Double Jeopardy

Key Findings
Trust for London funded MBARC, in partnership The action research arose from some of the issues identified in Over Not Out1, the first with The Metro Centre comprehensive study of LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the UK. In and Praxis, to test particular the project aimed to tackle the double jeopardy or exclusion experienced guidance which enabled by LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, with many LGBTI organisations illmigrant, refugee community organisations equipped to support this population and many MRCOs unwilling to acknowledge the existence and needs of LGBTI people in their communities. There were a number of (MRCOs) and lesbian, key components to the work: gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex The development of a draft service specification which provided practical (LGBTI) organisations steps that MRCOs and LGBTI voluntary organisations could take to make their to be more inclusive services more inclusive in the short, medium and long term. and welcoming of The recruitment of 12 organisations (6 MRCOs and 6 LGBTI organisations) to LGBTI, asylum seekers, pilot the draft specification: Evelyn Oldfield Unit, IndoAmerican Refugee Migrant refugees and migrants. Organisation, Hackney Refugee Forum, Praxis, Southwark Refugee Community Forum, Refugee and Migrant Forum of East London, Camden LGBT Forum, Galop, The Metro Centre, Redbridge Rainbow, Stonewall Housing, West London Gay Mens Project and Relate North West. LGBTI refugee community researchers were recruited to work with pilot organisations to assess their progress over time in implementing the service specification and to gather learning. The team of community researchers made a number of mystery shopping phone calls to the pilot organisations to test how each organisation would react to an LGBTI asylum seeker/refugee calling them for support, advice or help.

Background

Context
There is no accurate data on the number of LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the UK. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) does not currently publish statistics on the numbers of LGBTI asylum seekers entering the UK. However, it is estimated the number of LGB asylum seekers arriving each month is around 150, plus 2-3 transgendered asylum seekers. Estimates of the number of LGBTI asylum seekers2, refugees and newly arrived migrants in London are between 30,000 and 50,000. LGBTI individuals face extreme social and financial exclusion and greater risk of exploitation than other groups of refugees and migrants. Whilst life is tough for all asylum seekers, it can be doubly so for those who are LGBTI. For example,
1 http://www.metropolitan.org.uk/images/Over-Not-Out.pdf 2 UK estimates now validated against Canadian Government statistics since the introduction of data collection in 2006,

see http://www.metropolitan.org.uk/images/Metropolitan-MF-LGBT-Over-Not-Out2012-final1.pdf

October 2013

LGBTI asylum seekers can experience high levels of abuse, including violence, when dispersed to UKBA accommodation. This can mean giving up their UKBA accommodation, result in a loss of entitlements and lead them into homelessness and destitution. The research culminated in a final report (from which these key findings are drawn) and a good practice guide to help organisations become more inclusive.

Key Learning
Taking part in this project acted as a significant motivator for the pilot organisations involved to improve their services for LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. In general, the draft guidance on transforming organisations worked well, was appropriate and helped organisations to implement change. Case studies, highlighting the experience of LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants (including their views of accessing services from LGBTI and MRCO groups), was a useful tool to help pilot organisations contextualise the work they were doing. The pilot organisations benefited greatly from the involvement of LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the project. A number of pilot organisations found that the Equality Act 2010 was a useful tool to persuade other staff and service users to take LGBTI and asylum seeker, refugee and migrant issues more seriously. The researchers recognised that other issues also impacted on LGBTI asylum seekers in relation to their immigration status and should be acknowledged e.g. access to housing, work opportunities and health. Initially, some MRCO pilot organisations were nervous about discussing LGBTI issues within their own organisation, with service users and other MRCOs. There was a concern that LGBTI issues would be seen by service users and others as a taboo topic, and they would be reluctant to access services or engage with the organisation. Whilst some MRCO organisations had reservations about discussing LGBTI issues, they all found that starting to discuss and address these issues was a positive experience. In some cases, it was a challenge for some MRCOs to raise LGBTI issues as a priority within the context of other organisational and service provision issues that were seen as more pressing. It was felt that interest in LGBTI issues from grass-roots MRCOs was often low.

Key Recommendations
MRCOs and LGBTI organisations Develop the knowledge of your staff on LGBTI issues and/or asylum seeker, refugee and migrant issues. Accessing training and other resources directly from MRCO and LGBTI organisations is a good way of raising awareness and building bridges.

2 |Double Jeopardy

Recognise that the first point of contact with your organisation is vital in establishing a positive relationship with an LGBTI asylum seeker, refugee or migrant and ensure staff have the appropriate attitude, knowledge and skills to achieve this. Develop a list of known and trusted organisations for referral and signposting and make this list available to service users. Be clear and have a common understanding of the terms you are using and where English is not the first language, organisations should offer support through interpreters or through LanguageLine. Assign a key member/group of staff to drive the process, but involve as many people as possible within your organisation including management committee members and service users. Recognise the pressing needs and priorities of your organisation, but make a firm and explicit commitment to address LGBTI asylum seeker, refugee and migrant issues as part of your planning. Try to discuss LGBTI issues with MRCOs and the communities you work with and vice versa but recognise that these may be challenging issues for some people to discuss. Dont shy away from discussing the issue, acknowledge where there is resistance but encourage discussion in a supportive way nonetheless. Use the Equality Act 2010 as a tool to press the importance of these equalities issues and the legal requirement for organisations not to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership status, race and religion or belief.

Second tier support organisations Recognise your role in raising awareness, delivering training and providing support to other organisations (in particular small grass-roots community groups) as part of your capacity-building and championing of equalities and diversity. Host events and encourage networking activities that bring together the different groups.