Lhe lacebook age, wlLh llLLle use of Lhe page.
M8AkC Support
ln addlLlon Lo faclllLaLlng pro[ecL meeLlngs and provldlng supporL maLerlals Lo plloL
organlsaLlons, M8A8C was avallable Lo supporL organlsaLlons where Lhey had speclflc
quesLlons on Lhe pro[ecL, or where addlLlonal Lralnlng was requlred (e.g., Lo supporL new
members of sLaff Lo carry on Lhe acLlvlLles of Lhe pro[ecL).
Deve|opment of Case Stud|es
M8A8C worked wlLh a number of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers Lo supporL Lhem Lo wrlLe case
sLudles on Lhelr experlences of belng LC81l asylum seekers/refugees. 1hese were shared wlLh
plloL organlsaLlons Lo use lnLernally wlLhln Lhelr own organlsaLlons Lo help wlLh Lhe pro[ecL
(e.g., sLaff Lralnlng), and Lhey were also used Lo sLlmulaLe dlscusslon among plloL pro[ecLs
durlng one of Lhe pro[ecL meeLlngs.
1he case sLudles can be found ln Appendlx 1.


Mystery Shopp|ng hone Ca||s
1he Leam of CommunlLy 8esearchers made a number of 'mysLery shopplng' phone calls Lo Lhe
plloL organlsaLlons (Lwo Lo each organlsaLlon) ln order Lo LesL how each organlsaLlon would
reacL Lo an LC81l asylum seeker/refugee calllng Lhem for supporL, advlce or help.
1he purpose of Lhe phone calls was Lo flnd ouL abouL:
Pow easy lL was Lo conLacL Lhe organlsaLlon,
1esL Lhe aLLlLudes of sLaff Lo a caller sLaLlng Lhey were an LC81l asylum
seeker/refugee,
Assess wheLher Lhe sLaff member seemed knowledgeable abouL LC81l and asylum
seeker/refugee lssues,
Assess wheLher Lhe sLaff member was maklng any assumpLlons abouL a caller as an
LC81l asylum seeker/refugee,
llnd ouL wheLher Lhe sLaff member was able Lo suggesL any useful sources of
lnformaLlon, or slgnposL Lo oLher organlsaLlons LhaL may be able Lo help, and
Assess wheLher Lhey were able Lo reassure Lhe caller abouL confldenLlallLy.
AfLer each phone call a reporL was glven Lo Lhe plloL organlsaLlon, ln order for Lhem Lo revlew
and dlscuss lnLernally, wlLh Lhe alm of helplng organlsaLlons Lo revlew and lmprove Lhelr
servlce.
leedback on Lhe 'mysLery shopplng' phone calls was also used Lo generaLe debaLe ln one of
Lhe pro[ecL meeLlngs, wlLh plloL organlsaLlons reflecLlng on Lhe feedback, and dlscusslng wlLh
CommunlLy 8esearchers how Lhey could lmprove Lhe servlce Lhey offer when LC81l asylum
seekers/refugees phone Lhelr organlsaLlons.
3.3 nASL 1nkLL - ASSLSSING kCGkLSS CI CkGANISA1ICNS

lloL organlsaLlons were responslble for lmplemenLlng changes wlLhln Lhelr own organlsaLlon,
wlLh Lhe pro[ecL meeLlngs, M8A8C supporL, 'mysLery shopplng' phone calls and CommunlLy
8esearcher vlslLs acLlng as an on-golng assessmenL and lncenLlve for organlsaLlons Lo conLlnue
Lo lmprove Lhelr servlce over Lhe duraLlon of Lhe pro[ecL.
AL Lhe end of Lhe pro[ecL each plloL organlsaLlon was assessed Lo examlne whaL progress Lhey
had made over Lhe duraLlon of Lhe pro[ecL. 1hls was done ln a number of dlfferenL ways,
lncludlng Lhe followlng:



Staff Cha||enge Sess|ons
AL Lhe flnal pro[ecL meeLlng sLaff from each plloL organlsaLlon were puL lnLo palrs, and were
asked Lo conducL a 'crlLlcal frlend' exerclse wlLh each oLher, where Lhey challenged each oLher
on whaL changes Lhelr organlsaLlon had made durlng Lhe pro[ecL, how Lhey were plannlng Lo
conLlnue Lhe work ln fuLure, whaL challenges and dlfflculLles Lhere had been and wheLher/how
Lhese had been overcome.
Lach sLaff member was asked Lo compleLe a reporL on Lhe organlsaLlon Lhey were
lnLervlewlng, and Lhese were reLurned Lo M8A8C for analysls.
Se|f-assessment
lor Lhose organlsaLlons unable Lo aLLend Lhe flnal pro[ecL meeLlng, sLaff were asked Lo self-
assess Lhelr own organlsaLlon, respondlng Lo Lhe same quesLlons as compleLed ln Lhe 'crlLlcal
frlend' exerclse.
I|na| Commun|ty kesearcher V|s|t to Crgan|sat|ons
ln !une 2013 Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers made a flnal vlslL Lo each plloL organlsaLlon Lo meeL
wlLh sLaff agaln and examlne whaL changes each organlsaLlon had managed Lo make durlng
Lhe pro[ecL, uslng Lhelr lnlLlal vlslL assessmenL agalnsL Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' as a
means for comparlson.
ln order Lo capLure any addlLlonal changes and lmprovemenLs LhaL organlsaLlons had made,
CommunlLy 8esearchers also asked sLaff aL each organlsaLlon Lo Lell Lhem of alLernaLlve or
addlLlonal lmprovemenLs LhaL Lhey had made Lo Lhelr organlsaLlons and servlces, as well as Lo
deLall any challenges or dlfflculLles Lhey had faced.
Lach CommunlLy 8esearcher compleLed a reporL LhaL was submlLLed Lo M8A8C.
M8AkC |nterv|ews w|th p||ot organ|sat|on staff
ln addlLlon Lo Lhe lnformaLlon and feedback gaLhered Lhrough pro[ecL meeLlngs, Lhe reporLs
from Lhe sLaff challenge sesslons, and Lhe flnal reporLs from Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers,
M8A8C also conducLed a number of Lelephone lnLervlews wlLh plloL organlsaLlon sLaff ln order
Lo clarlfy or expand on parLlcular polnLs of deLall.



4 LLAkNING IkCM 1nL kCILC1
ln Lhls secLlon we seL ouL Lhe key learnlng from Lhe pro[ecL, under Lhe followlng secLlons:
ro[ecL learnlng,
CrganlsaLlonal learnlng,
Servlce dellvery learnlng.

ueLalls of Lhe achlevemenLs of each plloL organlsaLlon can be found ln Appendlx 2.
4.1 kCILC1 LLAkNING

I/"6>),"// 16 ?#13"&0 5""0%,-/
lnlLlally Lhe pro[ecL scope had only allowed for one [olnL meeLlng of all of Lhe plloL
organlsaLlons, however lL became clear aL Lhe flrsL meeLlng LhaL gaLherlng all of Lhe plloL
organlsaLlons LogeLher several Llmes LhroughouL Lhe pro[ecL would be beneflclal.
ro[ecL meeLlngs became lmporLanL Lo Lhe progress of Lhe pro[ecL, acLlng as boLh a means for
checklng Lhe progress of each organlsaLlon (and a prompL Lo encourage Lhem Lo make
progress beLween meeLlngs) and an opporLunlLy for plloL organlsaLlons Lo learn from each
oLher and dlscuss challenges and how Lo overcome Lhese.
1he pro[ecL meeLlngs were also aLLended by Lhe group of CommunlLy 8esearchers, and Lhls
allowed subsLanLlal dlalogue beLween Lhem and Lhe plloL organlsaLlons, wlLh slgnlflcanL
learnlng on lssues for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs Laklng place ln Lhese
meeLlngs, as well as dlscusslons on whaL changes plloL organlsaLlons should be Lrylng Lo make.
1he pro[ecL meeLlngs were deslgned Lo be lnformaLlve, lnLeracLlve, Lo have CommunlLy
8esearchers worklng wlLh plloL organlsaLlons and Lo conLaln a mlxLure of dlscusslon and group
exerclses Lackllng pro[ecL lssues. 1hey lncluded sesslons on Lhe background Lo Lhe pro[ecL and
lssues LhaL LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs face, as well as a sesslon on
deflnlLlons of LC81l.
Cne learnlng polnL was LhaL Lhe Lralnlng on deflnlLlons of LC81l should have been dellvered
earller ln Lhe pro[ecL, when plloL organlsaLlons had Lhe leasL knowledge around LC81l Lerms. A
glossary of Lerms has been lncluded as parL of Lhe gulde lnLended for use by oLher
organlsaLlons.
I/"6>),"// 16 &+/" /0>(%"/
uurlng Lhe pro[ecL lL became clear LhaL plloL organlsaLlons would beneflL from case sLudles of
experlences of LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs ln order Lo help Lhem
conLexLuallse Lhe work LhaL Lhey were dolng and Lo use as a resource Lo help wlLh awareness
ralslng and Lralnlng wlLhln Lhelr own organlsaLlons and beyond.


As a resulL M8A8C worked wlLh a number of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers Lo develop several
case sLudles of Lhelr experlences as LC81l asylum seekers and refugees. ln drafLlng Lhe case
sLudles and sendlng Lhem Lo varlous named organlsaLlons for commenL and response, Lhe
pro[ecL challenged a number of organlsaLlons Lo conslder how Lhey respond Lo LC81l asylum
seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
Whlle lL would have been beneflclal Lo have Lhese aL an earller sLage ln Lhe pro[ecL, Lhe case
sLudles were appreclaLed by Lhe plloL organlsaLlons when Lhey were compleLed.
1he case sLudles are lncluded ln Appendlx 1.
9"+#,%,- 6#15 J($%/1#* :#1>?
1he Advlsory Croup for Lhls pro[ecL was exLremely valuable, brlnglng a wlde range of experLlse
Lo Lhe pro[ecL. A number of learnlng polnLs from Lhe lnvolvemenL of Lhe group were:
Whlle Lhe lnlLlal membershlp of Lhe Advlsory Croup had represenLaLlon from 14
organlsaLlons, aLLendance aL Lhe group varled, and by Lhe end of Lhe pro[ecL only half
of Lhe group was regularly aLLendlng meeLlngs. 1hls hlghllghLs Lhe beneflL of havlng a
large number of people on Lhe Advlsory Croup lnlLlally, as Lhey are always llkely Lo be
people who are no longer able Lo aLLend (for a varleLy of reasons).
Lach of Lhe organlsaLlons regularly aLLendlng Lhe Advlsory Croup has glven slgnlflcanL
sLaff Llme Lo Lhls pro[ecL. Slmllar pro[ecLs may wlsh Lo examlne wheLher Lhls could be
resourced, parLlcularly ln Lhe currenL economlc cllmaLe, when sLaff resources are
already sLreLched.
Whlle Lhe advlce of Lhe Advlsory Croup has been vlLal Lo Lhe success of Lhe pro[ecL, Lhe
pro[ecL parLners have welcomed Lhe auLonomy Lo make declslons on Lhe pro[ecL ln
dlscusslon wlLh Lhe funder, and recommend an 'Advlsory Croup' role raLher Lhan a
'SLeerlng Croup' for slmllar pro[ecLs.
Whlle Lhere were several LC81l vCCs and M8CCs represenLed on Lhe Advlsory Croup,
ln hlndslghL lL would have been approprlaLe Lo ldenLlfy an LC81l asylum seeker,
refugee or mlgranL Lo [oln Lhe Advlsory group.

2#13"&0 +/ + 510%$+01#
Several of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons commenLed LhaL volunLeerlng Lo Lake parL ln Lhe pro[ecL had
provlded Lhem wlLh Lhe moLlvaLlon and focus Lo make changes Lo Lhelr organlsaLlon Lo make lL
more welcomlng and supporLlve for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees.
lL was helpful Lo have Lhe pro[ecL as a focus, lL was a sLrong moLlvaLor" (lloL
organlsaLlon).
A number of plloL organlsaLlons used Lhe pro[ecL as a spur Lo look more generally aL Lhelr
LquallLy and ulverslLy pollcles, and several made changes Lo Lhese as a resulL.



!>%0+K%)%0* 16 (#+60 L!"#$%&" !?"&%6%&+0%1,E
ln general Lhe sLeps ouLllned by Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' worked well and were
approprlaLe, as Lhey were achlevable and helped organlsaLlons wlLh Lhe process of maklng
Lhelr servlce more welcomlng and supporLlve for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees.
1he maln acLlons LhaL were sllghLly problemaLlc were SLeps 1 and 2 under Coal 1, whlch asked
organlsaLlons Lo:
llnd local lnformaLlon on equallLles whlch lncludes LC81l people/ refugees and asylum
seekers and equallLy. lnformaLlon may be found ln your Local Councll, your Local
volunLary SecLor Councll or your Local ollce CommunlLy SafeLy unlL.
lnvlLe a local equallLles experL who can speak abouL LC81l equallLles/ Lhe needs and
experlences of mlgranLs and refugees aL an organlsaLlonal meeLlng. 1hls person could
be from your Local AuLhorlLy, your Local volunLary SecLor Councll or your Local ollce
CommunlLy SafeLy unlL. lL could also be an lndependenL person wlLh experL
knowledge.
lloL organlsaLlons were noL always able Lo ldenLlfy a relevanL person wlLhln Lhelr Local
AuLhorlLy, or Lo flnd someone sulLable Lhrough Lhe vSC or Lhe ollce, and were noL ln a
poslLlon Lo pay for equallLles Lralnlng as parL of Lhe pro[ecL. ln order Lo Lake accounL of Lhls Lhe
revlsed gulde has removed Lhe reference Lo local auLhorlLles, vSCs and ollce CommunlLy
SafeLy unlLs, lnsLead suggesLlng LhaL organlsaLlons read background lnformaLlon on lssues
affecLlng LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs, and look for M8CCs and LC81l
organlsaLlons ln Lhelr local area from whlch Lo gaLher lnformaLlon on equallLles.
1he revlsed gulde has also ad[usLed Lhe order of Lhe sLeps sllghLly, ln recognlLlon of Lhe more
advanced sLeps ln Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' whlch organlsaLlons found relaLlvely easy Lo
compleLe wlLhln Lhe perlod of Lhls pro[ecL.
1he revlsed 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' ls conLalned as a gulde ln Appendlx 3, and can be accessed
onllne aL xxxx.
Awareness of outs|de |nf|uences on pro[ects, and need for f|ex|b|||ty
uurlng Lhe llfeLlme of Lhe deslgn and lmplemenLaLlon of Lhls pro[ecL Lhe landscape for M8CCs
and LC81l vCCs has changed slgnlflcanLly, wlLh reduced fundlng, changes ln naLlonal and local
governmenL, and accompanylng pollcy changes (e.g., healLh reforms).

1hese facLors have had varlous lmpacLs on Lhe organlsaLlons lnvolved, from a lack of resources
Lo redeslgn of organlsaLlonal servlce dellvery ln response Lo changes ln Lhe commlsslonlng
landscape.

1hese have lmpacLed on organlsaLlons ablllLy Lo work on Lhls pro[ecL aL varlous sLages, and lL
has been lmporLanL Lo recognlse Lhese ouLslde lnfluences and allow flexlblllLy ln expecLaLlons
of organlsaLlons.


4.2 CkGANISA1ICNAL LLAkNING

2#%1#%0%/%,- M@+0 *1># 1#-+,%/+0%1, ,""(/
AlLhough all plloL organlsaLlons lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL were glve Lhe same drafL 'Servlce
SpeclflcaLlon' Lo work wlLh, none of Lhe organlsaLlons Look exacLly Lhe same sLeps, nor dld Lhey
follow Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' exacLly.
Lach organlsaLlon Look Lhelr own approach dependlng on Lhe resources Lhey had avallable, Lhe
parLlcular skllls Lhey had lnLernally, Lhe prlorlLles Lhey felL were mosL lmporLanL Lo Lhem and
Lhe opporLunlLles LhaL were avallable Lo Lhem.
1hls ls useful learnlng for oLher organlsaLlons underLaklng a slmllar process Lo make Lhelr
organlsaLlon more welcomlng Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugee and mlgranLs. Whlle Lhe gulde
ls Lhere Lo supporL Lhem, organlsaLlons should feel able Lo prlorlLlse acLlons dependlng on Lhe
clrcumsLances of Lhelr organlsaLlon, and Lake addlLlonal or alLernaLlve sLeps where Lhese are
sulLable and useful.
N+$%,- B,1M)"(-" +,( %,61#5+0%1, 1, 9:;<= %//>"/ +,( #"6>-""O+/*)>5 /""B"# %//>"/A +,(
#"&1-,%/%,- 10@"# %//>"/ 0@+0 5+* K" #")"$+,0
1he CommunlLy 8esearchers lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL sLressed LhaL wherever posslble,
organlsaLlons should Lry Lo make sure LhaL all sLaff have a general knowledge and awareness of
boLh LC81l lssues and lssues around asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
1hls was seen as lmporLanL so LhaL sLaff felL comforLable Lalklng abouL Lhese lssues lf an LC81l
asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL conLacLed Lhe organlsaLlon and Lhey would respond ln an
approprlaLe, frlendly and non-dlscrlmlnaLory way.
We reallse wlLh cuLs Lo servlces and less servlce sLaff lL can be hard, buL lL's lmporLanL
for Lhe organlsaLlons Lo geL everyone clued up on Lhe lssues so Lhey know whaL Lhe
slLuaLlon ls for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees, so Lhey are confldenL enough Lo
advlse and supporL Lhem, raLher Lhan [usL referrlng Lo oLher servlces" (CommunlLy
8esearcher).
Several of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL have provlded Lralnlng and awareness
ralslng sesslons Lo sLaff and volunLeers across Lhelr organlsaLlon so LhaL a large number have
more knowledge abouL LC81l and asylum seeker, refugee and mlgraLlon lssues. 1hls approach
ls preferable, so LhaL organlsaLlons are noL rellanL on one sLaff member Lo handle any
enqulrles from an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL.
1he CommunlLy 8esearchers also noLed LhaL Lhe lmmlgraLlon lssues faced by many LC81l
asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs also glve rlse Lo a loL of oLher lssues, such as houslng,
healLh and menLal healLh lssues. LC81l organlsaLlons and M8CCs need Lo be aware of Lhls, and
should be prepared Lo offer supporL or be able Lo slgn-posL Lo oLher organlsaLlons LhaL are able
Lo offer supporL on Lhese Lypes of lssues.


=,?>0 6#15 8155>,%0* 4"/"+#&@"#/ +,( %,$1)$%,- 9:;<= +/*)>5 /""B"#/A #"6>-""/ +,(
5%-#+,0/ %, 1#-+,%/+0%1,/
1hroughouL Lhe pro[ecL lL has been clear LhaL Lhe lnpuL of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers has had
a poslLlve lmpacL on Lhe organlsaLlons Lhey have been worklng wlLh, and ln many cases
organlsaLlons and CommunlLy 8esearchers wlshed Lhey had been able Lo spend more Llme
worklng wlLh each oLher. lrom Lhelr vlslLs Lo each organlsaLlon, conLrlbuLlons aL pro[ecL
meeLlngs and developmenL of case sLudles of Lhelr experlences as LC81l asylum seekers,
refugees and mlgranLs, Lhey have helped Lo brlng Lhe reallLy of lssues around LC81l asylum
seekers, refugees and mlgranLs Lo llfe.
lloL organlsaLlons have beneflLLed slgnlflcanLly from belng able Lo hear dlrecLly whaL lL can be
llke Lrylng Lo access supporL from organlsaLlons lf you are an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or
mlgranL, and from belng able Lo dlscuss Lhese lssues openly wlLh a group LhaL has dlrecL
experlence of Lhe lssues aL hand.
Whlle oLher organlsaLlons looklng Lo use Lhe gulde developed from Lhls pro[ecL are noL golng
Lo have a group of CommunlLy 8esearchers Lo call on ln Lhe same way, Lhey should conslder
wheLher and how Lhey could lnvolve LC81l asylum seekers, refugees or mlgranLs ln Lhe process
of maklng changes Lo Lhelr organlsaLlon, and ln Lhelr organlsaLlon more generally.
A number of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL have sLarLed Lo lnvolve LC81l
asylum seekers, refugees or mlgranLs ln Lhelr organlsaLlons more, for example, wlLh a
volunLeerlng placemenL. 1hese Lypes of opLlons are avallable Lo organlsaLlons noL lnvolved ln
Lhe pro[ecL as well.
J00%0>(" +,( /B%))/ 16 /0+66

SLaff answerlng Lhe phone are Lhe flrsL polnL of conLacL wlLh Lhe organlsaLlon, and
musL have a frlendly, welcomlng and non-[udgemenLal aLLlLude.
1here should be no sense of surprlse, hosLlllLy or confuslon when someone menLlons
Lhey are elLher LC81l or an asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL.
1hey should show empaLhy and undersLandlng, llsLen carefully, be paLlenL and glve
people Llme Lo explaln Lhelr slLuaLlon.
ldeally any sLaff member who responds Lo phone calls should have some
undersLandlng of boLh LC81l lssues and asylum seeker, refugee and mlgraLlon lssues.

2#1$%(%,- 1?0%1,/ +,( &@1%&"

CrganlsaLlons should provlde callers wlLh opLlons and cholces abouL servlces avallable,
be honesL abouL whaL ls Lhey can provlde supporL wlLh, and offer a face-Lo-face
meeLlng lf posslble.
1hey should be able Lo/offer Lo slgnposL or refer Lo anoLher servlce lf lL ls more
sulLable, buL noL Loo qulckly (e.g., sollclLors, advocacy, advlce).


lf posslble LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs should have Lhe cholce of
speaklng wlLh Lhe same person each Llme Lhey call Lhe organlsaLlon, Lo help Lhem bulld
up LrusL wlLh Lhe organlsaLlon.

H10 K"%,- +6#+%( 01 (1 1>0#"+&@ 1, 9:;<= %//>"/ M%0@ 748./
A number of Lhe M8CC plloL organlsaLlons were sllghLly nervous abouL sLarLlng Lo dlscuss
LC81l lssues wlLhln Lhelr own organlsaLlons, wlLh Lhelr servlce users and Lhe communlLles Lhey
work wlLh, and wlLh oLher M8CC organlsaLlons LhaL Lhey work wlLh, or LhaL are membershlp
organlsaLlons.

1here was concern LhaL LC81l lssues may be seen as 'Laboo' by cerLaln people and LhaL
dlscusslng Lhem may generaLe negaLlve reacLlons, or LhaL people may Lurn away from
organlsaLlons LhaL sLarL Lo dlscuss Lhese lssues.

uesplLe Lhese fears, all of Lhe M8CC organlsaLlons lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL found LhaL
addresslng lssues around LC81l equallLy was a poslLlve experlence. AlLhough some came
across a few negaLlve aLLlLudes or relucLance Lo Lalk abouL LC81l lssues, on Lhe whole Lhey
found Lhe process of sLarLlng Lo dlscuss Lhese lssues a poslLlve one.

We learned LhaL we should noL be heslLanL abouL dlscusslng Lhese lssues and
lnvolvlng oLher M8CCs" (M8CC plloL organlsaLlon).

?ou should noL be afrald Lo sLarL ouLreach work on LC81l lssues wlLh M8CCs and Lhe
communlLles Lhey work wlLh" (M8CC plloL organlsaLlon).

lf you remaln sllenL no one knows. lf you open up Lhe sub[ecL people sLarL Lo
respond" (M8CC plloL organlsaLlon).

lloL organlsaLlons noLed LhaL ofLen Lhe maln challenge was geLLlng oLhers Lo make dlscusslng
LC81l equallLy lssues a prlorlLy, when Lhey saw oLher lssues as more lmporLanL or presslng. Cn
Lhe whole Lhey found oLhers recepLlve Lo dlscusslons around Lhese lssues where Lhey were
able Lo have Lhem.

Where Lhere ls reslsLance from communlLles, plloL organlsaLlons have found LhaL lL ls
producLlve Lo Lalk Lo communlLy leaders and senlor sLaff ln communlLy organlsaLlons, who can
be more senslLlve Lo Lhese lssues, and who can sLarL Lo exerL some lnfluence wlLhln Lhelr
communlLles.

Some plloL organlsaLlons also suggesLed LhaL lnLeresL ln Lhese lssues from grass-rooLs
organlsaLlons was low, buL LhaL second Ller organlsaLlons can play an lmporLanL role ln
lnfluenclng Lhese grass rooLs organlsaLlons.



I/" 16 0@" PQ>+)%0* J&0 RSTS
A number of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons Laklng parL ln Lhe pro[ecL found LhaL Lhe LquallLy AcL 2010
6

was a useful Lool Lo persuade oLher sLaff and servlce users Lo Lake LC81l and asylum
seeker/refugee lssues more serlously.
8elng able Lo lnform people and organlsaLlons LhaL Lhey have a legal requlremenL noL Lo
dlscrlmlnaLe agalnsL people based on Lhe proLecLed characLerlsLlcs of gender reasslgnmenL,
sexual orlenLaLlon, marrlage and clvll parLnershlp sLaLus, race and rellglon or bellef was felL Lo
add welghL Lo aLLempLs Lo have people Lake LC81l and asylum seeker/refugee lssues serlously.
4.3 SLkVICL DLLIVLk LLAkNING

=5?1#0+,&" 16 $%/%K%)%0* 16 M")&15"O/>??1#0
Cne of Lhe mosL lmporLanL acLlons LhaL organlsaLlons can Lake ls Lo ensure LhaL Lhey are
promoLlng Lhemselves as welcomlng and supporLlve Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and
mlgranLs.
Whlle lL ls lmporLanL LhaL organlsaLlons address lnLernal lssues, and Lhey need Lo ensure LhaL
Lhelr organlsaLlon acLually 2! welcomlng Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs, lL ls
vlLal LhaL when Lhls ls Lhe case Lhey adverLlse Lhls facL, maklng lL vlslble on publlcaLlons,
promoLlonal maLerlals and on Lhelr webslLes.
CfLen Lhe mosL lmporLanL Lhlng ls [usL Lo show publlcly LhaL Lhey are open Lo worklng
wlLh LC81l asylum seekers and refugees" (CommunlLy 8esearcher).
1hls noL only leLs LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs know LhaL lL ls a welcomlng
organlsaLlon, buL lL also helps Lo promoLe Lhe lssues more wldely Lo oLher organlsaLlons and
communlLles.
=5?1#0+,&" 16 6%#/0 &1,0+&0
CrganlsaLlons need Lo ensure LhaL Lhe flrsL polnL of conLacL any LC81l asylum seeker, refugee
or mlgranL has wlLh an organlsaLlon resulLs ln Lhem feellng welcomed and supporLed. A
number of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers polnLed ouL LhaL lL Lakes slgnlflcanL courage for a
vulnerable LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL Lo conLacL an organlsaLlon.
LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs are mosLly vulnerable people. lL Lakes a
loL of courage for Lhem Lo open up and approach people or organlsaLlons, so Lhey
need Lo be LreaLed dellcaLely. lf Lhey experlence [udgemenL or heslLancy when seeklng
help Lhen LhaL's lL, Lhey wlll close up agaln. lL wlll Lake a loL of Llme for Lhem Lo LrusL
and ask for help agaln" (CommunlLy 8esearcher).

6 hLLps://www.gov.uk/equallLy-acL-2010-guldance


CrganlsaLlons need Lo ensure LhaL any member of sLaff who may be Lhe flrsL conLacL polnL has
a sulLable aLLlLude (welcomlng, frlendly and non-[udgemenLal) and enough knowledge and sklll
Lo handle an enqulry from an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL approprlaLely.
1hls does noL mean LhaL sLaff need Lo be able Lo answer all Lhe quesLlons LhaL someone may
have, or have all Lhe answers Lhey are looklng for, buL Lhey should be able Lo make an LC81l
asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL feel LhaL Lhey are welcomed by Lhe organlsaLlon, LhaL Lhe
organlsaLlon wanLs Lo help Lhem and LhaL Lhey wlll noL be dlscrlmlnaLed agalnsL.
1hls applles Lo whaLever form of conLacL ls made, wheLher LhaL be a phone call, an
unannounced vlslL Lo Lhe organlsaLlon, aL a drop-ln sesslon or vla emall.
=5?1#0+,&" 16 ,10 3>/0 #"6"##%,-O/%-,?1/0%,- ")/"M@"#" %55"(%+0")*
Llnked Lo Lhe polnL above, anoLher learnlng polnL from Lhe pro[ecL ls Lhe lmporLance of
organlsaLlons Lrylng Lo engage properly wlLh LC81l asylum seekers, refugees or mlgranLs who
approach Lhe organlsaLlon for supporL.
Whlle organlsaLlons may lack Lhe experLlse Lo deal wlLh cerLaln enqulrles, Lhey should llsLen Lo
each lndlvldual and see how Lhey may be able Lo help, raLher Lhan lmmedlaLely referrlng Lhem
elsewhere. 1hls ls lmporLanL so LhaL lndlvlduals feel welcomed by organlsaLlons and feel Lhey
can approach Lhem for supporL.
N+$%,- />%0+K)" #"6"##+) +,( /%-,C?1/0%,- 1?0%1,/A +,( K"%,- @1,"/0 +K1>0 )%5%0/ 16
B,1M)"(-"
lnevlLably LC81l organlsaLlons and M8CCs are noL golng Lo be able Lo supporL all LC81l asylum
seekers, refugees and mlgranLs wlLh all of Lhe lssues and problems LhaL Lhey may be faclng.
When Lhls ls Lhe case, organlsaLlons should be honesL abouL Lhelr llmlLaLlons, buL offer Lo Lry
Lo flnd a sulLable organlsaLlon Lo slgnposL or refer Lo, and follow Lhrough wlLh Lhls acLlon,
raLher Lhan glvlng ouL lncorrecL lnformaLlon.
lL ls ok Lo accepL when you don'L know someLhlng, admlL lL and come back Lo Lhe
servlce user once you have found someone LhaL can help, raLher Lhan glvlng ouL false
lnformaLlon" (CommunlLy 8esearcher).
Many of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL conducLed research Lo flnd ouL abouL
oLher local servlces LhaL supporL LC81l people and/or asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
ln several cases organlsaLlons used Lhls research Lo generaLe a daLabase of organlsaLlons LhaL
Lhey could make referrals Lo and slgnposL people Lo lf need be, and some made Lhese
publlcally avallable Lo servlce users.
8oLh of Lhese sLeps should be encouraged, however organlsaLlons should also make efforLs Lo
conLacL local organlsaLlons Lhey may wlsh Lo use for slgnposLlng and referrals ln order Lo
esLabllsh a relaLlonshlp wlLh Lhose organlsaLlons, ldenLlfy someone as a regular conLacL polnL,
dlscuss referral rouLes, and also check LhaL Lhe organlsaLlons ln quesLlon are Lhemselves llkely
Lo offer a welcomlng and supporLlve servlce for an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL.


CrganlsaLlons should also conslder whaL oLher Lypes of supporL may be relevanL for LC81l
asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs and where Lhls supporL may be avallable, for example,
for Lhose wlLh menLal healLh lssues, houslng or chlldcare needs.
2#1$%/%1, 16 0")"?@1," /"#$%&"/
A number of Lhe plloL organlsaLlons LhaL Look parL ln Lhe pro[ecL have dlrecL Lelephone enqulry
numbers llsLed on Lhelr webslLes, wlLh poLenLlal servlce users able Lo conLacL Lhe organlsaLlon
ln LhaL way.
1he 'mysLery shopplng' exerclse conducLed by Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers LesLed Lhe
response LhaL an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL may geL when phonlng Lhese
numbers, and ldenLlfled a number of barrlers Lo accesslng sulLable supporL, lncludlng:
A lack of response Lo phone calls (elLher aL Lhe Llme or Lo messages lefL on answer
machlnes
CrganlsaLlons noL offerlng Lo call a person back
SLaff respondlng Lo Lhe phone call noL belng comforLable deallng wlLh LC81l lssues or
asylum seeker, refugee or mlgraLlon lssues
SLaff respondlng Lo Lhe phone call noL glvlng full deLalls of who Lhey are
SLaff respondlng Lo Lhe phone call noL explalnlng pollcles around confldenLlallLy and
prlvacy.

1hls exerclse and subsequenL dlscusslon beLween Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers and sLaff from
Lhe plloL organlsaLlons hlghllghLed a number of learnlng polnLs on how organlsaLlons should
run Lhelr Lelephone enqulry llnes:
2@1," )%," ?#101&1)/
lf organlsaLlons have Lhelr phone number golng Lo an answer machlne, and someone
leaves a message, lL ls lmporLanL LhaL Lhey respond Lo Lhe enqulry ln reasonable Llme.
All volce messages should be responded Lo.
lf sLaff from an organlsaLlon speak wlLh a servlce user and agree some sorL of follow-
up acLlon, Lhls should also be done ln reasonable Llme.
1he CommunlLy 8esearchers sald LhaL any organlsaLlonal phone-llnes should be free Lo
call, as LC81l asylum seekers, refugees or mlgranLs wlll have very llmlLed resources for
maklng phone calls - where Lhls ls noL posslble organlsaLlons should lmmedlaLely offer
Lo call Lhe person back.
lf an organlsaLlon calls a servlce user and Lhey do noL answer, Lhey should Lry calllng
Lhem back aL leasL Lwlce.
CrganlsaLlons musL exerclse cauLlon around ldenLlfylng someone as LC81l, especlally
on call back.
1he person who answers Lhe phone should glve a proper lnLroducLlon (who Lhey are,
whaL Lhelr role ls).


CrganlsaLlons should clearly explaln pollcles on confldenLlallLy durlng Lhe lnlLlal
Lelephone conversaLlon.
CrganlsaLlons should glve a servlce user prlor lnformaLlon lf Lhelr case ls golng Lo be
handled by someone else for any reason (e.g., normal member of sLaff only works parL
of Lhe week) and lnLroduclng Lhem Lo Lhe member of sLaff who Lhey wlll speak Lo/see
nexL.
ldeally organlsaLlons should offer help for Lhose wlLh language barrlers, e.g.,
LanguageLlne.

2#1$%/%1, 16 6+&"C01C6+&" +??1%,05",0/

1he CommunlLy 8esearchers lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL also dlscussed wlLh plloL organlsaLlons
whaL oughL Lo be expecLed lf Lhey vlslL an organlsaLlon for a face-Lo-face meeLlng. 1he key
polnLs were:

1reaLlng Lhe cllenL wlLh dlgnlLy and respecL,
A frlendly approach and aLLlLude,
ConfldenLlallLy,
rlvacy,
rompL Llmlng (arranglng meeLlng and aL meeLlng),
keeplng Lhe appolnLmenL,
Pavlng a sulLable walLlng area,
Cfferlng drlnks/snacks,
rovldlng lnformaLlon abouL Lravel expenses (wheLher organlsaLlon can cover Lhese)
prlor Lo Lhe meeLlng,
rovldlng dlrecLlons Lo Lhe organlsaLlon/servlce, and
Pavlng Lhe opLlon of a drop-ln appolnLmenL.



S LLAkNING IkCM 1nL CCMMUNI1 kLSLAkCnLkS
ln Lhe orlglnal pro[ecL speclflcaLlon Lhe maln role of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers had been
envlsaged as provldlng an 'audlL' of Lhe parLlclpaLlng organlsaLlons, LesLlng Lhelr servlce agalnsL
Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon', however as Lhe pro[ecL developed, Lhe Advlsory Croup and
pro[ecL parLners agreed LhaL Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers should underLake Lhe followlng
Lasks:

ALLend an lnlLlal Lralnlng sesslon,
ALLend an lnlLlal developmenL day for Lhe plloL organlsaLlons,
1hose communlLy researchers who are asylum seekers wlll help Lo develop case sLudy
examples/sample quoLes abouL Lhelr experlences, parLlcularly around accesslng
supporL servlces,
Lach organlsaLlon wlll be asslgned a communlLy researcher who wlll:
- arrange Lo vlslL lL Lo flnd ouL more abouL whaL lL does, who lLs servlces
normally work wlLh and Lo geL a sense of where lL ls aL lnlLlally,
- revlslL Lhe organlsaLlon(s) Lo assess Lhe progress lL has made agalnsL Lhe
speclflcaLlon, and reporL back Lo M8A8C,
ALLend a second developmenL day for Lhe plloL organlsaLlons, and
Make Lwo shorL 'mysLery shopplng' phone calls Lo a plloL organlsaLlon Lo LesL reacLlon
of sLaff Lo someone asklng for help as an LC81l asylum seeker or refugee.

Whlle Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers compleLed all of Lhese Lasks, Lhey also aLLended Lwo more
pro[ecL meeLlngs Lhan orlglnally envlsaged, and lL became clear as Lhe pro[ecL progressed LhaL
Lhe lnpuL of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers Lo Lhese pro[ecL meeLlngs was hlghly valued boLh by
Lhe plloL organlsaLlons and oLher pro[ecL parLners.

1he CommunlLy 8esearchers were able Lo dlscuss Lhelr own experlences and oplnlons wlLh Lhe
plloL organlsaLlons and Lhls was a very powerful way of lllusLraLlng some of Lhe lssues,
challenges and problems LhaL LC81l asylum seekers and refugees face when looklng for
supporL from M8CCs and LC81l vCCs.

A number of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers have suggesLed LhaL Lhey would have llked Lo have
been more closely lnvolved wlLh Lhelr asslgned plloL organlsaLlon(s), and slmllarly a number of
Lhe plloL organlsaLlons have sald lL would have been beneflclal Lo have more conLacL wlLh a
CommunlLy 8esearcher LhroughouL Lhe pro[ecL.

M8A8C recognlses LhaL Lhls would have been beneflclal for everyone lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL
and lL was only a lack of resources LhaL prevenLed us from encouraglng Lhls. lL was made clear
Lo all CommunlLy 8esearchers LhaL lf Lhey wanLed Lo become more lnvolved wlLh Lhelr plloL
organlsaLlons (e.g., volunLeerlng more of Lhelr Llme Lo help wlLh Lhe pro[ecL) Lhey would be
supporLed Lo do so, buL lL was felL LhaL lL was noL falr Lo expecL Lhls of Lhem when we could noL
pay Lhem Lo Lake a more acLlve role. We asked plloL organlsaLlons noL Lo make demands on
CommunlLy 8esearcher Llme whlch we were unable Lo pay for.


Whlle plloL organlsaLlons suggesLed Lhey would have llked more conLacL wlLh Lhe CommunlLy
8esearchers, Lhe feedback gaLhered from Lhem abouL worklng wlLh Lhe CommunlLy
8esearchers was almosL all poslLlve. leedback from plloL organlsaLlons lncluded:

1he researcher was easy Lo work wlLh, and had useful suggesLlons abouL people Lo
conLacL".
1he feedback from Lhe CommunlLy 8esearcher was very useful. We also llked Lhe
feedback comlng from Lhe mysLery shopplng".
1he CommunlLy 8esearcher's reporL descrlbed our organlsaLlon ln a very deLalled way
- lL was very useful for us. We felL very comforLable Lalklng Lo hlm, he had good
llsLenlng skllls and was serlous abouL learnlng abouL our organlsaLlon and our lssues.
Pls aLLlLude encouraged us Lo conLlnue".
lL was valuable supporL".
1hey were reflecLlve and poslLlvely supporLlve".
1he dlscusslon wlLh Lhe CommunlLy 8esearcher helped us Lo Lhlnk clearly abouL Lhe
needs of refugees from Lhe LC81l communlLy and Lhe barrlers faced by Lhem. lL was a
good sLarL Lo re-evaluaLe our servlces."
S.1 ILLD8ACk IkCM 1nL CCMMUNI1 kLSLAkCnLkS

Lxper|ence of work|ng w|th the p||ot organ|sat|ons

1he CommunlLy 8esearchers also provlded feedback on how Lhey had found worklng wlLh Lhe
plloL organlsaLlons. Cn Lhe whole mosL had found Lhe experlence qulLe poslLlve, wlLh
CommunlLy 8esearchers hlghllghLlng:

1he enLhuslasm of sLaff from plloL organlsaLlons,
SLaff belng proacLlve and havlng good ldeas,
CrganlsaLlons wanLlng Lo lncrease undersLandlng of LC81l and asylum seeker/refugee
lssues,
1haL lL was easy Lo communlcaLe wlLh plloL organlsaLlons, LhaL Lhey were very
accommodaLlng and LhaL sLaff were good wlLh Lhelr Llme,
1haL sLaff were open Lo quesLlons and CommunlLy 8esearchers dld noL face any
barrlers ln lnLeracLlng wlLh Lhem.
lL was saLlsfylng knowlng LhaL l was helplng Lo lmplemenL change whlch would affecL
oLhers slmllar Lo me ln fuLure".
lL has been a learnlng curve for me, and very rewardlng".
8oLh organlsaLlons were very responslve, enLhuslasLlc and eager Lo Lake Lhe lnlLlaLlve".


Whlle mosL CommunlLy 8esearchers had found worklng wlLh Lhe plloL organlsaLlons a poslLlve
experlence, Lhere were some who had found lL less so. 8easons for Lhls lncluded:
llndlng lL dlfflculL Lo conLacL sLaff from Lhe plloL organlsaLlon,
MeeLlng wlLh sLaff, buL feellng LhaL Lhey were noL prepared and had llLLle Lo say,
SLaff promlslng furLher meeLlngs buL noL followlng Lhrough wlLh Lhese,
llndlng Lhe language barrler dlfflculL Lo deal wlLh,
leellng LhaL a plloL organlsaLlon was noL fully commlLLed Lo Lhe pro[ecL.
lL has been Lough worklng or Lrylng Lo work wlLh my organlsaLlon - l felL leL down by
Lhem, me belng an LC81l asylum seeker myself".
1here are sLlll some organlsaLlons LhaL are noL really worklng Lowards Lhe goal, and l saw
LhaL aL flrsL hand, and lL was deflaLlng".
l dld noL feel my organlsaLlon was fully commlLLed. 1haL was/ls parLlcularly palnful for me
as l am or l flL lnLo Lhe caLegory LhaL Lhey are meanL Lo be helplng. knowlng whaL l know
now abouL Lhelr commlLmenL l would noL approach Lhem for help".
Lxtent to wh|ch pro[ect has addressed |ssues faced by LG81I asy|um seekers and refugees

1he CommunlLy 8esearchers were asked wheLher Lhey felL Lhe pro[ecL has helped Lo address
lssues faced by LC81l asylum seekers and refugees when accesslng supporL from M8CCs and
LC81l vCCs. 1he group felL LhaL lL had by:

lncreaslng awareness of lssues faced by LC81l asylum seekers and refugees, and
reveallng where Lhere ls a lack of knowledge,
lssues puL on Lhe map, and ldenLlfled as a prlorlLy,
lmproved Lralnlng for sLaff and volunLeers wlLhln plloL organlsaLlons,
Maklng organlsaLlons prove Lhey are LC81l and asylum seeker/refugee frlendly, and
show Lhls publlcally,
lncreaslng parLnershlp worklng beLween LC81l organlsaLlons and asylum
seeker/refugee organlsaLlons,
8eveallng where organlsaLlons have a lack of knowledge,
lncreaslng acLlve parLlclpaLlon of LC81l asylum seekers/refugees ln organlsaLlons.

1he use of asylum seekers/ refugee/ communlLy researchers has been paramounL ln ralslng
and addresslng Lhese lssues".
A few of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers were less sure abouL Lhe lmpacL of Lhe pro[ecL,
parLlcularly wlLh cerLaln organlsaLlons. 1helr concerns were LhaL:

Whlle Lhe pro[ecL may have ralsed awareness of Lhe problems faced by LC81l asylum
seekers and refugees, lL had noL fully addressed Lhem.
1here ls a need for lnsLlLuLlonal change wlLhln some organlsaLlons, and Lhe lengLh of
Lhe pro[ecL means LhaL Lhls may noL have been achleved.


1he pro[ecL may noL have had as poslLlve an lmpacL on some organlsaLlons as oLhers.

Cther act|on that cou|d have been taken dur|ng the pro[ect

1he CommunlLy 8esearchers were asked wheLher Lhere was anyLhlng else LhaL Lhey LhoughL
should have been done wlLhln Lhe Llmeframe and scope of Lhe pro[ecL LhaL was noL done.
1helr suggesLlons lncluded:

More frequenL vlslLs Lo Lhe organlsaLlon Lo assess Lhelr progress,
More acLlve lnvolvemenL wlLh Lhe organlsaLlons generally (e.g., volunLeerlng wlLh
organlsaLlon Lo help lmplemenL changes, more fleldwork Lo assess and encourage
progress),
More formal seml-sLrucLured lnLervlews LhaL were recorded and Lranscrlbed,
More Lallored assessmenLs of organlsaLlons dependlng on Lhelr level of progress,
Allowlng CommunlLy 8esearcher Lo Lalk Lo sLaff wlLhln organlsaLlons abouL Lhelr
experlences of belng LC81l asylum seekers and refugees, as well as Lhelr experlences
of worklng on Lhe pro[ecL,
More chaslng of organlsaLlons Lo remlnd Lhem Lo work on Lhe alms of Lhe pro[ecL,
An lncrease ln Lhe number of meeLlngs and dlscusslons beLween organlsaLlons and
CommunlLy 8esearchers,
LecLures/semlnars/workshop where lnformed/experlenced guesLs could dellver Lalks
Lo Lhe plloL organlsaLlons,
Pavlng sllghLly more sLrucLured/flrmer seL of ob[ecLlves.

os|t|ve exper|ences of be|ng |nvo|ved |n the pro[ect
1he CommunlLy 8esearchers were asked wheLher Lhey had found belng lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL
a poslLlve experlence, and mosL suggesLed LhaL Lhey had found Lhe experlence a poslLlve one.
8easons for Lhls lncluded:
Able Lo dlrecLly see Lhe lmpacL LhaL Lhe pro[ecL could have,
Seelng organlsaLlons worklng LogeLher LhaL may noL have before,
llndlng ouL LhaL organlsaLlons are wllllng Lo Lry Lo address Lhe lssues,
leellng parL of Lrylng Lo change Lhe slLuaLlon for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees,
leellng LhaL Lhelr conLrlbuLlon ls helplng organlsaLlons and Lhe pro[ecL Lo achleve
Lhelr/lLs alms and ob[ecLlves,
MeeLlng good people, and seelng LhaL LhaL Lhere are people and organlsaLlons LhaL
wanL Lo help LC81l asylum seekers and refugees,
lncreased knowledge abouL LC81l/refugee organlsaLlons and Lhe work Lhey do,
lncreaslng conLacLs wlLh oLher organlsaLlons and people, from dlfferenL eLhnlclLles,
culLures, educaLlon, background, experlence and sLaLus,
Pas boosLed my work experlence,
Pas challenged and lmproved my undersLandlng and accepLance of some LC81l lssues,
1here has been a poslLlve and pro-acLlve aLLlLude of everyone lnvolved.


knowlng LhaL l am able Lo use my pasL experlences as well as lnvolvemenL ln Lhls pro[ecL
Lo effecL change ln Lhese organlsaLlons whlch would help oLhers llke myself ln Lhe fuLure
has been very poslLlve".
l have been able Lo meeL oLher LC81l people from all over Lhe world, and learn abouL
Lhlngs l dldn'L know abouL, and lL has glven me someLhlng Lo look forward Lo".
Learn|ng po|nts from the pro[ect
AlLhough mosL of Lhe feedback from Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers was poslLlve, Lhere were a
number of learnlng polnLs abouL belng lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL. 1hose menLloned were:
llndlng Lhe mysLery shopplng qulLe daunLlng,
8elng dlsappolnLed Lo flnd an organlsaLlon wasn'L very welcomlng Lo refugees/asylum
seekers havlng made flrsL 'mysLery shopplng' phone call,
1haL Lhe plloL organlsaLlons and CommunlLy 8esearchers dld noL really work wlLh each
oLher ouLslde of Lhe meeLlngs - Lhe ?ahoo Croup LhaL was formed was rarely used,
desplLe Lhe facL lL was agreed LhaL lL would be a good ldea Lo for Lhls Lo be updaLed by
organlsaLlons,
lL was dlsappolnLlng when some organlsaLlons mlssed pro[ecL meeLlngs, especlally
concurrenLly, as lL meanL you losL conLacL wlLh whaL Lhey were dolng,
Some CommunlLy 8esearchers sald Lhey had devoLed more Llme Lo vlslLlng and
lnLeracLlng wlLh organlsaLlons Lhan had orlglnally been sLlpulaLed/alloLLed,
More Lralnlng as regards undersLandlng LC81l lssues would have been useful,
arLlclpaLlon and lnvolvemenL amongsL Lhe advlsory group and plloL organlsaLlons
could have been lmproved,
1he flnanclal supporL for Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers could be lmproved on:
- Lhe promlsed remuneraLlon Look a whlle,
- lL would have been beLLer Lo have flnanclal asslsLance beforehand (e.g., Lravel
expenses) as flndlng money as an asylum seeker ls dlfflculL, so lL was dlfflculL Lo go and
vlslL organlsaLlons.
1ra|n|ng and support from M8AkC
Cenerally Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers were very poslLlve abouL Lhe Lralnlng Lhey recelved
from M8A8C, alLhough a couple of CommunlLy 8esearchers felL Lhere could have been more
lnformaLlon on:
Lhe legal slde of lmmlgraLlon,
undersLandlng LC81l and refugee/asylum seeker lssues.
1he Lralnlng was superb".
1he Lralnlng glven by M8A8C was helpful ln LhaL we were able Lo beLLer our research skllls
- such as lnLervlewlng, recordlng lnformaLlon and provldlng feedback".
l Lhlnk M8A8C were very supporLlve, answered any querles l had and dlrecLed Lhe
research work we were dolng. no complalnLs!"


1he supporL from M8A8C was greaL. AsslgnmenLs were clear and conclse, follow up was
conslsLenL and feedback was avallable as well".
Some lmprovemenLs LhaL were suggesLed lncluded:
A pro[ecL evaluaLlon survey for all CommunlLy 8esearchers aL Lhe end of Lhe pro[ecL,
and gaLherlng formal feedback on lnvolvemenL ln Lhe pro[ecL.
Clve Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers more lnvolvemenL wlLh Lhe organlsaLlons
Lhemselves.
1alk Lo organlsaLlons LhaL are or were lacklng commlLmenL.
Invo|v|ng asy|um seekers |n pro[ects such as th|s
lL should be recognlsed LhaL Lhere are parLlcular challenges and rlsks ln lnvolvlng asylum
seekers (who do noL have Lhe rlghL Lo work ln Lhe uk) ln pro[ecLs such as Lhls.
Where parLlclpaLlon ls enabled Lhere are sLlll poLenLlal rlsks such as asylum seekers belng
deLalned (as happened Lo one of Lhe CommunlLy 8esearchers durlng Lhls pro[ecL) or dlspersed
Lo somewhere else ln Lhe counLry.
1he group of asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs lnvolved ln Lhls pro[ecL were a slgnlflcanL
asseL Lo Lhe pro[ecL as Lhey had Lremendous commlLmenL Lo Lhe lssues, were all largely seLLled
ln London and could all speak good Lngllsh. 1hls may noL always be Lhe case wlLh slmllar
groups.



6 WnLkL NLk1 - CALL 1C AC1ICN AND kLCCMMLNDA1ICNS
L|nk to Gu|de on||ne
4"&155",(+0%1,/ 61# 748./ +,( 9:;<= 1#-+,%/+0%1,/
Ca|| to act|on
As an organlsaLlon supporLlng refugees, asylum seekers and mlgranLs, or as an organlsaLlon
supporLlng LC81l people, you have a responslblllLy Lo provlde welcomlng and supporLlve
servlces Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.
1. use Lhls reporL and accompanylng gulde as a basls for Lransformlng your servlces Lo
make Lhem more welcomlng and supporLlve Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and
mlgranLs.

2. PosL and publlclse Lhls reporL and Lhe gulde on your webslLe.
know|edge and sk|||s
3. uevelop Lhe knowledge of your sLaff on LC81l lssues and/or asylum seeker, refugee
and mlgraLlon lssues, parLlcularly Lhose lssues affecLlng LC81l asylum seekers, refugees
and mlgranLs.

4. 8ecognlse LhaL Lhe flrsL polnL of conLacL wlLh your organlsaLlon ls vlLal ln esLabllshlng a
poslLlve relaLlonshlp wlLh an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL, and ensure LhaL
sLaff have Lhe approprlaLe aLLlLude, knowledge and skllls Lo achleve Lhls.

3. uevelop a llsL of known and LrusLed organlsaLlons for referral and slgnposLlng, and
make Lhls llsL avallable Lo servlce users.
Crgan|sat|ona| |eadersh|p
6. Asslgn a key member/group of sLaff Lo drlve Lhe process, buL lnvolve as many people
as posslble wlLhln your organlsaLlon.

7. rlorlLlse whaL your organlsaLlon needs and whaL ls achlevable.

8. uo noL be afrald Lo dlscuss LC81l lssues wlLh M8CCs and Lhe communlLles Lhey work
wlLh. 8ecognlse LhaL Lhese may be challenglng lssues for !"#$ people Lo dlscuss, buL
encourage Lhese dlscusslons neverLheless. use Lhe LquallLy AcL 2010 as a Lool Lo press
Lhe lmporLance of Lhese equallLles lssues and Lhe legal requlremenL of organlsaLlons
noL Lo dlscrlmlnaLe on Lhe grounds of sexual orlenLaLlon, gender ldenLlLy, marrlage and
clvll parLnershlp sLaLus, race and rellglon or bellef.



Lngagement, |nc|us|on and partnersh|p
9. 8ecognlse Lhe beneflLs of parLnershlp worklng Lo help wlLh Lhe process, and look Lo
parLner wlLh a local LC81l organlsaLlon (lf you are a M8CC) or M8CC (lf you are an
LC81l organlsaLlon).

10. Look aL lnvolvlng LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs ln your organlsaLlon,
parLlcularly ln Lhe process of change Lo become more welcomlng and supporLlve Lo
Lhls group.

11. Lnsure LhaL your organlsaLlon ls publlcly welcomlng Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees
and mlgranLs and LhaL your servlce ls supporLlve Lo Lhem.

12. 8e honesL abouL whaL you can help wlLh and Lhe llmlLs of your knowledge, buL Lry Lo
engage wlLh an LC81l asylum seeker, refugee or mlgranL raLher Lhan lmmedlaLely
referrlng or slgnposLlng Lhem elsewhere.
Serv|ce de||very
13. 8evlew any Lelephone servlce you offer servlce users ln llne wlLh Lhe learnlng from Lhls
pro[ecL (see pgs. 33-37).

14. 8evlew any face-Lo-face appolnLmenL servlce you offer servlce users, ln llne wlLh Lhe
learnlng from Lhls pro[ecL (see p. 37).
4"&155",(+0%1,/ 01 %,6)>",0%+) 9:;<= +,( #"6>-"" 1#-+,%/+0%1,/ +,( /"&1,( 0%"# />??1#0
1#-+,%/+0%1,/
13. 8ecognlse Lhe lssues affecLlng LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs and your
responslblllLy Lo address Lhem, and use your lnfluence Lo advocaLe for change boLh
wlLhln your secLor and wlLhln oLher secLors.

16. PosL Lhe reporL and gulde on your webslLe and promoLe lL uslng your webslLes,
newsleLLer, blogs, soclal medla eLc.

17. Lncourage and creaLe debaLe on Lhese lssues aL a reglonal and naLlonal level (e.g., aL
conferences).
Second t|er support organ|sat|ons
18. 8ecognlse your role ln ralslng awareness, dellverlng Lralnlng and provldlng supporL Lo
organlsaLlons (ln parLlcular small grassrooLs communlLy groups) Lo use Lhls reporL and
gulde, as parL of your capaclLy bulldlng and champlonlng of equallLles and dlverslLy.
4"&155",(+0%1,/ 61# 0@" U1>K)" V"1?+#(* ?%)10 1#-+,%/+0%1,/ +,( ?#1-#+55"



||ot organ|sat|ons
19. Lxamlne how you can susLaln Lhe work of Lhls pro[ecL ln fuLure.

20. use Lhe gulde as a basls for conLlnulng Lhls process.

21. 8egularly revlew Lhe sLeps you have achleved Lo daLe Lo ensure Lhey remaln ln place
(suggesL annually).

22. Look aL (conLlnue Lo) lnvolvlng LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs ln your
organlsaLlon and servlce dellvery.

23. Wherever posslble encourage oLher organlsaLlons Lo conslder slmllar acLlon Lo make
Lhelr servlce more welcomlng and supporLlve Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and
mlgranLs.

24. Where posslble supporL and advlse oLher organlsaLlons on maklng slmllar changes.

23. lnclude lnformaLlon on Lhe pro[ecL and changes you have made ln reporLs Lo funders
and your 8oard of 1rusLees.

26. PosL and publlclse Lhls reporL on your webslLe.
Doub|e Ieopardy programme
27. Lxamlne Lhe mosL effecLlve ways Lo encourage use of Lhe gulde naLlonally (lncludlng
promoLlon of Lhe gulde, supporL Lo organlsaLlons for lmplemenLaLlon and evaluaLlon of
lmpacL).

28. LsLabllsh and supporL a CommunlLy of lnLeresL lncludlng organlsaLlons uslng Lhe gulde,
LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs and oLher lnLeresLed sLakeholders.

29. romoLe Lhe work of Lhe pro[ecL and uouble !eopardy programme lnLernaLlonally.
4"&155",(+0%1,/ 01 <#>/0 61# 91,(1, +,( 10@"# 6>,("#/ +,( &155%//%1,"#/
As funders you have Lhe power and lnfluence Lo address Lhese lssues, and a responslblllLy Lo
Lhe secLor Lo do so, parLlcularly as parL of an equallLles agenda.
Inf|uenc|ng
30. use Lhe flndlngs of Lhls reporL and Lhe acLlons suggesLed ln Lhe gulde Lo challenge
organlsaLlons LhaL you fund and commlsslon on Lhe exLenL Lo whlch Lhelr servlces offer
equallLy Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.

31. ulscuss Lhese lssues wlLh oLher funders and lnfluence Lhem Lo promoLe acLlon on
Lhese lssues.


Iund|ng
32. Conslder how Lhe acLlons ouLllned ln Lhe gulde could be adapLed lnLo fundlng
requlremenLs for LC81l organlsaLlons and M8CCs ln fuLure.

33. Conslder fundlng co-producLlon pro[ecLs/servlces ln whlch LC81l organlsaLlons parLner
wlLh M8CCs Lo Lackle Lhe lack of approprlaLe servlces for LC81l asylum seekers,
refugees and mlgranLs, encouraglng organlsaLlons from Lhese Lwo secLors Lo work
more closely wlLh each oLher.
Grant mak|ng, mon|tor|ng and eva|uat|on
34. Lnsure LhaL equallLles frameworks cover LC81l lssues speclflcally, and LhaL
organlsaLlons you provlde granLs Lo have a sulLable LquallLy and ulverslLy pollcy whlch
clearly welcomes LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.

33. Lnsure pro[ecLs you fund gaLher monlLorlng daLa on Lhe number of LC81l and asylum
seeker/refugee/mlgranL servlce users accesslng Lhelr servlces, and ask Lhem Lo show
how Lhey lnvolve Lhls cllenL group ln Lhelr organlsaLlon and servlces.



ALNDIk 1 - CASL S1UDILS


Case Stud|es
Ianuary 2013



Introduct|on

ln Lhe summer of 2011 Lhe 1rusL for London provlded a granL for an acLlon research
pro[ecL - Lhe uouble !eopardy ro[ecL - almed aL provldlng more responslve and
welcomlng supporL servlces for Lesblan, Cay, 8lsexual, 1rans and lnLersex (LC81l)
asylum seekers and refugees from volunLary CommunlLy CrganlsaLlons (vCCs),
speclflcally Lhose worklng ln Lhe LC81l secLor and refugee/mlgranL communlLy
organlsaLlons.

1he pro[ecL ls belng conducLed by a parLnershlp beLween Lhe MeLro CenLre, raxls and
M8A8C, and lnvolves supporLlng flve LC81l organlsaLlons and seven refugee and
mlgranL organlsaLlons Lo Lransform and lmprove Lhelr servlces Lo meeL Lhe needs of
LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.

As parL of Lhe pro[ecL, M8A8C supporLed a number of LC81l asylum seekers/refugees
Lo develop case sLudles deLalllng Lhelr experlences of belng an LC81l asylum seeker or
refugee ln Lhe uk.

1he lndlvlduals provldlng case sLudles were asked Lo provlde lnformaLlon around Lhe
followlng areas:

8ackground lnformaLlon on why Lhey fled Lhelr counLry of orlgln Lo seek asylum
ln Lhe uk
Lxperlences as an LC81l asylum seeker ln Lhe uk
Lxperlences of accesslng supporL servlces from LC81l organlsaLlons, and whaL
Lhls was llke as an LC81l asylum seeker/refugee
Lxperlences of accesslng supporL servlces from asylum seeker/refugee
organlsaLlons, and whaL Lhls was llke as an LC81l asylum seeker/refugee
Lxperlences of accesslng supporL from more general servlces, ln parLlcular
experlences of faclng dlscrlmlnaLlon/lack of supporL as an LC81l asylum
seeker/refugee
1he lmpacL Lhls lack of supporL/undersLandlng had/conLlnues Lo have
WhaL Lhey would llke Lo see from servlces
WhaL dlfference lL would make Lo have servlces LhaL were welcomlng Lo LC81l
asylum seekers/refugees.

We hope LhaL Lhese case sLudles wlll be a useful resource boLh for Lhe organlsaLlons
parLlclpaLlng ln Lhe pro[ecL and for oLher organlsaLlons lnLeresLed ln lmprovlng Lhelr
servlces for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.



Case Study Cne
Why d|d you have to f|ee from your country to seek asy|um |n the Uk?
My problems really sLarLed when my faLher passed away. Pls broLhers and slsLers came Lo
Lake me Lo marry me off Lo a man LhaL was Lhree Llmes my age. l was locked up all Lhe Llme,
and raped repeaLedly.

rlor Lo Lhls l had reallsed LhaL l was dlfferenL Lo all Lhe oLher glrls, who were busy wlLh boys
and so on. l was noL. 1hls all confused me.

l dld a blL of research on why l had feellngs for women LhaL l was supposed Lo feel for a man,
Lhen l came across Lhe word lesblan, whlch explalned a loL Lo me, and flnally l undersLood
LhaL l was noL alone. 8uL sLlll l could noL Lalk Lo anyone abouL lL as ln my counLry lL was noL
allowed by Lhe law or culLures Lo have same sex relaLlonshlps.

Anyway long sLory shorL, my moLher helped me escape Lo Lhe uk. l came Lo Lhe uk Lo be
free and be who l am wlLhouL fear.

Some thoughts on your exper|ence as an LG81I asy|um seeker |n the Uk
Lven Lhough l have been Lold several Llmes LhaL l am safe here as a lesblan, lL ls sLlll hard for
me Lo grasp aL Llmes, because all LhaL ls ln my head, all LhaL l have ever known, ls LhaL belng
LC81l ls [usL plaln wrong, lL's evll. l sLlll flnd lL hard Lo dlsclose belng lesblan Lo people, and l
Lhlnk l always wlll.

lL ls harder Lo be an LC81l asylum seeker ln Lhe uk. 1he uk8A do noL have a speclflc
deparLmenL or personnel Lo deal wlLh us, whlch makes lL dlfflculL as we have Lo dlsclose LhaL
facL Lo Lhem, and some are clearly agalnsL lL and acLually show LhaL.

lL was very hard for me Lo seek asylum as a lesblan, all l knew was Lo hlde Lhe facL LhaL l was
lesblan, and comlng ouL Lo someone was really hard, even more so Lo a uk8A offlcer,
someone whom l knew would be [udglng me and dld noL belleve me aL all.

unLll we know Lhe ouLcome of our case we have Lo be very guarded as Lo whaL we say.

Lxper|ences of access|ng support |n detent|on
1here was no supporL for me as an LC81l asylum seeker, especlally when l was deLalned. lL
would have been good Lo have posLers or people l could Lalk Lo ln deLenLlon ln confldence,
someone l felL safe wlLh.

lL also would have been good Lo have oLher deLalnees who were lesblans so l could have


ldenLlfled wlLh Lhem and felL normal.

Lxper|ences of access|ng support serv|ces from LG81 organ|sat|ons, and what th|s was ||ke
as an LG81I asy|um seeker]refugee
l Lrled Lo conLacL an LC81l organlsaLlon for help buL was Lold Lo come Lo London, whlch l
could noL do as l had no money Lo Lravel Lo London. lL made lL all very hard for me Lo
undersLand and know whaL Lo do nexL.

l was hoplng LhaL when l came Lo Lhe uk l would flnd someone or some organlsaLlons LhaL
could explaln a loL of Lhlngs Lo me. 1haL dld noL happen.

What |mpact do you th|nk th|s |ack of support has?
Confuslon conLlnues whlch makes LC81l asylum seekers more sLressed and depressed Lhan
Lhey already are.

1here are so many quesLlons, buL no answers. We have no sense of belonglng.

As an LG81I asy|um seeker]refugee, what wou|d you ||ke to see from serv|ces?
More knowledge abouL oLher organlsaLlons ln Lhe whole of Lhe uk, so lf someone calls from
anoLher parL of Lhe uk, Lhey can Lell Lhem where Lo go ln Lhelr local area.

If you have used a serv|ce that has been we|com|ng for LG81I asy|um seekers]refugees,
how d|d th|s make you fee| and what d|fference has |t made for you?
1he besL Lhlng for me was when l [olned ukLClC (uk Lesblan and Cay lmmlgraLlon Croup7),
wow LhaL spelL freedom and undersLandlng for me. lL was Lhe besL Lhlng LhaL has ever
happened Lo me.

l dlscovered LhaL Lhere were more people llke me, LhaL l was noL alone. 1he quesLlons LhaL l
had were all answered, l felL free and llberaLed. llnally l knew l was noL mad, crazy or LhaL l
dld noL have Lhe devll ln me.

ukLClC helped me dlscover myself, helped me flnd myself. 1hey helped me see LhaL l was
normal, LhaL Lhere were more people llke me, loLs more.

7
www.uklglg.org.uk
1el: 020 7922 7811

Servlces:
MonLhly asylum legal meeLlngs for general advlce from lawyers, referral Lo sollclLors, supporL preparlng for asylum clalm, supporL
Lo soclallse and lnLeracL wlLh oLher LC81l asylum seekers.


l know LhaL now, and LhaL makes llfe easler for me and helps me accepL myself for who l am.

All Lhe confuslon ls gone, and now l feel LhaL l do belong somewhere.

lL was easy Lo geL Lo ukLClC, my lawyer Lold me abouL Lhem, buL lL Look me monLhs Lo
flnally have enough courage Lo go. l have noL looked back slnce.

Cther comments
As slmple as lL sounds, havlng someone who llsLens and undersLands ls Lhe besL Lhlng any
LC81l asylum seeker can have.

1hls would make Lhe whole asylum process a whole loL less sLressful, whlch for an LC81l
asylum seeker would make a whole world of dlfference ln a poslLlve way.

A slmple Lhlng llke havlng someone who belleves you, undersLands you, and ls nlce Lo you
would have a poslLlve lmpacL on LC81l asylum seekers.



Case Study 1wo
l am dlfferenL. l am effemlnaLe and relaLe beLLer Lo glrls Lhan boys. l am gay. 1hls was
vlewed as an aberraLlon and dlsLorLlon by mosL lndlvlduals and Lhe communlLy ln general ln
my counLry. My famlly demanded l adopL a heLerosexual llfesLyle and Lake a wlfe and llve
llke a normal man". 1hls was raLher Loo dlfflculL for me.

As a resulL l faced dlscrlmlnaLlon, harassmenL and bullylng ln my communlLy. lL ls noL
posslble Lo llve openly gay ln my counLry noL only because lL ls culLurally and rellglously noL
accepLable buL also a crlmlnal offence. Any lndlvldual caughL ln Lhe acL of homosexuallLy ls
noL only osLraclzed, buL runs Lhe rlsk of belng mobbed and ls llable Lo belng lmprlsoned.

l was called derogaLory names, assaulLed almosL on a dally basls on Lhe sLreeLs, aL work, and
all oLher publlc places by fellow sLudenLs, colleagues, and members of Lhe communlLy. l was
scared Lo be myself. l was sexually abused. l could noL speak Lo anybody abouL Lhls because
lL was a Laboo and could noL geL any proLecLlon from Lhe sLaLe because of Lhe laws on
homosexuallLy.

l was very lsolaLed. l was an exLroverL buL had Lo adopL an lnLroverLed llfesLyle because of
my sexuallLy, whlch had a slgnlflcanL negaLlve lmpacL on my personallLy. l am lnLeresLed ln
belng ln a long-Lerm relaLlonshlp raLher Lhan havlng casual encounLers, buL l have been seL
up by supposed frlends" and was belng blackmalled. l losL over Lwelve Lhousand pounds
wlLhln my lasL Lwo years ln Lhe counLry. 1he abuslve and explolLaLlve relaLlonshlps l had
lmpacLed on my ablllLy Lo LrusL people. l was llvlng ln fear and hopelessness noL knowlng
whaL may become of me.

l was physlcally and menLally broken. l was Lerrlfled aL llvlng llfe. l had so many psychologlcal
melL downs. l was on Lhe verge of commlLLlng sulclde and knew l needed some help or
someone l could Lalk Lo. l consulLed a psychoLheraplsL unknown Lo anyone. Cne of Lhe
opLlons suggesLed by my psychologlsL Lo geL ouL of Lhe slLuaLlon was Lo leave Lhe counLry. l
was vulnerable Lo more abuse lf l had remalned ln my counLry.

What was the asy|um process and detent|on ||ke?
My flrsL screenlng lnLervlew lasLed Lhe whole day. l was shouLed down aL by Lhe sLaff of Lhe
uk8A. lL was hard enough LhaL l was belng lnLerrogaLed on very personal maLLers, buL aL Lhe
same Llme l was ln an open hall wlLh over 30 people all llsLenlng and sLarlng aL whaL ls
happenlng.



l was Lold aL Lhe lnLervlew LhaL l wlll be deLalned. l was Lransferred from Lhe lnLervlew slLe Lo
Lhe deLenLlon cenLre. lrrespecLlve LhaL l had a long day durlng Lhe lnLervlew, Lhe
LransporLaLlon and checklng ln process lasLed from 22:00 LhaL unfalLhful day Lo 3:00am Lhe
followlng mornlng. l was devasLaLed. lL would have been beLLer lf l was a crlmlnal.

uesplLe Lhe facL LhaL l had fled my counLry Lo avold persecuLlon from my counLry men, l was
belng exposed Lo Lhe same people and oLher more homophoblc lndlvlduals ln deLenLlon. l
was so scared and kepL Lo my cell so much so LhaL l avolded meals aL Lhe common dlnlng
area and my baLh ln Lhe common baLhroom. l only venLured ouL when lL was very necessary
llke when l had frlends or legal vlslL.

l was sLlll gay bashed and bullled even Lhough l was always accompanled by a deLenLlon
offlcer. l was so afrald and dld noL know who Lo Lalk Lo or whaL punlshmenL l would geL lf l
dld make a complalnL. l was re-llvlng all Lhe Lerrlble experlences l had been Lhrough ln my
counLry and would have commlLLed sulclde ln LhaL brlef perlod lf l had Lhe means and Lhe
sLrengLh Lo do LhaL.

l was requesLlng a room change looklng for a more favourable cell. Cn one occaslon l was
LhreaLened by a cell maLe. AfLer calllng me all manner of derogaLory names, ln hls words 'l
wlll rape and fuck you Lo deaLh and make sure l klll you lf Lhey ever allow you Lo sLay a nlghL
ln my cell'. lL all happened ln fronL of a prlson offlclal.

l was afrald of hurLlng myself. l knew whaL l was golng Lhrough and made a requesL Lo see a
docLor on Lhe second day of my deLenLlon, buL l dld noL see one LhroughouL my 12 days
sLay. l was Lold l was noL Lhe only one needlng medlcal servlces and hence Lhere wlll be a
queue unLll lL geLs Lo my Lurn. l made some oLher requesLs whlch were never puL Lhrough aL
all.

My maln lnLervlew came on Lhe 10
Lh
day. 1he lnLervlew sLarLed aL 9:30 and ended aL 18:30
wlLh a 30mlnuLe break ln beLween. l was Lruly even more depressed and exhausLed aL Lhe
end of lL all.

Some thoughts on your exper|ence as an LG81I asy|um seeker |n the Uk
l sLarLed daLlng a 8lack Carlbbean man onllne for over a year, and he convlnced me he
would Lake care of me lf only l move over Lo Lhe uk. Soon afLer l arrlved l found ouL he had
lled abouL hlmself whlch l found very shocklng and deeply dlsappolnLlng. l was explolLed and
abused yeL agaln because l was ln a sLrange and unfamlllar counLry and l LhoughL lL wlll be
besL Lo co-operaLe as Lhls guy has promlsed Lo supporL me wlLh accommodaLlon. l was very
upseL and hurL and l felL qulLe beLrayed by Lhls.



Powever l summoned Lhe courage Lo leave wlLhln Lhe Lhlrd week, even wlLh Lhe rlsks of
runnlng ouL of funds and exposlng myself Lo homelessness and poverLy.

1hen Lhere was Lhls overwhelmlng feellng of lonellness. l mlssed my famlly every mlnuLe of
Lhe day and always wlshed LhaL Lhlngs were dlfferenL. lL was exLremely dlfflculL belng alone
ln a new place wlLhouL havlng someone Lo Lalk Lo or supporL me.

1he laws here were so sLrlcL LhaL lL ls very dlfflculL Lo llve a normal llfe. l renLed a room for
myself however l dld noL have proper documenLaLlon. l laLer suspecLed my landlord was
lllegally renLlng ouL Lhe aparLmenL. l lacked a proper Lenancy agreemenL, documenLaLlon of
bllls, councll Lax eLc. lL Look me more Lhan 12 weeks Lo open a bank accounL. So lL was wlLh
every oLher Lhlng llke reglsLraLlon wlLh a C, flndlng anoLher sulLable aparLmenL, flndlng a
[ob eLc.

l felL llke a cheap crlmlnal. l was belng [udged wlLhouL any cause by people who do noL know
me. lL was very humlllaLlng. l felL llke l have [usL [umped ouL of Lhe frylng pan buL lnLo Lhe
flre.

l LhoughL l would be free from dlscrlmlnaLlon and harassmenL. l was shocked aL Lhe reallLy.
MosL of Lhe re[ecLlon had some raclal underLone even among Lhe gay communlLy. l have
been bashed a number of Llmes on Lhe sLreeLs by unknown lndlvlduals. l have a greaL phobla
for blacks especlally from Lhe Afrlcan communlLy because of Lhe experlences l have been
Lhrough ln my counLry, and lL does noL make llfe easler ln any way.

l wlLhdrew from Lhe on-llne gay communlLy as Lhls ls synonymous wlLh cheap casual sexual
encounLers, and noL whaL l wanLed. nelLher could l afford Lhe luxury of Lhe gay bars. l could
noL pay for my LransporLaLlon and Lhe drlnks. l deLesLed nlghL llfe. l was Llred and ashamed
of always brlnglng up my prlvaLe llfe or asylum clrcumsLance when l meL people. lL was
lnevlLable. l am noL surprlsed by Lhe re[ecLlon l geL from people. WhaL more lngredlenLs
does one need ln creaLlng a Llcklng Llme bomb Lhan belng a black Afrlcan, belng gay and
belng a poor wreLched asylum seeker?

lL was very LraumaLlc golng Lhrough Lhe asylum process, Lo flnd Lhe rlghL sollclLor l could
LrusL and be comforLable wlLh dlscusslng lssues from my pasL. ulgglng up pasL experlences
was unduly sLressful and caused severe paln and anxleLy. lL ls llke re-llvlng Lhe Lrauma all
over agaln.

8eporLlng Lo uk8A, havlng my valld sLudenL vlsa cancelled lnsLanLly, belng Laken lnLo
deLenLlon and golng Lhrough Lhe varlous forms of lnLervlew was also very dlfflculL. AL lasL l
was granLed refugee sLaLus on Lhe 12
Lh
day buL LhaL marked Lhe beglnnlng of yeL anoLher
sLruggle and [ourney.


Lxper|ences of access|ng support serv|ces from LG81 organ|sat|ons, and what th|s was ||ke
as an LG81I asy|um seeker]refugee
1here ls a lack of lnformaLlon. lnformaLlon on Lhese organlsaLlons ls underground and noL
easlly accesslble or avallable. Some of Lhe webslLes only have emall addresses and no
Lelephone conLacL. ln my oplnlon and experlence l wlll raLher say LhaL some of Lhe webslLes
are for decoraLlon raLher Lhan for servlce dellvery. lL usually Lakes ages Lo geL a response
back uslng Lhe emall and ln some cases no response aL all. 1he phone llnes always rlng ouL
golng lnLo volce messaglng more Lhan 93 of Lhe Llme. Lven when l dld leave messages on
Lhe volcemall l never goL any response back.

When you do speak Lo someone Lhe person aL Lhe oLher end ls raLher lmpaLlenL aL llsLenlng
Lo your problems. 1hey already have a comparLmenLallsed servlce, and lf one does noL flL
lnLo Lhese caLegorles Lhey ofLen cannoL provlde any help. 1hey are always eager Lo dlsmlss
Lhe cllenL on sllghLesL provocaLlon ln Lerms of sex, locaLlon, or Lhe Lype of servlces provlded.

A few of Lhe organlsaLlons l goL lnvolved wlLh only meL once a monLh, and ln cases where l
Lrled Lo book an appolnLmenL, lL Look more Lhan one monLh Lo geL an appolnLmenL [usL Lo
have someone Lo Lalk Lo on my experlences and concerns.

MosL of Lhe coordlnaLors of Lhese servlces/groups have Lhe aLLlLudes of deml gods. 1hey puL
up raLher unapproachable sLrlcL mannerlsms. ln facL l never really Lalked Lo one of Lhem
unLll over 7 monLhs of belng wlLh Lhe group. l would noL have had Lhe paLlence and
Lolerance lf l was noL desperaLe Lo geL help.

Whlle Lhese coordlnaLors/sLaff have already sacrlflced a loL by provldlng Lhese servlces Lo
asylum seekers, unforLunaLely Lhese servlces are raLher superflclal.

l reallse ln reallLy Lhere are only a few sLaff wlLh so many cllenLs and so much work Lo be
done. l respecL Lhem a loL for Lhe work Lhey do. 8uL ls lL enough Lo glve legal counsel on Lhe
rouLe Lo asylum, and provlde Lhe servlce of legal ald whlch may Lake monLhs Lo help when
Lhere are real llfe lssues (abuse, homelessness, lnsecurlLy, fear, [oblessness, poverLy,
depresslon and anxleLy dlsorders) LhreaLenlng me on a dally basls whlch are never explored?

Lxper|ences of fac|ng d|scr|m|nat|on]|ack of support as an LG81I asy|um seeker]refugee
1he mosL lmporLanL was ln my experlence of geLLlng a [ob. l always flll ln my sexuallLy as gay
and my sLaLus as a refugee afLer l was granLed refugee sLaLus. 1hls predomlnanLly
domlnaLed Lhe dlscusslons on my lnLervlews and lL ls always noL a surprlse when Lhe resulL
comes back negaLlve especlally when l am convlnced l have done well.


l was once Lold by a frlend from my counLry LhaL ln order Lo help me geL a [ob ln hls flrm l
needed Lo sLop braldlng my halr and presenL myself ln a more mascullne manner. l ralsed
Lhe lssue wlLh one of Lhe coordlnaLors of an LC81 organlsaLlon who barely llsLened Lo whaL
was causlng me Lhls greaL anxleLy. l was cuL shorL and Lold Lo forgeL abouL lL LhaL Lhe guy
slmply does noL wanL Lo help me, whlch was whaL l dld.

What |mpact do you th|nk th|s |ack of support has?
Many gay asylum seekers feel a loL of shame abouL Lhelr sexual orlenLaLlon. 1hese feellngs
make lL very hard for some asylum seekers Lo Lell anyone abouL Lhe klnd of problems Lhey
are faclng ln Lhelr home counLry.

lL ls generally dlfflculL Lo LrusL anyone especlally wlLh all Lhe dlfflculL experlences and
unfrlendly/sLrlcL aLLlLude by lndlvlduals, and Lhere are lncreased cases of psychologlcal
problems and menLal lllnesses, and lncreased vulnerablllLy Lo abuse and molesLaLlon.

1here ls a lack of lnformaLlon on avallable help and how Lo access LhaL, and lncreaslng
numbers of gay asylum seekers are senL back Lo Lhelr counLry of orlgln wlLh all Lhe aLLendanL
consequences.

1here ls a loss of equallLy and encouragemenL of Lhe dlscrlmlnaLlon agalnsL Lhls mlnorlLy
group.

l would llke Lo see Lhe followlng Lhlngs:

lrlendly and welcomlng Lo LC81l asylum seekers/refugees
lncreased avallablllLy and accesslblllLy
AcLlve aL problem solvlng raLher Lhan avoldlng Lhese slLuaLlons
lmproved publlclLy and awareness
All lncluslve servlces avoldlng any llmlLaLlons Lo Lhe baresL mlnlmum
More pracLlcal ln problem solvlng and provldlng exLenslve supporL Lo Lhelr cllenLs
Pave a proper referral sysLem ln place ln case Lhey cannoL aLLend Lo all Lhe
challenges
lollow up cases

What d|fference do you th|nk |t wou|d make to have serv|ces that were we|com|ng to
LG81I asy|um seekers]refugees?

M8AkC age S0 September 2013

lf servlces were more welcomlng Lo LC81l asylum seekers/refugees lL would reduce Lhe
burden and sLress belng faced by LC81l asylum seekers and refugees, lmprove Lhe quallLy of
llfe, lmprove Lhelr accepLance and recognlLlon ln Lhe socleLy and encourage lndlvlduals Lo
speak ouL and brlng up human rlghLs lssues as lL concerns Lhem.

how d|d th|s make you fee|, what d|fference has |t made for you?
ukLClC have provlded me wlLh supporL. Colng Lhere gave me a feellng of belng accepLed
and enablemenL of belng very comforLable wlLh my sexuallLy, afLer years of soul-searchlng
where l have dlscussed my sexuallLy wlLh prlesLs and a psychoLheraplsL. lL helps Lo promoLe
equallLy and dlgnlLy for LC81l. l had losL all my dlgnlLy before buL l was encouraged Lo sLarL
bulldlng lL back.

l was greaLly lnformed of Lhe asylum process and Lhe challenges LhaL lle ahead even afLer
Lhe sLaLus has been granLed. l was beLLer lnformed and prepared myself for any evenLuallLy.

1he meeLlngs are aLLended by 40 - 80 LC81l asylum seekers/refugees and lL ls comforLlng Lo
know LhaL one ls noL alone and LhaL many oLher lndlvldual are golng Lhrough slmllar
experlence. lL also afforded me Lhe opporLunlLy Lo mlx and learn new Lhlngs from dlfferenL
parLs of Lhe world (some good and some bad).

ln Lhe men's LherapeuLlc dlscusslon group asylum seekers and refugees share Lhelr
experlences on lssues such as comlng ouL, Plv awareness, combaLlng lsolaLlon and
respondlng Lo homophobla and haLe crlme. lL was a safe place Lo Lalk.

1here are also soclal meeLlngs and evenLs, and sklll developmenL workshops where l have
learnL so many skllls and also boosLed my confldence.



Case Study 1hree
l fled from my home counLry, !amalca, afLer faclng years of homophoblc dlscrlmlnaLlon
LhroughouL my Leenage years. 8elng a gay man ln !amalca ls very dlfflculL Lo deal wlLh,
especlally as a Leenager. Susplclons of my sexuallLy were conLlnuously fuelled by prank calls,
emall hacklng and rumours by some members of my hlgh school. 1hls dlscrlmlnaLlon
culmlnaLed ln 2011 when l became vlcLlm of LhreaLs and vlolence by oLher youLhs ln my
communlLy (lncludlng ex-sLudenLs from my hlgh school).

rlor Lo Lhls, l had been a sLudenL aL unlverslLy ln London from 2008. Whlle ln London l was
noL only accepLed by oLhers, buL also learned Lo accepL myself and come ouL as a gay man.
Maklng vlslLs back Lo !amalca every year for Lhe summer proved very dlfflculL as l had Lo
reverL Lo preLendlng Lo be someone l was noL. As a resulL, l became very wlLhdrawn and also
dlagnosed cllnlcally depressed.

hoLos and lnLeracLlons on lacebook wlLh oLher LC81l frlends ln London reached !amalca,
and on my lasL vlslL ln uecember 2011 l was LhreaLened, chased and aLLacked by a group of
abouL 7 men ln my communlLy. When l reLurned Lo Lhe uk ln !anuary 2012 l soughL refuge.

Seek|ng asy|um |n the Uk
Seeklng asylum ln Lhe uk was very scary. Whlle l was ln fear of my llfe ln my home counLry, l
was also afrald of Lhe facL LhaL l may be placed ln deLenLlon as an asylum seeker, or LhaL l
may be deLalned Lhen have Lo reLurn Lo !amalca.

l undersLood Lhese rlsks, buL Lhe greaLer rlsk was LhaL my llfe would be ln danger back ln
!amalca. l conflded ln my besL frlend, who was very supporLlve. l made Lhe call Lo uk8A and
began Lhe asylum process. AfLer maklng Lhe appllcaLlon over Lhe phone, l was glven conLacL
lnformaLlon for Lhe Asylum Seekers/8efugee Councll.

Lxper|ences of access|ng support from LG81 organ|sat|ons, and what th|s was ||ke as an
LG81I asy|um seeker]refugee
My flrsL polnL of conLacL was an LC81l organlsaLlon. l made a phone call Lo Lhem seeklng
advlce on Lhe asylum process. Pavlng dealL wlLh Lhe LC81l organlsaLlon ln Lhe pasL ln
regards Lo oLher lssues, l LhoughL LhaL lL was a good ldea Lo conLacL Lhem flrsL. 8elng an
LC81l organlsaLlon l felL comforLable Lalklng wlLh Lhem abouL my asylum clalm, and l knew
Lhey had a speclal secLlon deallng wlLh lmmlgraLlon lssues.

8uL Lo be honesL, Lhe phone call was shorL and less helpful Lhan l had expecLed. 1he advlsor


searched for lmmlgraLlon cenLres ln close proxlmlLy Lo where l llve and Lhen gave me deLalls
for Lhe lsllngLon Law CenLre whlch was closesL Lo me. l was dlsappolnLed wlLh Lhe lack of
supporL as l had hoped LhaL l would be able Lo deal wlLh Lhe LC81l organlsaLlon dlrecLly as
Lhey are an LC81l organlsaLlon and would be more knowledgeable and senslLlve Lo Lhe
lssue.

Lxper|ences of access|ng support serv|ces from asy|um seeker]refugee organ|sat|ons, and
what th|s was ||ke as an LG81I asy|um seeker]refugee
l vlslLed Lhe lsllngLon Law CenLre as soon as l was referred by Lhe LC81l organlsaLlon, buL l
was Lhen Lold LhaL l would noL be able Lo access Lhelr servlces as my posLcode was
reglsLered ln Lhe 8orough of Parlngey raLher Lhan lsllngLon. l found Lhls very annoylng
because noL only do l llve 10 mlnuLes' walk away, buL Lo be Lurned away wlLh such a
presslng lssue seemed wrong.

1he advlsor Lhen gave me deLalls for Lhe ClLlzens Advlce 8ureau (Parlngey) and Lhe Packney
MlgranL CenLre whlch runs a drop-ln sesslon for persons from any borough. l flrsL vlslLed Lhe
Parlngey ClLlzens Advlce 8ureau. 1here l was asked Lo glve my deLalls and Lold Lhem LhaL l
needed advlce on seeklng asylum. l was handed varlous resources lncludlng pamphleLs on
asylum, and Lold l would be conLacLed by an asslgned caseworker over Lhe phone wlLhln a
week. 1hls seemed a poslLlve ouLlook. l was conLacLed by Lhe caseworker and l explalned
why l was seeklng asylum ln Lhe uk. AfLer a long conversaLlon, Lhe caseworker provlded me
wlLh deLalls of an lmmlgraLlon lawyer and, lronlcally, gave me deLalls for Lhe LC81l
organlsaLlon saylng LhaL Lhey provlde supporL for LC81l persons. l found Lhls very frusLraLlng
and unhelpful.

l vlslLed Lhe Packney MlgranL CenLre Lhe followlng week. As a flrsL Llme vlslLor, l was greeLed
aL Lhe door by Lhe sLaff who Look my deLalls and asked whaL klnd of advlce l requlred. 1hey
explalned LhaL lL ls a drop-ln sesslon run on a flrsL-come-flrsL-served basls and l may be
walLlng for a whlle. l found Lhe cusLomer servlce very helpful. When l was flnally seen by an
advlsor l was very apprehenslve abouL Lelllng Lhem Lhe lssue. l flrsL asked lf everyLhlng l say
would be LreaLed as confldenLlal and Lhey sald yes. l was lmmedlaLely puL Lhrough Lo an
lmmlgraLlon sollclLor Lhere and he was able Lo handle my case ln confldence. 1he sollclLor
Look charge of my case lmmedlaLely schedullng meeLlngs aL hls offlce and gulded me
Lhrough Lhe enLlre asylum process. Cverall, l found Lhe experlence aL Packney MlgranL
CenLre exLremely helpful and non-dlscrlmlnaLory and have Lhem Lo Lhank for a poslLlve
declslon ln my case.

Lxper|ences of access|ng support from more genera| serv|ces, |n part|cu|ar exper|ences of
fac|ng d|scr|m|nat|on]|ack of support as an LG81I asy|um seeker]refugee


1hroughouL Lhe asylum process l was faced wlLh many dlfferenL problems. l had sLopped
recelvlng flnanclal supporL from my parenLs ln !amalca afLer l had reLurned Lo Lhe uk ln
2011. lor Lhls reason, my accommodaLlon was ln [eopardy.

l agaln soughL advlce from Lhe Packney MlgranL CenLre who Lhen polnLed me Lo Lhe
Parlngey Councll. l was apprehenslve abouL reveallng my sexuallLy Lo Lhe councll, knowlng
LhaL lL ls noL an LC81 organlsaLlon. neverLheless, Lhey were helpful ln glvlng me advlce on
accommodaLlon and how Lo access houslng beneflLs as an asylum seeker/refugee.

l also vlslLed varlous banks and bulldlng socleLles ln an aLLempL Lo open a bank accounL, buL l
was refused by mosL banks as Lhey sald LhaL Lhe form of lu l had was noL valld, even Lhough
Lhls lu (8lomeLrlc 8esldence ermlL) ls a valld lu from uk8A whlch proves my lmmlgraLlon
sLaLus.

What |mpact do you th|nk a |ack of support]understand|ng for LG81I asy|um seekers
had]cont|nues to have?
1he lrony of Lhe slLuaLlon ls LhaL LC81l asylum seekers are seeklng refuge ln Lhe uk, buL
many are noL welcomed by Lhese organlsaLlons.

l belleve LhaL Lhls lack of undersLandlng conLlnues Lo have ma[or effecLs on LC81l asylum
seekers and refugees. MlslnformaLlon and/or belng referred Lo oLher organlsaLlons are noL
encouraglng for someone who ls faclng dlfflculLles wlLh presslng lssues.

eople end up loslng confldence ln local organlsaLlons LhaL are supposed Lo be Lhere Lo help
Lhem, and may Lurn Lo oLher sources for lnfo/advlce LhaL may noL be correcL. Also, ln mosL
cases lssues faced by LC81l asylum seekers/refugees are noL only llmlLed Lo lmmlgraLlon,
buL also houslng, flnance, healLh and even educaLlon.

As an LC81l refugee, l would llke Lo see Lhese organlsaLlons belng more lncluslve ln Lhe
servlces and advlce Lhey glve. knowledge and undersLandlng of LC81l Anu asylum lssues
LogeLher ls key, as well as Lhose lssues whlch are aLLached Lo LC81l persons seeklng asylum
(such as houslng, healLhcare, eLc.)

1hey should be more welcome Lo LC81l asylum seekers and ensure LhaL Lhese persons feel
secure ln maklng Lhe declslon Lo seek refuge ln Lhe uk.

More servlces should be avallable across Lhe board for LC81l asylum seekers where correcL
lnformaLlon ls readlly avallable aL flrsL conLacL, raLher Lhan havlng Lo be referred Lo oLher
organlsaLlons. 1hls ls vlLal aL a Llme where lnformaLlon, advlce and supporL ls needed


qulckly.

how d|d th|s make you fee|, what d|fference has |t made for you?
1he Packney MlgranL CenLre8 ls very welcomlng Lo LC81l asylum seekers/refugees, even
Lhough Lhey are noL an 'LC81l organlsaLlon'. 1hls made me feel exLremely hopeful and
confldenL ln my declslon Lo seek asylum.

1hey provlde advlce/supporL ln a wlde range of lssues, wlLh dlfferenL advlsors and
professlonals deallng wlLh lmmlgraLlon, houslng, educaLlon, healLh, famlly and oLher legal
lssues. 1he sysLem Lhey run ls very organlsed, free and avallable Lo everyone. Added Lo LhaL,
Lhey provlde a free lunch and help wlLh small food lLems Lo Lake home for Lhose who may be
sLruggllng.

1he Packney MlgranL CenLre has made a blg dlfference ln my case by provldlng me wlLh
legal advlce whlch resulLed ln a poslLlve declslon.

8 Packney MlgranL CenLre
1el: 07304332706
hLLp://www.hackneymlgranLcenLre.org.uk/

M8AkC age SS September 2013

ALNDIk 2 - ACnILVLMLN1S CI LACn ILC1 CkGANISA1ICN
ln Lhls secLlon we seL ouL Lhe achlevemenLs of each plloL organlsaLlon, hlghllghL whaL lmpacL
Lhe pro[ecL has had on Lhelr organlsaLlon, llsL some of Lhe challenges organlsaLlons faced and
provlde deLall of how organlsaLlons lnLend Lo conLlnue Lhe work of Lhe pro[ecL ln fuLure.
7%-#+,0A #"6>-"" +,( +/*)>5 /""B"# 1#-+,%/+0%1,/
Lve|yn C|df|e|d Un|t
key acLlons Laken:
1he organlsaLlon publlclsed Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL lnLernally and Lo membershlp
organlsaLlons, ralslng awareness of LC81l lssues among numerous refugee
organlsaLlons,
1hey produced a regular bulleLln on Lhe pro[ecL LhaL wenL ouL Lo all membershlp
organlsaLlons,
1hey revlewed Lhelr own equallLles monlLorlng Lo lnclude examlnaLlon of LC81l asylum
seekers and refugees, changlng Lhelr quesLlon on gender ldenLlLy, and shared Lhls as a
Lool wlLh oLher membershlp organlsaLlons,
1hey meL wlLh SLonewall Pouslng, 8elaLe norLh WesL London and Lhe WesL London
Cay Men's ro[ecL Lo dlscuss Lhe pro[ecL, share learnlng and form a worklng
parLnershlp group,
Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL compared Lhelr LquallLy and ulverslLy ollcles wlLh Lhls
parLnershlp group, ldenLlfylng gaps ln Lhelr pollcles and updaLlng Lhem approprlaLely,
Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL and SLonewall Pouslng sLaff held [olnL Lralnlng sesslons wlLh each
oLher, looklng aL equallLles lssues,
SLonewall Pouslng aLLended Lhe Lvelyn Cldfleld ACM, and WesL London Cay Men's
ro[ecL had a sLall aL Lhe evenL, ralslng awareness of LC81l lssues among membershlp
organlsaLlons,
An lnLern creaLed a dlsplay abouL Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL, whlch was also
dlsplayed aL Lhe ACM, and
A Lralnlng evenL was held, ln parLnershlp wlLh SLonewall Pouslng, for membershlp
organlsaLlons on ralslng senslLlve Loplcs ln group dlscusslon, and LC81l lssues were
lncluded ln Lhls.
lmpacL:
Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL sLaff and volunLeers have slgnlflcanLly lncreased Lhelr awareness
of LC81l lssues, and now feel much more comforLable worklng on Lhese lssues. 1hey
are also more aware of oLher organlsaLlons Lhey can refer LC81l asylum seekers and
refugees Lo for supporL,
1hey have promoLed awareness of Lhese lssues Lo oLher asylum seeker and refugee
organlsaLlons LhaL Lhey work wlLh, LogeLher wlLh Lhe facL LhaL lL ls alrlghL Lo dlscuss
Lhem,


1he organlsaLlon has creaLed sLrong parLnershlp llnks wlLh Lhree of Lhe oLher plloL
organlsaLlons, whlch are llkely Lo conLlnue beyond Lhe llfe of Lhe pro[ecL, and
1he organlsaLlon has refreshed lLs LquallLy and ulverslLy ollcy, ln consulLaLlon wlLh
LC81l organlsaLlons lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL, and ls now collecLlng beLLer monlLorlng
daLa on LC81l asylum seekers and refugees.
Challenges:
1he Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL ManagemenL CommlLLee has been supporLlve of Lhe pro[ecL,
Lhough has noL engaged wlLh lL acLlvely. lL ls felL LhaL exLra efforL ls requlred Lo acLlvaLe
some of Lhe ManagemenL CommlLLee members, who have had llmlLed Llme and
avallablllLy Lo become lnvolved wlLh Lhe pro[ecL/lssue (as wlLh oLher pro[ecLs/lssues
Lhey work on),
1he lack of any budgeL for Lhe work of Lhe pro[ecL has been challenglng, as Lhey have
had no resources for publlclLy, venue hlre or Lralnlng, or Lhe sLaff Llme allocaLed Lo Lhe
pro[ecL, and
1hey have also felL LhaL Lhere was a llmlLed demand from Lhe grassrooLs organlsaLlons
LhaL Lhey work wlLh for Lhe pro[ecL.
ConLlnuaLlon of pro[ecL work:

Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL plans Lo conLlnue worklng closely wlLh SLonewall Pouslng and
hopes Lo organlse more [olnL Lralnlng and meeLlngs beLween sLaff from boLh
organlsaLlons. 1hey also hope Lo conLlnue Lo work wlLh 8elaLe norLh WesL London and
Lhe WesL London Cay Men's ro[ecL,
1helr communlLy developmenL work wlll conLlnue Lo advlse groups abouL LC81l lssues
accordlngly, and
Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL expressed a deslre Lo conLlnue worklng wlLh all of Lhe groups
lnvolved ln Lhe pro[ecL, lf sulLable opporLunlLles can be found and resources are
avallable.

nackney kefugee Iorum (nkI)

key acLlons Laken:

P8l seL up a PealLh and ScruLlny SLeerlng Croup whlch has been examlnlng LC81l
lssues,
1he organlsaLlon arranged a conference on Lhe LquallLy AcL 2010 and Packney
Councll's pollcy Lowards LC81l people on Lhe 16
Lh
!anuary 2013. AL Lhls conference Lhe
lssue was dlscussed wlLh 26 local refugee organlsaLlons and Packney Councll, and all
were urged Lo re-examlne Lhelr LquallLles ollcles Lo ensure Lhey Lake accounL of LC81l
asylum seekers and refugees,
lL has lnfluenced Packney CvS (CommunlLy volunLary Servlce) Lo become more acLlve
on LC81l lssues and Lo revlew lLs LquallLles ollcy,


lL has broughL Lhe lssue of LC81l asylum seekers and refugees Lo Lhe aLLenLlon of Lhe
varlous organlsaLlons ln Lhe Packney 8efugee lorum, and now Lhese organlsaLlons are
more aware of Lhese lssues and some have lmproved Lhelr servlces. lor example, Lhe
Packney MlgranL CenLre ls now more senslLlve Lo helplng LC81l people,
P8l has also emphaslsed Lhe lmporLance of confldenLlallLy Lo organlsaLlons when Lhey
are worklng wlLh LC81l asylum seekers and refugees,
1he organlsaLlon has had conLacL wlLh varlous oLher plloL organlsaLlons Lhrough
pro[ecL meeLlngs and lL had an emall exchange wlLh Calop whlch senL Lhem lLs
LquallLles ollcy Lo help wlLh recommendaLlons on LC81l lssues,
P8l revlewed lLs LquallLles ollcy and updaLed lL and Lhen senL Lhls documenL Lo lLs
member organlsaLlons, and
P8l ls now more aware of LC81l organlsaLlons ln Packney and elsewhere.

lmpacL:

P8l has begun dlscusslons on LC81l lssues whlch ls a dellcaLe Loplc for some of lLs
member organlsaLlons and Lhese organlsaLlons have now been encouraged Lo conslder
Lhe lssues,
P8l has learned more abouL LC81l lssues and Lhe LquallLles AcL as a means of
supporLlng dlsadvanLaged groups,
1he organlsaLlon has become more aware of oLher LC81l organlsaLlons,
lL feels more able Lo deal wlLh lssues for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees, and ls
more confldenL abouL where else Lo refer or slgnposL Lhem, and
P8l ls aware of Lhe supporL for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees oLher organlsaLlons
offer and whaL klnd of legal supporL ls avallable.

Challenges:

P8l has found LhaL some organlsaLlons on lLs sLeerlng group have been relucLanL Lo
work on Lhls Loplc. 1hese organlsaLlons have been concerned LhaL lf Lhey are seen Lo
be addresslng Lhese lssues Lhey may lose members of Lhelr organlsaLlons, as LC81l
lssues are seen as Laboo ln some communlLles,
P8l has found LhaL Lhe besL way Lo combaL Lhls ls Lo conLacL leaders or communlLles
and organlsaLlons, as Lhey can be more flexlble, senslLlve and can lnfluence
organlsaLlons Lo change Lhelr aLLlLudes,
ln a cllmaLe of economlc cuLs, P8l have found LhaL varlous organlsaLlons and sLaff
have oLher prlorlLles whlch Lhey have seen as more lmporLanL Lhan lssues abouL LC81l
asylum seekers and refugees, and
1he lack of resources for Lhe pro[ecL was challenglng, as Lhe sLaff member aL P8l had
very llLLle Llme Lo work on Lhe pro[ecL.

luLure:


P8l has been looklng for a granL Lo help Lhem conLlnue Lhls work buL has noL had any
success, and
lL wlll conLlnue Lo ralse lssues aL P8l SLeerlng Croup meeLlngs.

IndoAmer|can kefugee M|grant Commun|ty (IkMC) - Lat|n Amer|can kefugee ro[ect
key acLlons Laken:

A speclflc sLaff member was asslgned Lo work on Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL,
l8MC conducLed research Lo flnd ouL abouL Lhe LC81l communlLy ln 8rlxLon,
l8MC has formed llnks wlLh Lhe nAZ LaLlna pro[ecL, Cay Men's lnlLlaLlve (CMl)
arLnershlp and 8rook ln order Lo lmprove lLs knowledge of LC81l lssues, form
parLnershlps wlLh LC81l organlsaLlons and creaLe referral rouLes,
1he organlsaLlon has arranged for CMl Lo provlde equallLles Lralnlng Lo sLaff (Lo be
compleLed shorLly) and lL ls plannlng Lo vlslL CMl ln Lhe near fuLure,
l8MC creaLed a sLaLemenL on LC81l equallLy and publlshed Lhls onllne and ln lLs
volunLeer manual,
l8MC also revlewed lLs LquallLles and ulverslLy pollcles and made some ad[usLmenLs
Lo make Lhem more appllcable Lo LC81l lssues. All [ob descrlpLlons were alLered Lo
make reference Lo adherlng Lo lLs LquallLles ollcy,
A workshop was held Lo dlscuss lncluslvlLy for LC81l people wlLh boLh servlce users
and sLaff members Look parL,
l8MC organlsed Lhe '1ogeLher as Cne' fesLlval, ln parLnershlp wlLh CMl and 8rook,
whlch was held on 19
Lh
and 20
Lh
of !uly 2013. 1he key alm was Lo lnvolve young people
who are refugees, asylum seekers and oLhers l8MC works wlLh ln a workshop abouL
dlverslLy, sexuallLy and sexual healLh:
- 1he workshop broughL LogeLher volunLeers, young refugees and asylum seekers
and sexual healLh organlsaLlons (CMl and 8rook) Lo work LogeLher on Lhese lssues
and how Lhey affecL Lhe communlLles Lhey work wlLh.
- 1he evenL was very successful, promoLlng loLs of dlscusslon from young people
who seemed Lo en[oy Lhe opporLunlLy Lo Lalk openly abouL someLhlng Lhey ofLen
do noL have Lhe chance Lo dlscuss.
- 8oLh 8rook and CMl were presenL aL Lhe fesLlval, provldlng conLracepLlon, leafleLs
and sexual healLh lnformaLlon and ralslng LC81l lssues.
- 1he evenL also lncluded grafflLl, muslc and dance on Lhe Lheme of sexual dlverslLy.
1he pro[ecL has been dlscussed ln Leam meeLlngs and wlLh LrusLees.

lmpacL:

lM8C sLaff, volunLeers and ManagemenL CommlLLee have lncreased Lhelr
undersLandlng of LC81l lssues, and now reallse Lhelr duLy Lo proLecL Lhe rlghLs of LC81l
people and Lhe legal proLecLlons LhaL exlsL for Lhem,
SLaff are now more able Lo deal wlLh LC81l lssues,


lL ls hoped LhaL Lhls lncreased undersLandlng wlll have a poslLlve lmpacL on servlce
dellvery,
1he lM8C 8oard has been engaged wlLh Lhe pro[ecL from Lhe beglnnlng and helped Lo
rewrlLe Lhe LquallLy and ulverslLy pollcy,
1he organlsaLlon learned LhaL LC81l lssues are an lssue for many of Lhelr cllenLs,
lL has lmproved lLs LquallLy and ulverslLy pollcles and made Lhe organlsaLlon more
publlcly welcomlng Lo LC81l people,
1hls has helped lL Lo challenge lnapproprlaLe vlews on LC81l lssues,
lL has sLarLed Lo make llnks wlLh LC81l organlsaLlons and has made arrangemenLs Lo
have equallLles Lralnlng from CMl, and
1he organlsaLlon has engaged lLs local communlLy ln dlscusslon around LC81l lssues
Lhrough Lhe '1ogeLher as Cne' fesLlval.

Challenges:

Many of Lhe servlce users, volunLeers and some sLaff aL lM8C do noL have Lngllsh as
Lhelr flrsL language (and ln some cases do noL speak any Lngllsh). 1hls can make lL
dlfflculL Lo form parLnershlps wlLh LC81l organlsaLlons or Lo refer people Lo Lhese
organlsaLlons, as Lhere are very few Spanlsh speakers ln LC81l organlsaLlons,
1he lack of Llme/resources avallable Lo work on Lhe pro[ecL was challenglng, and
1he organlsaLlon felL LhaL some of Lhe sLeps ln Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' were
more sulLable for larger organlsaLlons.

luLure:

l8MC has developed an LquallLy AcLlon plan for Lhe nexL slx monLhs and one of Lhe
LrusLees has responslblllLy for monlLorlng Lhls, and
lL ls plannlng Lo creaLe a medla pack whlch alms Lo challenge sLlgma agalnsL LC81l
people.
rax|s

key acLlons Laken:

raxls made a llsL of local LC81l organlsaLlons ln order Lo lmprove lLs neLworklng and
referral opLlons,
lL developed a new parLnershlp wlLh SLonewall Pouslng and SLonewall Pouslng held a
Lralnlng sesslon for all raxls sLaff on LC81l lssues,
1he organlsaLlon ls revlewlng Lhe Lralnlng glven Lo volunLeers and sLaff wlLh Lhe
lnLenLlon of lncludlng more Lralnlng on LC81l lssues,
raxls has also made llnks wlLh a number of Lhe oLher uouble !eopardy plloL
organlsaLlons,
lL has revlewed lLs Lqual CpporLunlLles ollcy and ls ln Lhe process of updaLlng lL
sllghLly,


AfLer a number of lnLernal sLaff changes, a ro[ecL Lead was asslgned Lo Lhe uouble
!eopardy pro[ecL and Lhey have worked wlLh Lhe advlce Leam Lo lmprove Lhe lncluslvlLy
of lLs servlce for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees,
1he organlsaLlon consulLed wlLh sLaff and servlce users Lo dlscuss how lL could lmprove
lLs servlces for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs, and ls ln Lhe process of
maklng relevanL changes,
1he organlsaLlon now provldes lnformaLlon abouL Lhe supporL LhaL ls avallable Lo
LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs ln Lhe organlsaLlon, and
raxls has made efforLs Lo conLacL 1ower PamleLs Councll Lo dlscuss LC81l equallLles
lssues, alLhough Lo daLe has noL had any response.

lmpacL of Lhe pro[ecL:

1he raxls Senlor ManagemenL 1eam (SM1) has been very supporLlve of Lhe pro[ecL.
raxls sLaff have become more aware of LC81l lssues, and have consldered how Lhey
can make Lhelr advlce servlce more welcomlng for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees,
1he pro[ecL has prompLed more dlalogue lnLernally abouL LC81l lssues, and has shown
Lhe organlsaLlon Lhe lmporLance of belng more senslLlve Lo Lhe LC81l communlLy,
raxls ls now more aware of lssues around gender ldenLlLy and sexuallLy ln case work,
and provldes a beLLer servlce for LC81l people,
lL has formed llnks wlLh Lhe SLep lorward ?oung LC81C group,
1he organlsaLlon ls now able Lo slgnposL people Lo LC81l organlsaLlons where
requlred, and
SLaff now recelve beLLer Lralnlng on LC81l lssues.

Challenges:

1here were a number of sLaff changes durlng Lhe llfeLlme of Lhe pro[ecL, meanlng
Lhere was noL a conslsLenL member of sLaff leadlng on acLlvlLy, and
SLaff Llme and avallablllLy Lo work on Lhe pro[ecL was llmlLed.


raxls plan Lo conLlnue Lralnlng all sLaff on LC81l lssues ln Lhelr lnducLlon Lralnlng, so
LhaL everyone worklng ln Lhe organlsaLlon has a beLLer undersLandlng of LC81l lssues,
and
1he sLaff member leadlng on Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL hopes Lo conLlnue wlLh Lhls
work beyond Lhe llfeLlme of Lhe pro[ecL.

Southwark kefugee Commun|ty Iorum (SkCI)

key acLlons Laken:


1he organlsaLlon has ralsed awareness among lLs sLaff, volunLeers and membershlp
organlsaLlons abouL Lhe needs of asylum seekers and refugees from Lhe LC81l
communlLy,
S8Cl has underLaken a Covernance revlew, lncludlng examlnaLlon of Lhelr Lqual
CpporLunlLles ollcy, Lo ensure LhaL lL covers LC81l lssues,
1he organlsaLlon has ldenLlfled and made conLacL wlLh local LC81l organlsaLlons Lo
whlch Lhey can slgnposL servlce users for supporL,
ln lebruary 2013 Lhey developed a parLnershlp wlLh Lhe uay CenLre for Asylum
Seekers Lo organlse an LC81l awareness ralslng evenL durlng LC81 PlsLory MonLh on
lssues faced by LC81l refugees. 1he evenL was almed aL members of Lhe refugee
communlLy and agencles who come lnLo conLacL wlLh refugees ln SouLhwark. lL
lncluded presenLaLlons from M8A8C on Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL, as well as Lhe
MeLro CenLre on parLnershlp work wlLh Afrlcan organlsaLlons, Say lL Loud Club (an
LC81 supporL communlLy group) and Counclllor Clalre Plckson, SouLhwark Councll
CablneL Member for CommunlLy LngagemenL, on Lhelr approach Lo supporLlng
refugees and asylum seekers from Lhe LC81 communlLy. 8ased on feedback from
parLlclpanLs S8Cl feels LhaL lL encouraged Lhe refugee communlLy and refugee
organlsaLlons Lo dlscuss and Lhlnk abouL Lhelr servlce provlslon ln relaLlon Lo Lhe needs
of refugees from Lhe LC81l communlLy,
S8Cl recenLly Look on an LC81l volunLeer as a way of demonsLraLlng Lo lLs
membershlp organlsaLlons and servlce users LhaL lL promoLes equallLy of access and a
welcomlng envlronmenL Lo all,
S8Cl has been looklng aL uslng member organlsaLlons' exlsLlng equallLles pollcles Lo
challenge Lhem Lo see wheLher Lhey are dolng enough on LC81l lssues, and
S8Cls board of dlrecLors has been very supporLlve of Lhe work of Lhe pro[ecL, whlch
has allowed sLaff Lo Lake Lhe Llme Lo aLLend meeLlngs and organlse Lhe awareness
ralslng evenL.
lmpacL:
1he organlsaLlon found Lhe vlslLs of lLs CommunlLy 8esearcher very helpful for
encouraglng Lhem Lo Lhlnk abouL LC81l lssues, and where Lhere have been/are gaps ln
lLs servlce provlslon,
S8Cl's servlce provlslon has become more lncluslve as a resulL of Lhe pro[ecL, wlLh
cllenL reglsLraLlon records showlng LhaL some of Lhelr servlce users have ldenLlfled
Lhemselves as LC81l durlng Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL,
1he organlsaLlon learnL LhaL some refugee communlLy organlsaLlons are less
welcomlng Lo LC81l refugees due Lo culLural/rellglous barrlers, buL LhaL engaglng wlLh
refugee organlsaLlons can sLarL a dlalogue on Lhese lssues,
S8Cl feel LhaL asylum seekers and refugees from Lhe LC81l communlLy may feel more
lncluded Lhan before, Lhough Lhey recognlse LhaL Lhls ls a process LhaL needs much
more work, and ls ln Lhe early sLages,
S8Cl sLaff are now more prepared for deallng wlLh Lhe needs of LC81l asylum seekers
and refugees, and


SLaff are more lnformed abouL how and where Lo slgnposL servlce users lnLo relevanL
LC81l agencles.
Challenges:
1he maln challenge S8Cl has faced ls Lhe lack of resources and sLaff Llme Lo devoLe Lo
Lhe pro[ecL,
S8Cl has found LhaL lL can be dlfflculL Lo Lalk Lo some of Lhelr members and
membershlp organlsaLlons abouL LC81l lssues, due Lo varlous culLural and rellglous
barrlers. 1houghL ls requlred abouL Lhe besL way Lo brlng up Lhese lssues, as dlfferenL
organlsaLlons and members have dlfferenL aLLlLudes, and
1he organlsaLlon has also found LhaL Lhere are a lack of llnks beLween refugee
communlLy organlsaLlons and organlsaLlons from Lhe LC81l secLor. AlLhough S8Cl has
been looklng Lo address Lhese, Lhere ls more work needed Lo llnk up lLs membershlp
organlsaLlons Lo local LC81l organlsaLlons.


S8Cl recognlses LhaL equal opporLunlLy and equal access are Lhe flrsL sLeps lnLo
encouraglng organlsaLlons and boards of LrusLees Lo engage ln poslLlve dlscusslon
around LC81l lssues, and
S8Cl ls currenLly revlewlng general governance and hopes Lhls revlew wlll resulL ln a
well governed organlsaLlon LhaL ls able Lo susLaln equal access Lo everyone, lncludlng
refugees from Lhe LC81l communlLy.

kAMILL (kefugee and M|grant Iorum of Last London)

key acLlons Laken:
Worked Lo supporL a number of LC81l asylum seekers and refugees LhaL came Lo lLs
organlsaLlon, and
1he organlsaLlon works closely ln parLnershlp wlLh 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy ln
order Lo dellver servlces sulLable for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs, and
lL ls currenLly supporLlng a number of LC81l asylum seekers and refugees wlLh Lhelr
lmmlgraLlon lssues.

lmpacL:
8ecause of Lhe [olnL worklng beLween 8AMlLL and 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy, lL
became easy for referrals Lo be seen [olnLly by boLh organlsaLlons, raLher Lhan lssues
belng separaLed lnLo 'lmmlgraLlon maLLers' and 'sexual maLLers'. 8oLh organlsaLlons
were able Lo speak freely and openly abouL Lhe cllenLs lssues as a whole,
8AMlLL's knowledge of LC81l lssues was greaLly enhanced Lhrough 8edbrldge
8alnbow CommunlLy, and


8AMlLL and 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy confronLed Lhe pollce [olnLly over
CperaLlon nexus (formerly known as CperaLlon 1ermlnus). 8oLh organlsaLlons Loured
Lhe pollce sLaLlon and cusLody sulLe. 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy was glven
assurances LhaL anyone who was boughL ln for quesLlonlng who had escaped
persecuLlon from Lhelr home counLry because of Lhelr acLual or percelved sexuallLy
would noL be senL back Lo Lhelr counLry of orlgln.

Challenges:
Lack of sLaff capaclLy Lo aLLend pro[ecL meeLlngs.

9:;<= .#-+,%/+0%1,/
Camden LG81 Iorum

key acLlons Laken

All Camden LC81 lorum sLaff were Lralned on lssues around LC81l asylum seekers and
refugees, Lo ensure LhaL all sLaff were Laklng Lhe pro[ecL and lssues serlously,
1he organlsaLlon examlned lLs LquallLy and ulverslLy ollcles Lo ensure Lhey were
sulLable for asylum seekers and refugees, and updaLed Lhem accordlngly,
1he organlsaLlon esLabllshed relaLlonshlps wlLh a SouLh Aslan Woman's Croup, Somall
Croups and Lhe 8angladeshl Law CenLre, and has seL up proLocols for referrlng servlce
users Lo each oLher where necessary,
1he organlsaLlon also meL wlLh Lhe lndoAmerlcan 8efugee MlgranL CommunlLy
organlsaLlon,
1ralnlng was conducLed wlLh sLaff on respondlng Lo LC81l asylum seekers/refugees
when Lhey phone Lhe organlsaLlon looklng for supporL,
1here are plans Lo updaLe Lhe webslLe and lnclude a secLlon on Lhe experlences of
asylum seekers and refugees ln a blog hosLed on Lhe webslLe,
lL ls also plannlng a shorL fllm on LC81l Somallans,
uurlng LC81 PlsLory MonLh Lhe organlsaLlon arranged Lhree evenLs whlch shared Lhe
experlences of asylum seekers and refugees,
A poeLry nlghL run by Camden LC81 lorum has been used Lo share asylum
seeker/refugee lssues,
1he organlsaLlon has recrulLed a number of mulLl-llngual volunLeer LranslaLors so Lhelr
servlces are more easlly avallable Lo asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs,
lL has LranslaLed lLs haLe crlme reporLlng lnformaLlon lnLo dlfferenL languages, and wlll
conLlnue Lo LranslaLe Lo more non-Lngllsh languages ln fuLure,
1he organlsaLlon has produced new leafleLs whlch hlghllghL asylum seeker and refugee
lssues and experlences,
1he organlsaLlon has been dolng work abouL LC81l lssues wlLh puplls ln schools, a
slgnlflcanL number of whom come from refugee famllles,


lL ls hoped LhaL Lhe pro[ecL and lssues around LC81l asylum seekers and refugees wlll
be addressed aL a LrusLee meeLlng ln Lhe near fuLure,
lL ls worklng Lowards creaLlng a Camden LC81 8efugee Ambassador poslLlon, and
1he ulrecLor of Camden LC81 lorum currenLly slLs of Lhe Camden ollclng Croup, and
has advlsed Lhe group Lo recrulL an asylum seeker or refugee. Pe ls also on Lhe
ScoLland ?ard LC81 Advlsory Croup, and has been dlscusslng how LhaL group could do
work around Lhese lssues.

lmpacL:

SLaff were challenged Lo Lhlnk dlfferenLly,
noLlced LhaL Lhe organlsaLlon was sLarLlng Lo recrulL and serve more refugees from
Camden,
1he organlsaLlon reallsed LhaL many lay members or cllenLs of Lhe forum were noL as
undersLandlng of refugee and asylum lssues as one may have presumed,
1hls led Lo a very effecLlve SLage 2,
SLaff and lead volunLeers worked hard Lo geL Lhe organlsaLlon's schemes and servlces
lnLo more dlverse places,
Camden LC81 lorum has documenLed where many refugees and asylum seekers
access oLher servlces Lhrough lnLelllgence and have gone Lo Lhese places accordlngly,
1he organlsaLlon now has refugee speakers for lLs C-Lab, volunLeers who may only be
Lhere for a shorL perlod of Llme Lo help lnLegraLe lnLo Camden llfe,
1he organlsaLlon's pollcles have been updaLed Lo Lake lnLo accounL lLs wlsh Lo expllclLly
menLlon refugees and asylum seekers ln lLs promoLlonal work,
lL has slgnlflcanLly lncreased lLs neLwork across London and has shared experlences
and guesL speakers on more Lhan one occaslon,
1he organlsaLlon's llnks wlLh Camden's Somall groups are now seen as an example Lo
oLher LC81 groups across Lhe counLry,
As a resulL of addlng refugee and asylum seeker lssues Lo lLs Lralnlng Lhe organlsaLlon
has had many Camden groups and organlsaLlons approach lL Lo speak Lo Lhelr
members or sLaff purely abouL lssues affecLlng refugees and asylum seekers, and
1he pro[ecL has had a good lmpacL on Lhe organlsaLlon's school work as so many
chlldren ln Camden are refugees.

Challenges:

1he organlsaLlon found LhaL Lo flnd LC81l refugees and asylum seekers lL had Lo go Lo
many places LhaL Lhe organlsaLlon was noL accusLomed Lo worklng wlLh, and Lhls was
very Llme consumlng,
Whlle work wlLh Lhe parLner organlsaLlon was greaL Lhe lmmedlaLe lmpacL wlll be felL
wlLhln Camden groups, and
1he organlsaLlon saw a slgnlflcanL lncrease ln Lhe number of asylum seekers wlLh no
llnk Lo Camden comlng Lhrough lLs doors havlng heard we supporL asylum seeker


appllcaLlons, perhaps Lhrough some mlscommunlcaLlon somewhere along Lhe llne,
Lhough Lhls reduced over Llme.

luLure:

1he organlsaLlon has recenLly Lralned a new volunLeer Champlon who ls a Camden
LC81l refugee and she ls ln Lhe process of sLarLlng some speclflc ouLreach programmes
for refugees and asylum seekers ln Camden,
1he organlsaLlon would llke Lo seek some fuLure funds Lo have a refugee LC81l worker
for perhaps one day a week, and lnLend Lo puL Lhls ln lLs new buslness plan,
1he organlsaLlon's webslLe ls belng revamped wlLh a dedlcaLed secLlon for LC81l
refugees ln Camden, and
1he organlsaLlon ls concludlng a mapplng pro[ecL and wlshes Lo lnclude sLaLs on
refugee and asylum seeker LC81l haLe crlme ln Lhe second lnsLalmenL.

Ga|op
key acLlons Laken:
Calop researched lnformaLlon abouL asylum seeker and refugee lssues and local
M8CCs ln Lhelr area and used Lhe opporLunlLy Lo creaLe a daLabase of Lhese
organlsaLlons and supporL servlces whlch lL now uses for reference and Lo help wlLh
referrals lf needed. lL has also been made avallable Lo servlce users,
lL has conducLed a number of 'learn and share' sesslons wlLh oLher organlsaLlons and
communlLy groups, Lo lmprove lLs undersLandlng of asylum seeker and refugee lssues,
lncludlng ukLClC and a Saudl Men's Croup,
1he organlsaLlon also had Lralnlng from Advlce uk on cerLaln lmmlgraLlon lssues, Lo
lncrease lLs awareness and skllls ln LhaL area,
lL revlewed lLs LquallLy and ulverslLy ollcy and lLs LquallLy Cb[ecLlves Lo lnclude
lmmlgraLlon sLaLus, whlch was dlscussed and agreed by Lhe LrusLees, and Lhls ls clearly
dlsplayed for servlce users across Lhe organlsaLlon,
lL ls plannlng Lo make Lhelr LquallLy and ulverslLy ollcy avallable onllne,
lL also revlewed lLs monlLorlng and evaluaLlon daLa,
Calop ls looklng aL wheLher lL could parLner wlLh an M8CC organlsaLlon Lo do some
work around haLe crlme and abuse of asylum seekers ln deLenLlon cenLres, and
lL ls also looklng aL expandlng lLs Lralnlng servlces Lo creaLe awareness of LC81l haLe
crlme and abuse ln M8CCs and deLenLlon cenLres, and Lo glve furLher Lralnlng on Lhese
lssues.

lmpacL:
SLaff and volunLeers wlLhln Lhe organlsaLlon have become much more aware of lssues
for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees, and Lhe barrlers Lhey can face,
1hey now feel more equlpped Lo deal wlLh asylum seeker, refugee and mlgranL lssues.


Calop now has a beLLer undersLandlng of oLher organlsaLlons worklng ln Lhls area, and
ls now able Lo refer people Lo Lhese organlsaLlons lf need be,
lL ls hopeful LhaL lL wlll see a rlse ln Lhe number of asylum seekers, refugees and
mlgranLs uslng lLs servlce,
1he ManagemenL CommlLLee has been very keen and supporLlve, and a Lralnlng
sesslon wlLh Lhem on Lhese lssues ls planned ln Lhe near fuLure, and
1he pro[ecL has helped Calop Lo conslder whaL aspecLs lL should lmprove as an
organlsaLlon overall.

Challenges:
LlmlLed resources Lo work on Lhe pro[ecL, and
Calop dld noL flnd lL easy Lo work wlLh Lhe refugee organlsaLlon LhaL lL was palred
wlLh, as Lhe organlsaLlon was unable Lo devoLe Llme Lo meeLlng wlLh Calop.

ConLlnuaLlon for fuLure:
Calop has a CuallLy AcLlon lan seL ouL for Lhe resL of Lhe year, whlch wlll conLlnue
work ln Lhls area.
1he Metro Centre

key acLlons Laken:

1he MeLro CenLre (Creenwlch Cfflce) has made llnks wlLh Lhe Creenwlch lncluslon
ro[ecL (Crl). 1hls ls a servlce funded by Creenwlch Councll whlch deals wlLh race
equallLy, lncluslon and haLe crlmes. More speclflcally, MeLro has been parL of forums
wlLh Lhls pro[ecL deallng wlLh homophoblc bullylng,
1he organlsaLlon has regular meeLlngs wlLh Lhe pollce ln Creenwlch, and lL provldes a
llnk beLween vlcLlms of LC81l haLe crlme and Lhe pollce. 1he organlsaLlon also has
sLrong llnks wlLh LambeLh Councll, as lL has an assoclaLe volunLeer, SLeve 8eed, who
was prevlously M for Croydon norLh and former Leader of LambeLh Councll,
A sLaLemenL abouL LC81l mlgranLs and refugees was drafLed and fully accepLed by Lhe
8oard of 1rusLees ln lebruary 2013,
1he MeLro CenLre webslLe provldes access Lo all meeLlng mlnuLes, reporLs, sLraLeglc
acLlon plans and laLesL news, and menLlon of Lhelr work wlLh LC81l asylum seekers
and refugees has been made ln Lhe news secLlon,
All sLaff are updaLed wlLh news on Lhe pro[ecL vla Lhe weekly lnLernal MeLro
newsround,
1he organlsaLlon appolnLed a key member of sLaff Lo work on Lhe pro[ecL, who was
also a member of Lhe Advlsory Croup. Pe has been worklng sLraLeglcally Lo ensure LhaL
Lhe MeLro CenLre ls more lncluslve and provldes servlces for LC81l asylum seekers,
refugees and mlgranLs,


SLaff have been Lralned Lo refer any calls from LC81l asylum seekers, refugees or
mlgranLs Lo Lhls key sLaff member, or Lo be able Lo refer Lo sulLable organlsaLlons LhaL
offer supporL Lo LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs,
1he organlsaLlon has held deflned and sLrucLured dlscusslons and meeLlngs on
progress agalnsL Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' aL every level: wlLh Lhe 8oard of
1rusLees, Lhe Senlor ManagemenL 1eam and Lhe ManagemenL 1eam,
1he 8oard of 1rusLees gave lLs unanlmous and sLrong supporL for Lhe uouble !eopardy
pro[ecL, and a process of roll-ouL across Lhe MeLro CenLre, and lL has been examlnlng
how Lo flL Lhls work ln alongslde lLs SLraLeglc AcLlon lan whlch spans a perlod from
2009-2014 (hLLps://www.meLrocenLreonllne.org/pdfs/8LC81-llnAL-
3yearS18A1LAn.pdf), and
1he organlsaLlon has been supporLlng an LC81l servlce user wlLh a complex
lmmlgraLlon and personal slLuaLlon, and has been worklng on LhaL as an organlsaLlon.

lmpacL:

AlLhough MeLro has worked wlLh asylum seeker, refugee and mlgranL communlLy
members slnce lLs formaLlon ln 1984, Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL has allowed lL Lo
focus on Lhls area of Lhe communlLy. MeLro CenLre has consldered how lL relaLes Lo
Lhem, how lLs servlces are percelved by Lhe communlLy and how MeLro, as an
organlsaLlon across all levels ls geared Lo respond Lo Lhe needs of Lhe asylum seeker,
refugee and mlgranL communlLy, and
SLaff have been open Lo Lhe pro[ecL and have accepLed Lhe lnLroducLlon of new
processes Lo supporL LC81l refugees/asylum seekers.

Challenges:

1he challenges faced by Lhe MeLro CenLre were focused on Lhe avallablllLy of
resources, malnly sLaff Llme, whlch could be devoLed Lo Lhe pro[ecL ln an envlronmenL
whlch lncludes Lhe new PealLh and Soclal Care 8lll and uncerLalnLy abouL fundlng for
key pro[ecLs, and
MeLro also relocaLed Lo new offlces ln Lhe early parL of 2013, and Lhls dlverLed some
sLaff resources from Lhe pro[ecL.


1he legacy of Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL wlll be shown ln Lhe lncorporaLlon of Lhe
needs of asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs ln MeLro's servlce developmenL plans
and ln Lhe work Lo develop lLs nexL sLraLeglc plan. 1he organlsaLlon wlll be uslng Lhe
gulde as a reference for servlce developmenL and as a benchmark of progress across
Lhe nexL Lwo years.

kedbr|dge ka|nbow Commun|ty (now kedbr|dge ka|nbow)



key acLlons Laken:
Worked Lo supporL a number of LC81l asylum seekers and refugees LhaL came Lo lLs
organlsaLlon,
8ecenLly recelved a granL from PerlLage LoLLery lund Lo do work around clvll
parLnershlps,
1he organlsaLlon works closely ln parLnershlp wlLh 8AMlLL ln order Lo dellver servlces
sulLable for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs, and lL ls currenLly supporLlng
a number of LC81l asylum seekers and refugees wlLh Lhelr lmmlgraLlon lssues.
Cases have also been referred Lo 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy from oslLlve LasL,
1he organlsaLlon has good llnks wlLh Lhe Aslan LC81l communlLy ln 8edbrldge. 1he
new sLaff lead ls also a Musllm and has a good undersLandlng of relaLlng Lo lndlvlduals
wlLhln Lhls rellglous group,
1he organlsaLlon conLlnues Lo work wlLh Lhe ML1 pollce ln combaLlng homophobla
and haLe crlme,
8edbrldge 8alnbow wlll be provldlng Lralnlng for 1he loyer ln 8edbrldge around
"accepLable" language and also supporLlng LC81 sLaff and resldenLs ln 1he loyer, and
1he organlsaLlon ls plannlng Lo make lLs group meeLlngs more lnLeracLlve and
supporLlve, lnvlLlng dlverse groups and lndlvlduals from Lhe local communlLy.

lmpacL:
8ecause of Lhe [olnL worklng beLween 8AMlLL and 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy, lL
became easy for referrals Lo be seen [olnLly by boLh organlsaLlons, raLher Lhan lssues
belng separaLed lnLo 'lmmlgraLlon maLLers' and 'sexual maLLers'. 8oLh organlsaLlons
were able Lo speak freely and openly abouL Lhe cllenLs lssues as a whole,
CllenLs who used 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy servlces were shown a communlLy
LhaL was lncluslve of all,
8edbrldge 8alnbow's knowledge of lmmlgraLlon lssues, especlally for LC81l cllenLs,
was greaLly enhanced Lhrough boLh 8AMlLL and M8A8C, and
8AMlLL and 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy confronLed Lhe pollce [olnLly over
CperaLlon nexus (formerly known as CperaLlon 1ermlnus). 8oLh organlsaLlons Loured
Lhe pollce sLaLlon and cusLody sulLe. 8edbrldge 8alnbow CommunlLy was glven
assurances LhaL anyone who was boughL ln for quesLlonlng who had escaped
persecuLlon from Lhelr home counLry because of Lhelr acLual or percelved sexuallLy
would noL be senL back Lo Lhelr counLry of orlgln.

Challenges:
Lack of sLaff capaclLy Lo aLLend pro[ecL meeLlngs, and
Lead sLaff member lefL Lhe pro[ecL ln Aprll 2013.
Stonewa|| nous|ng

key acLlons Laken:


SLonewall Pouslng now regularly dlscuss lssues abouL LC81l asylum seekers and
refugees ln Leam meeLlngs and ManagemenL CommlLLee meeLlngs,
lL has also seLup a sub-group of sLaff and volunLeers Lo look aL refugee and asylum
seeker lssues (lead by Lhe Chlef LxecuLlve and Cfflce Manager),
1he organlsaLlon has been parL of Lhe uouble !eopardy Advlsory Croup LhroughouL Lhe
pro[ecL, and aLLended and devlsed a workshop aL Lhe uouble !eopardy 2012
conference,
lL has conducLed Lralnlng on asylum seeker and refugee lssues wlLh boLh sLaff and
LrusLees, and raxls conducLed furLher Lralnlng wlLh sLaff aL a meeLlng ln !une 2013,
1he organlsaLlon slgned up Lo a volunLeer programme wlLh refugees and asylum
seekers, and a refugee volunLeer began worklng wlLh Lhe organlsaLlon ln !une 2013,
lLs LC81 uomesLlc Abuse servlce publlcally sLaLes supporL for LC81l asylum seekers
and refugees. 1hls sLaLemenL ls also lncluded ln a 'lan of AcLlon' leafleL,
1here ls an 'lnformaLlon for Asylum Seekers and 8efugees' leafleL on Lhelr webslLe,
whlch lncludes slgnposLlng Lo sulLable supporL organlsaLlons
(hLLp://www.sLonewallhouslng.org/flles/lS_8efugeelnfo.pdf),
1he organlsaLlon plans Lo dlscuss progress agalnsL Lhe drafL 'Servlce SpeclflcaLlon' aL a
LrusLee meeLlng ln Lhe near fuLure,
1here are plans Lo survey boLh sLaff and servlce users ln fuLure abouL how Lhe servlce
can become more supporLlve for LC81l asylum seeker, refugees and mlgranLs,
SLonewall Pouslng formed close parLnershlps wlLh boLh raxls and Lhe Lvelyn Cldfleld
unlL, formlng a worklng group LogeLher and meeLlng regularly Lo dlscuss Lhe pro[ecL
and how Lhey could collaboraLe,
SLonewall Pouslng has provlded Lralnlng on LC81l lssues Lo varlous uouble !eopardy
plloL organlsaLlons,
SLonewall Pouslng and oLher plloL organlsaLlons examlned each oLher's equallLy and
dlverslLy pollcles Lo see where Lhey could be enhanced, lmproved referral mechanlsms
beLween Lhe organlsaLlons, and SLonewall Pouslng aLLended Lhe Lvelyn Cldfleld ACM,
SLonewall Pouslng held a uomesLlc Abuse lorum LvenL, whlch was aLLended by some
of Lhe uouble !eopardy plloL organlsaLlons and promoLed lnformaLlon abouL Lhe
pro[ecL,
1he organlsaLlon ls plannlng evenLs whlch wlll hlghllghL and promoLe lssues around
LC81l asylum seeker and refugees,
SLonewall Pouslng already monlLors Lhe numbers of asylum seekers and refugees LhaL
lL sees, and Lhls lnformaLlon ls reporLed every slx monLhs Lo all sLaff, Lhe ManagemenL
CommlLLee and on lLs webslLe,
Asylum seekers and refugees are already ldenLlfled as a key LargeL group ln fuLure
servlce dellvery plannlng, and are menLloned regularly ln organlsaLlonal llLeraLure and
on Lhe webslLe, and
SLonewall Pouslng held a Lralnlng evenL for refugee and mlgranL organlsaLlons, ln
parLnershlp wlLh Lhe Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL, on ralslng senslLlve Loplcs ln group
dlscusslon, and LC81l lssues were lncluded ln Lhls.


lmpacL:

SLaff have beneflLed greaLly from geLLlng Lo know M8CCs more closely Lhrough Lhe
uouble !eopardy pro[ecL,
new parLnershlps were developed wlLh M8CCs Lo lmprove referral paLhways for
cllenLs and lmprove servlces or conslder new pro[ecLs for LC81l asylum seekers,
refugees and mlgranLs,
1he uouble !eopardy pro[ecL has lncreased sLaff awareness of refugees and mlgranLs,
ensurlng Lhey are beLLer equlpped Lo supporL a refugee volunLeer who was recrulLed
Lhrough anoLher parLnershlp pro[ecL, and
SLonewall Pouslng's SLraLeglc lan now lncludes reference Lo meeLlng Lhe houslng
needs of LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.

Challenges:

1he ManagemenL CommlLLee has been resLrlcLed ln Lhe amounL of Llme lL has been
able Lo devoLe Lo Lhe pro[ecL, as lLs focus has been on fundralslng. As a resulL changes
have been more sLaff and servlce user focussed, and
SLaff capaclLy has proved challenglng - SLonewall Pouslng had wanLed Lo appolnL a
refugee volunLeer ln uecember 2012, buL dld noL have sLaff capaclLy Lo supporL Lhem,
so Lhls appolnLmenL was noL made unLll Lhe end of Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL ln
!une 2013.


SLonewall Pouslng ls ln Lhe process of plannlng how lL can conLlnue Lhe work of Lhe
pro[ecL,
lL lnLends Lo malnLaln lLs llnks wlLh parLners from Lhe pro[ecL, and meeL regularly wlLh
Lhem, and
SLonewall Pouslng's new case managemenL sysLem wlll monlLor Lhe needs and
effecLlveness of servlces for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.

West London Gay Men's ro[ect (WLGM)

key acLlons Laken:

1he organlsaLlon developed a sLaLemenL of supporL for LC81l asylum seekers and
refugees,
WLCM examlned lLs proLocols for phonecalls from asylum seekers/refugees,
lL spoke wlLh lLs local CommunlLy volunLary Servlce (CvS) Lo gaLher lnformaLlon abouL
local asylum seeker/refugee organlsaLlons, and developed a referral daLabase of Lhese
organlsaLlons,
lL used Lhls daLabase Lo make conLacL wlLh a large number of M8CCs, publlclslng Lhelr
servlce and welcomlng more communlcaLlon wlLh local M8CCs,


1he organlsaLlon lnvlLed !usLlce for Cay Afrlcans Lo provlde Lralnlng Lo lLs sLaff on
lssues relaLed Lo Lhe pro[ecL,
lL also had Lralnlng on Lrans lssues for all sLaff,
lL has had dlscusslons wlLh 8LA (8efugees ln LffecLlve and AcLlve arLnershlp) abouL
local organlsaLlons lL could parLner wlLh, and how boLh organlsaLlons could work
LogeLher more closely,
WLCM also developed new parLnershlps wlLh Lallng Advlce lorum, AcL of Change,
8eLhlnk - Al8lCA8L and LearnL,
1he organlsaLlon lncluded an arLlcle ln lLs magazlne abouL LC81l asylum
seekers/refugees, whlch was senL ouL Lo over 800 M8CCs and 8,000 servlce users,
1he organlsaLlon meL wlLh 8elaLe norLh WesL London, held [olnL Lralnlng sesslons, and
promoLed each oLher's organlsaLlons,
lL also aLLended Lhe Lvelyn Cldfleld unlL ACM, and
SLaff wlLhln Lhe organlsaLlon dlscussed lssues around LC81l asylum seekers and
refugees, and how Lhelr own roles can have an lmpacL on Lhese. lL plans Lo develop
acLlon plans on Lhls shorLly.

lmpacL:

1he pro[ecL sLlmulaLed debaLe abouL Lhese lssues wlLhln Lhe organlsaLlon, and lL has
examlned how lL can lmprove lLs servlces for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees,
WLCM sLaff are now more senslLlve and aware of lssues LhaL LC81l asylum
seekers/refugees may be faclng,
lL has lmproved how lL handles enqulres from asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs,
1he organlsaLlon has beLLer llnks Lo local M8CCs, and ls aware of more referral opLlons
Lo Lhese organlsaLlons,
1he pro[ecL has lmproved lLs parLnershlp worklng, and
1he pro[ecL has generaLed supporL from Lhe Senlor ManagemenL 1eam aL Lhe
organlsaLlon.
Challenges:

SLaff worklng on Lhe pro[ecL had some lnlLlal challenges geLLlng oLhers Lo see Lhe
relevance of LC81l asylum seeker/refugee lssues, and
1he organlsaLlon found Lhe lack of sLaff capaclLy and Llme Lo work on Lhe pro[ecL a
challenge.

1he organlsaLlon ls noL sure exacLly how lL wlll Lake Lhe pro[ecL forward, buL Lhere ls
deLermlnaLlon Lo conLlnue Lo Lake sLeps Lo lmprove servlces for LC81l asylum seekers
and refugees, and lL wlll look Lo plan for Lhls ln Lhe near fuLure.

.0@"# 1#-+,%/+0%1,


ke|ate North West London

key acLlons Laken:

8elaLe norLh WesL London hosLed a Learn and Share" Worklng 1ogeLher sesslon
looklng aL Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL on 9Lh AugusL 2012,
1he organlsaLlon revlewed lLs monlLorlng proLocols and made changes so LhaL lL now
gaLhers lnformaLlon on wheLher cllenLs are LC81l,
8elaLe norLh WesL London meL wlLh Lhe WesL London Cay Men's ro[ecL, held Lralnlng
exchanges, and promoLed Lhe WesL London Cay Men's Croup vla Lhe 8elaLe norLh
WesL London webslLe,
lL has also promoLed Lhe servlces of Calop on lLs webslLe, parLlcularly Lhe 'uo WhaL
?ou 8oLh WanL' campalgn,
8elaLe norLh WesL London publlclsed LC81 PlsLory MonLh wlLh dlsplays and
publlcaLlons,
lL held an evenL on Lhe 8
Lh
of March 2013 Lo showcase Lhe work of Lhe 8elaLe Worklng
1ogeLher lnlLlaLlve ln promoLlng equallLy, access and lncluslon Lo servlces for 8lack,
Aslan and MlnorlLy LLhnlc background or 8efugee groups (8AML8) groups and Lo
dlscuss ldeas for fuLure worklng. 1he evenL aLLracLed refugees and refugee communlLy
groups, and lncluded lnformaLlon abouL LC81l asylum seekers and refugees. CuesL
speakers lncluded Lhe 8ace LquallLy loundaLlon and women from Parrow Women's
CenLre and WesL London 8efugee Women's lorum,
8elaLe norLh WesL London regularly updaLed lLs blog wlLh lnformaLlon abouL Lhe
uouble !eopardy pro[ecL, and sLeps Lhey were Laklng Lo address lssues around LC81l
asylum seekers and refugees - hLLp://www.relaLelondonnw.org.uk/caLegory/relaLe-
news,
1he organlsaLlon collecLed lnformaLlon on local LC81l organlsaLlons Lo lmprove lLs
slgn-posLlng,
lL seL up a noLlce board ln lLs Lralnlng area wlLh lnformaLlon abouL Lhe pro[ecL, ln order
Lo publlclse Lhe lssues Lo oLhers,
1he organlsaLlon has now sLarLed Lo recrulL counsellors Lhrough LC81l organlsaLlons,
and
lL has also placed an LC81 newsleLLer ln lLs walLlng area Lo ralse awareness amoung lLs
servlce users.

lmpacL of Lhe pro[ecL:

1he pro[ecL ralsed awareness among sLaff, servlce users and oLher organlsaLlons abouL
LC81l and asylum seeker/refugee lssues, and 8elaLe norLh WesL London sLaff are
Laklng more lnLeresL ln Lhese lssues,
lL ls now more proacLlve abouL adverLlslng lLs servlces Lo LC81l organlsaLlons and
refugee/asylum seeker groups/organlsaLlons,
SLaff learned how Lo work on senslLlve lssues llke gender ldenLlLy and sexuallLy,


1he developmenL ln sLaff knowledge abouL LC81l and asylum seeker/refugee lssues
has slgnlflcanLly lmproved Lhelr counselllng and Lralnlng servlces,
lL now has beLLer monlLorlng daLa,
lL has lmproved referral opLlons Lo LC81l and asylum seeker/refugee organlsaLlons,
and
1he organlsaLlon has developed sLrong llnks wlLh several of Lhe uouble !eopardy plloL
organlsaLlons.

Challenges:

Whlle lLs board was supporLlve, 8elaLe norLh WesL London was noL able Lo glve
prlorlLy Lo LC81l lssues as lL had oLher commlLmenLs, and
1he lack of resources Lo devoLe Lo Lhe pro[ecL was a challenge.


1he organlsaLlon ls conslderlng developlng a pro[ecL abouL LC81l lssues and refugee
lssues,
lL wlll conLlnue Lo adverLlse lLs servlces Lo LC81l and refugee organlsaLlons.



ALNDIk 3 - GUIDL 1C SLkVICL 1kANSICkMA1ICN
Add ln flnallsed Culde

Mak|ng your organ|sat|on more we|com|ng and support|ve to Lesb|an,
Gay, 8|sexua|, 1rans and Intersex (LG81I) asy|um seekers, refugees and
m|grants

1hls gulde has been deslgned Lo help:

CommunlLy organlsaLlons LhaL offer supporL Lo asylum seekers, refugees and
mlgranLs (M8CCs)
CommunlLy organlsaLlons LhaL offer supporL Lo LC81l people (LC81l vCCs)

lL offers some helpful Llps Lo ensure LhaL your servlce ls welcomlng and lncluslve for LC81l
asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs so Lhey know Lhey wlll be LreaLed falrly wlLhln your
organlsaLlon.

8elow are slx key sLeps Lo begln Lhls process.

Stage 1 - Mak|ng a comm|tment to be|ng |nc|us|ve (suggested t|mesca|e of 6 months)

1
I|nd out about the |ssues that affect LG81I asy|um seekers, refugees and m|grants by read|ng the
background sect|on of th|s document and the Cver Not Cut kefreshed (2012) report
9
, |n part|cu|ar
Chapter 11 on support networks (see footnotes).

2
D|scuss these |ssues w|th|n a team meet|ng, and cons|der how your organ|sat|on may be ab|e to become
more we|com|ng to LG81I asy|um seekers, refugees and m|grants.

3
Ass|gn someone (or a sma|| group of peop|e) w|th|n your organ|sat|on to take ownersh|p of these |ssues,
and beg|n work|ng on |mprov|ng the |nc|us|v|ty of your organ|sat|on.

4
I|nd out what |oca| LG81I organ|sat|ons or MkCCs there are |n your |oca| area (LG81I organ|sat|ons
shou|d |ook for MkCCs, and MkCCs shou|d |ook for LG81I organ|sat|ons), and make th|s |nformat|on
ava||ab|e to your serv|ce users.

S
Make contact w|th some of these organ|sat|ons to |ntroduce your own organ|sat|on and d|scuss how you
cou|d share |nformat|on and resources and deve|op partnersh|p work|ng.

6
roduce a statement about how your organ|sat|on we|comes and supports LG81I asy|um seekers,
refugees and m|grants. Make th|s statement ava||ab|e across your organ|sat|on, to serv|ce users and
on||ne (on your webs|te, Iacebook age etc.).

lurLher more comprehenslve sLeps are ouLllned ln Lhe resL of Lhls documenL, along wlLh
background lnformaLlon and a glossary of Lerms. We would advlse compleLlng SLage 1 before
proceedlng Lo SLage 2 and 3. 8elow we seL ouL Lhe nexL sLages of maklng your organlsaLlon
more lncluslve, as well as suggesLed Llmescales for Lhese sLeps:

9 Cver noL CuL 8efreshed - hLLp://www.meLropollLan.org.uk/lmages/MeLropollLan-Ml-LC81-Cver-noL-CuL2012-flnal1.pdf


SLage 2: ueveloplng lncluslve servlces (6-12 monLhs)
SLage 3: 8ecomlng fully lncluslve (1-2 years).

Mak|ng your organ|sat|on more we|com|ng and support|ve to LG81I
asy|um seekers, refugees and m|grants

Stage 2: Deve|op|ng |nc|us|ve serv|ces (6-12 months)

Stage 2 - Deve|op|ng |nc|us|ve serv|ces

1

kev|ew your Lqua||ty and D|vers|ty o||cy to ensure that |t |s |nc|us|ve of LG81I asy|um
seekers, refugees and m|grants, consu|t w|th an MkCC or LG81I VCC to ensure |t |s |nc|us|ve
for both groups, and have any changes agreed by your 8oard of 1rustees.

2

Ask your staff and serv|ce users how they th|nk your organ|sat|on can change to be more
we|com|ng to LG81I asy|um seekers, refugees and m|grants. Make a note of what they say
and |dent|fy three easy changes that can be made to your organ|sat|on.

3

Make these three changes to your organ|sat|on, and |et your serv|ce users know about what
changes you have made.

4

V|s|t one of the |oca| MkCCs or LG81I organ|sat|ons you have |dent|f|ed to |ntroduce your
serv|ce, f|nd out about the|r serv|ce and d|scuss the poss|b|||ty of conduct|ng a 'tra|n|ng
exchange', w|th LG81I organ|sat|ons v|s|t|ng MkCCs to g|ve tra|n|ng on LG81I
|ssues]equa||ty, and MkCCs v|s|t|ng LG81I organ|sat|ons to g|ve tra|n|ng on asy|um seeker,
refugee and m|grat|on |ssues]equa||ty.

S

Conduct a 'tra|n|ng exchange' w|th th|s |oca| organ|sat|on, so that your staff and vo|unteers
rece|ve equa||t|es tra|n|ng on LG81I |ssues or asy|um seeker, refugee and m|grat|on |ssues.

6
Crgan|se an act|v|ty or event to ra|se awareness about the r|ghts of LG81I asy|um seekers,
refugees and m|grants. Where poss|b|e |nv|te other MkCCs]LG81I organ|sat|ons to attend
and part|c|pate |n the event.

Ior examp|e th|s cou|d be an open day, a tra|n|ng event, a v|sua| d|sp|ay |n your organ|sat|on,
an art|c|e |n your news|etter, or a commun|ty event.

7

D|scuss progress aga|nst Stage 2 |n a team meet|ng and |n a 1rustees meet|ng.



Mak|ng your organ|sat|on more we|com|ng and support|ve to LG81I
asy|um seekers, refugees and m|grants

Stage 3: 8ecom|ng fu||y |nc|us|ve (1-2 years)

Stage 3 - 8ecom|ng fu||y |nc|us|ve

1

A|| vo|unteers, staff and managers are g|ven tra|n|ng to he|p them know more about offer|ng an
equa| serv|ce to LG81I asy|um seekers, refugees and m|grants who need the support of your
organ|sat|on.

2

LG81I asy|um seekers, refugees and m|grants are ment|oned |n your organ|sat|on's ||terature,
|nc|ud|ng your annua| report, web s|te (|f ava||ab|e) and |eaf|ets that promote your serv|ces.

3

Cons|der appo|nt|ng a Vo|unteer or staff member to your organ|sat|on who |s an LG81I asy|um
seeker, refugee or m|grant.

4

Lxam|ne your mon|tor|ng and eva|uat|on act|v|ty to ensure you gather |nformat|on on the
numbers of LG81I asy|um seeker, refugee and m|grant serv|ce users. Share th|s |nformat|on w|th
management comm|ttee and funders.

S

Inc|ude LG81I asy|um seekers, refugees and m|grants as a key target group |n future serv|ce
p|ann|ng act|v|t|es.

6

D|scuss progress aga|nst Stage 3 |n a team meet|ng and |n 1rustees meet|ng, and ensure
susta|nab|||ty of changes you have made.



8ackground Informat|on to th|s Gu|de
Lvery mlgranL, refugee and asylum seeker ln Lhe uk has Lhe rlghL Lo be LreaLed falrly. under
Lhe Lerms of Lhe LquallLy AcL 2010
10
Lhls applles Lo everyone, no maLLer whaL Lhelr sex, race,
rellglon or bellef, age, dlsablllLy, marlLal sLaLus, pregnancy and maLernlLy sLaLus, sexual
orlenLaLlon or gender ldenLlLy.

CrganlsaLlons have a responslblllLy Lo ensure LhaL Lhelr servlces are welcomlng and accesslble
Lo everyone. unforLunaLely, research
11
has shown LhaL lesblan, gay, blsexual, Lransgender and
lnLersex (LC81l) asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs can ofLen face parLlcular dlscrlmlnaLlon
and lack of supporL from boLh LC81l organlsaLlons and MlgranL and 8efugee CommunlLy
CrganlsaLlons (M8CCs).

1hls gulde has been developed followlng a 1rusL for London funded pro[ecL, called 'uouble
!eopardy', whlch worked wlLh a range of M8CCs and LC81l organlsaLlons Lo help Lhem
lmprove Lhelr servlces for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees and mlgranLs.

1he pro[ecL used a drafL gulde whlch ouLllned suggesLed sLeps LhaL organlsaLlons should Lake
Lo lmprove servlces. 1hls gulde has been developed uslng Lhe learnlng from LhaL process,
Laklng accounL of whaL worked well and whaL worked less well.

A full reporL on Lhls pro[ecL can be found aL xxxxx.

lor furLher lnformaLlon please conLacL Alasdalr SLuarL, Lead 8esearcher aL M8A8C
(www.mbarc.co.uk).

key dr|vers

1here were a number of key drlvers whlch generaLed Lhls work and should lnform LC81l
communlLy organlsaLlons and M8CC's of why Lhls work ls lmporLanL:

! LC81l people are sLlll sLlgmaLlsed ln Lhe uk even Lhough Lhere are laws Lo proLecL
Lhem.

! eople who ldenLlfy as LC81l as well as people who have sex wlLh people of Lhe same
gender come from every culLure and counLry across Lhe globe.

! PomosexuallLy ls sLlll lllegal ln 80 counLrles worldwlde and ln 7 lL ls punlshable by
deaLh, whlch forces many LC81l asylum seekers and refugees lnLo forced mlgraLlon.

10 hLLps://www.gov.uk/equallLy-acL-2010-guldance
11 hLLp://www.meLropollLan.org.uk/lmages/Cver-noL-CuL.pdf and hLLp://www.meLropollLan.org.uk/lmages/MeLropollLan-Ml-
LC81-Cver-noL-CuL2012-flnal1.pdf


! An overwhelmlng ma[orlLy, lf noL all, LC81l people wlll have experlenced homophobla,
blphobla or Lransphobla, elLher overLly or coverLly, and qulLe ofLen wlll have
experlenced vlolence.

! MosL LC81l people wlll have aLLempLed Lo hlde Lhelr sexuallLy or gender under duress
Lo avold dlscrlmlnaLlon aL some polnL ln Lhelr llves. Pldlng one's ldenLlLy creaLes
lnLernal pressures and confllcL addlng Lo sLress and dlmlnlshlng self-regard.

! AlLhough many people belleve LhaL all organlsed rellglons re[ecL LC81l people, Lhls ls
noL Lrue. WlLhln each organlsed rellglon Lhere exlsLs a wealLh of varlous vlews and
oplnlons lncludlng some wlLh poslLlve vlews of LC81l people and communlLles.

! ln Lhe uk, dlscrlmlnaLlon on Lhe basls of a person's sexual orlenLaLlon or gender ls
lllegal. 1hls applles Lo all people ln Lhe uk regardless of Lhelr own rellglous or culLural
values. rosecuLlons have and wlll conLlnue Lo be served on Lhose who dlscrlmlnaLe
agalnsL LC81l people.

! Lqual rlghLs granLed Lo LC81l people ln Lhe uk are relaLlvely recenL and have been
vlgorously foughL for Lhrough lobbylng and acLlvlsm, Lherefore a wealLh of knowledge
and experlence exlsLs Lo supporL M8CC's Lo lmprove Lhelr servlces for LC81l people.

! 8efugees and asylum seekers exlsL on Lhe very marglns of uk socleLy and face
dlscrlmlnaLlon and pre[udlce ofLen compounded by mlsleadlng porLrayals ln Lhe medla
and exLreme pollLlcal vlews wlLhln frlnge facLlons.

Cha||enges that LG81I asy|um seekers and refugees face

Some of Lhe challenges faced by LC81l asylum seekers and refugees lnclude:
LC81l asylum seekers feellng excluded from M8CC's due Lo fear or acLual experlence
of dlscrlmlnaLlon and harassmenL from Lhelr own eLhnlc and naLlonal communlLles.
M8CC's ofLen perpeLuaLe negaLlve aLLlLudes from Lhelr home counLrles Lo LC81l
asylum seekers.
lalLh based organlsaLlons perpeLuaLe negaLlve aLLlLudes and pre[udlces.
M8CC's assume LC81l lssues are marglnal due Lo Lhe lack of daLa or vlslblllLy of LC81l
servlce users.
lamllles and klnshlp neLworks, whlch counLer Lhe lsolaLlon of dlspersal, can be hosLlle
Loward LC81l relaLed lssues, furLher compoundlng lsolaLlon felL by LC81l asylum
seekers.
1he LC81l communlLy and supporL organlsaLlons are lgnoranL Lo Lhe needs of LC81l
asylum seekers.
1he LC81l commerclal secLor ls prohlblLlvely expenslve and, Lherefore, lnaccesslble for
LC81l asylum seekers.
Llke Lhe resL of Lhe uk populaLlon, some members of Lhe LC81l communlLy dlsplay
pre[udlced aLLlLudes Lowards LC81l asylum seekers and refugees.


Speclflc supporL servlces for LC81l asylum seekers and refugees whlch are avallable
are slgnlflcanLly underfunded and ofLen based ln London maklng access very dlfflculL
for people dlspersed across Lhe uk.
Lxcluslon and lsolaLlon lnevlLably lncreases Lhe vulnerablllLy of LC81l asylum seekers
and refugees, wlLh many dependenL on Lhe klndness of sLrangers and casual
acqualnLances.
?oung LC81l men appear Lo be parLlcularly vulnerable Lo sexual explolLaLlon from
casual parLners, wlLh some engaglng ln sex work as a means of survlval.

Numbers of LG81I asy|um seekers and refugees
1he orlglnal 'Cver noL CuL' research ldenLlfled LhaL:
ln 2008, 23,670 people made asylum clalms ln Lhe uk, of whlch approxlmaLely 1800
were lesblan, gay, or blsexual asylum seekers. 1hls was llkely Lo be a very conservaLlve
esLlmaLe.
lL was esLlmaLed LhaL Lhe numbers of Lrans people arrlvlng each monLh was 2-3, or
abouL 20 Lo 30 per year.
LC81l asylum seekers consLlLuLe Lhe Lhlrd largesL grouplng of asylum seekers enLerlng
Lhe uk every year.
>30,000 LC81l asylum seekers have arrlved ln Lhe uk over Lhe pasL 10 years.
Slnce Cver noL CuL was publlshed, Canadlan research has shown LhaL Lhese esLlmaLes
are broadly conslsLenL
12
.
WlLh such a large group of LC81l asylum seekers and refugees ln Lhe uk lL ls hard Lo
argue LhaL Lhls ls a 'marglnal' lssue.

lor furLher deLalls please see hLLp://www.meLropollLan.org.uk/lmages/Cver-noL-CuL.pdf,
page 11.

1he Lqua||ty Act (2010)

Whlle we hope LhaL organlsaLlons wlll see Lhe beneflL of changlng Lhelr servlces Lo make Lhem
more welcomlng and sulLable for LC81l asylum seekers, refugees, and mlgranLs, Lhls ls also
now a legal requlremenL, parLlcularly for organlsaLlons recelvlng charlLable/publlc fundlng.

1he LquallLy AcL (2010) ls Lhe law whlch bans unfalr LreaLmenL and helps achleve equal
opporLunlLles ln Lhe workplace and ln wlder socleLy. 1he acL replaced prevlous anLl-
dlscrlmlnaLlon laws wlLh a slngle acL Lo make Lhe law slmpler and Lo remove lnconslsLencles.
1hls makes Lhe law easler for people Lo undersLand and comply wlLh. 1he acL also
sLrengLhened proLecLlon ln some slLuaLlons.

1he acL covers nlne proLecLed characLerlsLlcs, lncludlng gender reasslgnmenL, marrlage and
clvll parLnershlp and sexual orlenLaLlon, whlch cannoL be used as a reason Lo LreaL people
unfalrly.

12 See hLLp://www.meLropollLan.org.uk/lmages/MeLropollLan-Ml-LC81-Cver-noL-CuL2012-flnal1.pdf


lor more lnformaLlon see - hLLps://www.gov.uk/equallLy-acL-2010-guldance.

Usefu| webs|tes:
lLCA: hLLp://llga.org/
lLCA Lurope: hLLp://www.llga-europe.org/
LC81 Asylum news: hLLp://madlkazeml.blogspoL.co.uk/
C8AM (CrganlzaLlon for 8efuge, Asylum and MlgraLlon): hLLp://www.oramlnLernaLlonal.org/
uk Lesblan and Cay lmmlgraLlon Croup: hLLp://www.uklglg.org.uk/, parLlcularly overvlew of
Asylum rocess for clalm based on sexual orlenLaLlon: hLLp://www.uklglg.org.uk/asylum.hLm
Cender ldenLlLy 8esearch and LducaLlon SocleLy (Cl8LS) e-learnlng resource on Lransgender
lssues: hLLp://www.glres.org.uk/elearnlng/new/player.hLml
Usefu| keports:
Cver noL CuL, M8A8C (2009)
Cver noL CuL 8efreshed, M8A8C (2012)
Cpenlng uoors - A Clobal Survey of nCC ALLlLudes 1owards LC81l 8efugees & Asylum Seekers,
C8AM (2012)
8alnbow 8rldges - A CommunlLy Culde Lo 8ebulldlng Lhe Llves of LC81l 8efugees and Asylum
Seekers, C8AM (2012)
SafeLy and SolldarlLy - LC81l Asylum Seekers and 8efugees ln ScoLland, LquallLy neLwork,
8LMlS and C8AMneL (2011)
unPC8 Culdance noLe on 8efugee Clalms 8elaLlng Lo Sexual CrlenLaLlon and Cender ldenLlLy,
unPC8 (2008)
ulscrlmlnaLory laws and pracLlces and acLs of vlolence agalnsL lndlvlduals based on Lhelr sexual
orlenLaLlon and gender ldenLlLy, 8eporL of Lhe unlLed naLlons Plgh Commlssloner for Puman
8lghLs, (2011)
ldenLlfylng Lhe dlfflculLles experlenced by Musllm lesblan, blsexual and Lransgender women ln
accesslng soclal and legal servlces, SAl8A ro[ecL (2003)
Case Stud|es
A number of case sLudles were developed as parL of Lhe uouble !eopardy pro[ecL, and can be
found as an Appendlx Lo Lhe reporL LhaL accompanles Lhls gulde.
Llnk Lo reporL


I||m:
'CeLLlng CuL' - a slxLy mlnuLe documenLary shoL ln uganda, SouLh Afrlca, Ceneva and London,
wlLh supporLlng fooLage from Malawl and Zlmbabwe, whlch explores Lhe sLorles of 3 LC81l
lndlvlduals seeklng asylum from Afrlcan counLrles where "comlng ouL" ls noL an opLlon.
lllm produced by Lhe 8efugee Law ro[ecL ln collaboraLlon wlLh Lhe ugandan Clvll SocleLy
CoallLlon on Puman 8lghLs & ConsLlLuLlonal Law.
hLLp://vlmeo.com/21796473 (parL 1)
hLLp://vlmeo.com/22227702 (parL 2)

G|ossary of 1erms
M|grat|on, Asy|um and kefugee 1erm|no|ogy
An asy|um seeker ls someone who has lodged an appllcaLlon for proLecLlon on Lhe basls of Lhe
8efugee ConvenLlon or ArLlcle 3 of Lhe Luropean ConvenLlon on Puman 8lghLs (LCP8).
F4"6>-"" 81>,&%)GW
A refugee ls a person who 'owlng Lo a well-founded fear of belng persecuLed for reasons of
race, rellglon, naLlonallLy, membershlp of a parLlcular soclal group, or pollLlcal oplnlon, ls
ouLslde Lhe counLry of hls naLlonallLy, and ls unable Lo or, owlng Lo such fear, ls unwllllng Lo
avall hlmself of Lhe proLecLlon of LhaL counLry.' FU"6%,%0%1, Q>10"( 6#15 0@" TXYT 4"6>-""
81,$",0%1, IHN84G.

kefugee status ls awarded Lo someone Lhe uk8A recognlses as a refugee as descrlbed ln Lhe
8efugee ConvenLlon F4"6>-"" 81>,&%)).

kefugees have Lo move lf Lhey are Lo save Lhelr llves or preserve Lhelr freedom. 1hey have no
proLecLlon from Lhelr own sLaLe - lndeed lL ls ofLen Lhelr own governmenL LhaL ls LhreaLenlng
Lo persecuLe Lhem. lf oLher counLrles do noL leL Lhem ln, and do noL help Lhem once Lhey are
ln, Lhen Lhey may be condemnlng Lhem Lo deaLh - or Lo an lnLolerable llfe ln Lhe shadows,
wlLhouL susLenance and wlLhouL rlghLs FIHN84GW

kefugee convent|on means Lhe unlLed naLlons ConvenLlon 8elaLlng Lo Lhe SLaLus of 8efugees
1931 and Lhe 1967 roLocol F4"6>-"" 81>,&%)GW

Art|c|e 3 of Lhe Luropean ConvenLlon on Puman 8lghLs (LCP8) sLaLes LhaL 'no one shall be
sub[ecLed Lo LorLure or lnhuman or degradlng LreaLmenL or punlshmenL'. A person can make a
clalm for proLecLlon based dlrecLly on ArLlcle 3 of LCP8 as sLaLes are prohlblLed from reLurnlng
a person Lo a counLry where she/he may suffer a vlolaLlon of hls/her rlghLs under ArLlcle 3
F4"6>-"" 81>,&%)GW



M|grants, especlally economlc mlgranLs, choose Lo move ln order Lo lmprove Lhe fuLure
prospecLs of Lhemselves and Lhelr famllles. FIHN84G

Sexua| Ident|ty and Gender Ident|ty 1erm|no|ogy
Asexua|
A sexual ldenLlLy descrlblng lndlvlduals who do noL experlence sexual aLLracLlon.
Ce||bacy
eople who have a sexual aLLracLlon buL pracLlce sexual absLlnence.
ansexua|
eople who are aLLracLed Lo people regardless of gender ldenLlLy or blologlcal sex. AlLernaLlve
Lo sklp Lhe blnarles of '8l'.
Lesb|an, Gay and 8|sexua| 1erm|no|ogy
8|phob|a
lear of blsexuals, ofLen based on lnaccuraLe sLereoLypes, lncludlng assoclaLlons wlLh lnfldellLy,
promlsculLy and Lransmlsslon of sexually LransmlLLed dlseases.
8|sexua| or 8|
A person who has slgnlflcanL physlcal, romanLlc, emoLlonal and/or splrlLual aLLracLlons Lo men
and women or who ldenLlfles as a member of Lhe blsexual communlLy. 8lsexual people need
noL have had equal sexual experlence wlLh boLh men and women, ln facL, Lhey need noL have
had any sexual experlence aL all Lo ldenLlfy as blsexual. ConLrary Lo popular myLhs, blsexual
people do noL necessarlly daLe women and men aL Lhe same Llme, ofLen chooslng Lo be wlLh
one parLner ln a monogamous relaLlonshlp whlle malnLalnlng a 'blsexual ldenLlLy'.
ln relaLlon Lo Lhose clalmlng asylum based on Lhelr sexual ldenLlLy, generally one wlll focus on
Lhe same sex ldenLlLy/behavlour aspecL of people who ldenLlfy as blsexual, as Lhls ls Lhe
elemenL of Lhelr ldenLlLy LhaL could aLLracL persecuLlon. Powever, blsexuallLy could be an
aggravaLlng facLor ln some cases. ln any case, many lesblans and gay men wlll have engaged ln
- elLher volunLarlly, under pressure, or by force or vlolence - opposlLe sex relaLlons or marrlage
aL a Llme ln Lhelr llfe.
C|v|| artnersh|p
Legal recognlLlon of commlLLed same-sex relaLlonshlps.
C|oseted
uescrlbes a person who ls noL open abouL hls or her sexual ldenLlLy.
Com|ng Cut


A llfelong process of self-accepLance. eople forge a lesblan, gay, blsexual Lrans or lnLersex
ldenLlLy flrsL Lo Lhemselves and Lhen may reveal lL Lo oLhers. ubllcly ldenLlfylng one's sexual
ldenLlLy may or may noL be parL of comlng ouL. Comlng ouL (of Lhe closeL) can refer Lo when a
person dlscloses Lhelr sexual ldenLlLy Lo oLhers or Lhemselves. 1hls ls someLlmes meanL as Lhe
flrsL Llme ln a person's llfe when Lhey reallse LhaL Lhey are gay, lesblan or blsexual and lnlLlally
Lell Lhelr famlly and frlends. lL ls also meanL as a llfelong process for LC81l people, as 'comlng
ouL' ls a declslon LhaL musL be made LhroughouL Lhe course of everyday llfe for mosL people.
Whlle some people 'come ouL' when Lhey are very young, oLhers may noL 'come ouL' unLll Lhey
are much older. 8elng 'ouL' for LC81l people refers Lo a person who has shared Lhelr ldenLlLy
wlLh frlends or famlly.
Domest|c artnersh|p
Clvll or legal recognlLlon of a relaLlonshlp beLween Lwo people (domesLlc parLners) LhaL
someLlmes exLends llmlLed proLecLlons Lo Lhem.
Gay
1he ad[ecLlve used Lo descrlbe people whose endurlng physlcal, romanLlc, emoLlonal and/or
splrlLual aLLracLlons are Lo people of Lhe same sex or who ldenLlfles as a member of Lhe gay
communlLy (e.g. gay man, gay people). Lesblans and blsexual people ofLen do noL feel
lncluded by Lhls Lerm. ln conLemporary conLexLs, lesblan (n.) ls ofLen a preferred Lerm for
women. Avold ldenLlfylng gay people as "homosexuals", see glossary.
neterosexua| Man]Woman
A person whose endurlng physlcal, romanLlc, emoLlonal and/or splrlLual aLLracLlon ls Lo people
of Lhe opposlLe sex or who ldenLlfy as a member of Lhe 'sLralghL' communlLy. Also known as
'sLralghL'.
neterosex|sm
re[udlce or dlscrlmlnaLlon by heLerosexual people (or lnsLlLuLlons) agalnsL lesblan, gay or
blsexual people based on Lhe aLLlLude LhaL heLerosexuallLy ls Lhe only valld sexual ldenLlLy.
CfLen Lakes Lhe form of lgnorlng lesblans, gay men and blsexuals. lor example, a feaLure on
numerous valenLlne's uay couples LhaL omlL same-sex couples.
nomosexua|
CuLdaLed cllnlcal Lerm consldered derogaLory and offenslve by many gay people. Cay and/or
lesblan accuraLely descrlbe people who are aLLracLed Lo members of Lhe same sex.
nomophob|a
1he fear of, averslon Lo or dlscrlmlnaLlon agalnsL people who are LC81l or who are percelved
Lo be LC81l. Pomophobla ln lLs mosL vlolenL form has resulLed ln haLe crlmes agalnsL people
who do noL necessarlly flL malnsLream roles. re[udlce ls usually a more accuraLe descrlpLlon
of haLred or anLlpaLhy Loward LC81l people.


Lesb|an
A woman whose endurlng physlcal, romanLlc, emoLlonal and/or splrlLual aLLracLlon ls Lo oLher
women or who ldenLlfles as a member of Lhe lesblan communlLy. Avold ldenLlfylng lesblans as
"homosexuals," a derogaLory Lerm, see glossary.
LG81I
Acronym for "lesblan, gay, blsexual Lrans and lnLersex." LC81l ls ofLen used because lL ls more
lncluslve of Lhe dlverslLy of Lhe communlLy. LC81l relaLes Lo Lhe dlverslLy of sexuallLy and
gender ldenLlLy-based culLures. Sexual or gender ldenLlLy, lncludes sexual behavlour, buL
encompasses much more Lhan LhaL, such as Lhe ablllLy Lo soclallse wlLh oLhers LhaL ldenLlfy as
LC81l, freedom of expresslon, be pollLlcally acLlve and campalgn for LC81l rlghLs or equallLy,
have access Lo sulLable (menLal) healLhcare, eLc.
L|festy|e
lnaccuraLe Lerm ofLen used by anLl-gay exLremlsLs Lo denlgraLe lesblan, gay, blsexual Lrans and
lnLersex llves. Avold uslng because, as Lhere ls no one heLerosexual or sLralghL llfesLyle, Lhere
ls no one lesblan, gay, blsexual Lrans or lnLersex llfesLyle.
MSM
Men who have sex wlLh men buL who do noL ldenLlfy as gay.
Cpen|y Gay
uescrlbes people who self-ldenLlfy as lesblan or gay ln Lhelr publlc and/or professlonal llves.
Also openly lesblan, openly blsexual, openly Lrans, openly lnLersex.
Cut|ng
1he acL of publlcly declarlng (someLlmes based on rumour and/or speculaLlon) or reveallng
anoLher person's sexual ldenLlLy wlLhouL hls or her consenL. Consldered lnapproprlaLe by a
large porLlon of Lhe LC81l communlLy.
ueer
1radlLlonally a pe[oraLlve Lerm, queer has been approprlaLed by some LC81l people Lo
descrlbe Lhemselves. Some value Lhe Lerm for lLs deflance and because lL can be lncluslve of
Lhe enLlre LC81l communlLy. neverLheless, lL ls noL unlversally accepLed even wlLhln Lhe LC81l
communlLy and should be avolded unless quoLlng someone who self-ldenLlfles LhaL way.
Sexua| behav|our
8elaLes Lo a range of acLlvlLles such as sLraLegles Lo flnd or aLLracL parLners, physlcal or
emoLlonal lnLlmacy, and sexual conLacL. Sexual behavlour may or may noL be ln llne wlLh a
person's sexual ldenLlLy. lor example, a person may be malnly or excluslvely have a
heLerosexual ldenLlLy, buL sLlll have sexual conLacL wlLh a person of Lhe same sex for whaLever


reason (e.g. lack of access Lo people of Lhe opposlLe sex, occaslonal preference, an lncldenLal
occaslon, or an exerLlon of power).
Sodomy Laws
PlsLorlcally used Lo selecLlvely persecuLe gay men, lesblans and blsexuals. "Sodomy" should
never be used Lo descrlbe gay, lesblan or blsexual relaLlonshlps, sex or sexuallLy.
WSW
Women who have sex wlLh women buL do noL ldenLlfy as lesblan
1rans and Intersex 1erm|no|ogy
Gender Lxpress|on
LxLernal manlfesLaLlon of one's gender ldenLlLy, usually expressed Lhrough "mascullne",
"femlnlne" or gender varlanL behavlour, cloLhlng, halrcuL, volce or body characLerlsLlcs.
1yplcally, Lrans people seek Lo make Lhelr gender expresslon maLch Lhelr gender ldenLlLy,
raLher Lhan Lhelr blrLh-asslgned sex.
Gender Ident|ty
Cne's lnLernal, personal sense of belng a man or a woman (or a boy or glrl). lor Lrans people,
Lhelr blrLh-asslgned sex and Lhelr own lnLernal sense of gender ldenLlLy do noL maLch.
Gender Var|ant
eople who ldenLlfy as boLh or nelLher male or female and do noL belleve ln blnary gender
deflnlLlons (also called genderqueer).
Intersex
lnLersex descrlbes a person whose blologlcal sex ls amblguous - a person whose sex
chromosomes, genlLalla and/or sex characLerlsLlcs are deLermlned Lo be nelLher excluslvely
male nor female. A person who ls lnLersex may have characLerlsLlcs of boLh male and female
sexes. 1here are many geneLlc, hormonal or anaLomlcal varlaLlons whlch make a person's sex
amblguous (e.g. kllnefelLer Syndrome, Adrenal Pyperplasla). arenLs and medlcal professlonals
usually asslgn lnLersex lnfanLs a sex and perform surglcal operaLlons Lo conform Lhe lnfanL's
body Lo LhaL asslgnmenL. 1hls pracLlce has become lncreaslngly conLroverslal as lnLersex
adulLs are speaklng ouL agalnsL Lhe pracLlce, accuslng docLors of lnfanL CenlLal MuLllaLlon
(lCM) lgnorlng Lhe human rlghLs of Lhe chlld Lo declde gender ldenLlLy.
Sex
1he classlflcaLlon of people as male or female. AL blrLh, lnfanLs are asslgned a sex based on a
comblnaLlon of bodlly characLerlsLlcs lncludlng chromosomes, hormones, lnLernal reproducLlve
organs and genlLals.
Sexua| Ident|ty


uescrlbes an lndlvldual's endurlng physlcal, romanLlc, emoLlonal and/or splrlLual aLLracLlon Lo
anoLher person. Cender ldenLlLy and sexual ldenLlLy are noL Lhe same. 1rans people may be
heLerosexual, lesblan, gay, or blsexual. lor example, a man who becomes a woman and ls
aLLracLed Lo oLher women would be ldenLlfled as a lesblan.
1rans-Spec|f|c 1erm|no|ogy
1rans
An umbrella Lerm for people whose gender ldenLlLy and/or gender expresslon dlffers from Lhe
sex Lhey were asslgned aL blrLh. 1he Lerm may lnclude buL ls noL llmlLed Lo: Lranssexuals,
cross-dressers, and oLher gender-varlanL people. 1rans people may ldenLlfy as female-Lo-male
(l1M) or male-Lo-female (M1l). use Lhe descrlpLlve Lerm (Lrans, Lransgender, Lranssexual,
cross-dresser, l1M or M1l) preferred by Lhe lndlvldual. 1rans people may or may noL choose
Lo alLer Lhelr bodles hormonally and/or surglcally.
Cender ldenLlLy refers Lo an lndlvldual's self-concepLlon as belng male, or female (or
oLherwlse), as dlsLlngulshed from acLual blologlcal sex. AlLhough gender ls commonly used
lnLerchangeably wlLh sex, lL ofLen refers Lo speclflcally soclal dlfferences known as gender
roles. Cender roles are usually asslgned as elLher male or female based on physlcal/geneLlc
sex. 1rans can lnclude a varleLy of dlvergence from Lhe normaLlve blnary gender roles.
Powever, Lrans ls a much wlder concepL and can lnclude, for example, a person who ldenLlfles
as boLh male and female, alLernaLlng beLween male and female, nelLher male or female, 'Lhlrd
gender', eLc. 1he Lerm may apply Lo physlcal or oLher appearance, soclal behavlour or a
comblnaLlon. Some Lrans people have or wlsh Lo have cerLaln feaLures, buL noL always all, of
Lhe 'opposlLe sex/gender' Lo Lhe one Lhey were allocaLed.
MosL Lrans people do noL choose Lo alLer or modlfy Lhelr bodles hormonally and/or surglcally.
Gender Ident|ty and Sexua| Ident|ty
AlLhough dlsLlncL, Lhere ls an overlap and someLlmes conflaLlon of Lhe Lwo, ln Lhe sense LhaL
Lhey can each relaLe - ln some way - Lo gender as well as sexually non-conformlng behavlours,
appearances or ldenLlLles. lor example, a 'heLerosexual' Lranssexual may sLlll be percelved Lo
be 'homosexual' even afLer gender reallgnmenL LreaLmenL lf Lhelr 'new' sex/gender ls noL
acknowledged. AnoLher example ls LhaL a (percelved Lo be) 'effemlnaLe' gay man may
experlence vlolence where an oLherwlse 'gender role conformlng' gay man ls noL.
Cross-Dress|ng
1o occaslonally wear cloLhes LradlLlonally assoclaLed wlLh people of Lhe oLher sex. Cross-
dressers are usually comforLable wlLh Lhe sex Lhey were asslgned aL blrLh and do noL wlsh Lo
change lL. "Cross-dresser" should noL be used Lo descrlbe someone who has LranslLloned Lo
llve full-Llme as Lhe oLher sex, or who lnLends Lo do so ln Lhe fuLure. Cross-dresslng ls a form of
gender expresslon and ls noL necessarlly Lled Lo eroLlc acLlvlLy. Cross-dresslng ls noL lndlcaLlve
of sexual ldenLlLy.


I1M (fema|e to ma|e)
1rans man (call Lhemselves lesblan men ln S. Afrlca)
Gender Ident|ty D|sorder
A conLroverslal uSM-lv dlagnosls glven Lo Lrans and oLher gender-varlanL people. 8ecause lL
labels people as "dlsordered", Cender ldenLlLy ulsorder ls ofLen consldered offenslve. 1he
dlagnosls ls frequenLly glven Lo chlldren who do noL conform Lo expecLed gender norms ln
Lerms of dress, play or behavlour. Such chlldren are ofLen sub[ecLed Lo lnLense psychoLherapy,
behavlour modlflcaLlon and/or lnsLlLuLlonallsaLlon. 8eplaces Lhe ouLdaLed Lerm "gender
dysphorla". lnLersex and Lrans people do noL flnd lL helpful Lo be labeled as havlng a gender
ldenLlLy dlsorder, gender dysphorla or an lllness.
ln uk Cender 8ecognlLlon AcL (2004) Lhe requlremenL Lo change a blrLh cerLlflcaLe sLaLes LhaL a
person musL llve permanenLly ln Lhe opposlLe gender role Lo Lhelr blrLh gender (wlLh or
wlLhouL hormones or surgery) and be dlagnosed by a medlcal professlonal as sufferlng from
gender dysphorla.
M1I (ma|e to fema|e)
1rans woman
Sex keass|gnment Surgery (SkS)
8efers Lo surglcal alLeraLlon and ls only one small parL of LranslLlon (see 1ranslLlon). referred
Lerm Lo "sex change operaLlon". noL all Lrans people choose Lo or can afford Lo have surgery.
Sex keass|gnment 1herapy
Many Lrans people have a wlsh Lo alLer Lhelr bodles. 1hese physlcal changes are known as sex
reasslgnmenL Lherapy and ofLen lnclude hormone replacemenL Lherapy and sex reasslgnmenL
surgery.
1ransgender
eople who feel LhaL Lhe gender Lhey were asslgned (usually aL blrLh) ls a false or lncompleLe
descrlpLlon of Lhemselves. nowadays Lrans people ofLen prefer Lrans Lo Lransgender.
1rans|t|on
AlLerlng one's blrLh sex ls noL a one-sLep procedure, lL ls a complex process LhaL occurs over a
long perlod of Llme. 1ranslLlon lncludes some or all of Lhe followlng culLural, legal and medlcal
ad[usLmenLs: Lelllng one's famlly, frlends, and/or co-workers, changlng one's name and/or sex
on legal documenLs, hormone Lherapy, and posslbly (Lhough noL always) some form of surglcal
alLeraLlon.
1ranssexua|


An older Lerm whlch orlglnaLed ln Lhe medlcal and psychologlcal communlLles. Many Lrans
people prefer Lhe Lerm "Lrans" Lo "Lranssexual". Some Lranssexual people sLlll prefer Lo use
Lhe Lerm "Lranssexual" Lo descrlbe Lhemselves. Powever, unllke Lrans, Lranssexual ls noL an
umbrella Lerm, and many Lrans people do noL ldenLlfy as Lranssexual. lL ls besL Lo ask whlch
Lerm an lndlvldual prefers. 1ranssexual" was used Lo refer Lo Lrans people who go Lhrough
sex reasslgnmenL surgery (S8S) or hormone Lherapy.
noLe: mosL Lrans people do noL choose Lo alLer or modlfy Lhelr bodles hormonally and/or
surglcally.
1ransvest|te
uerogaLory - see Cross-uresslng.

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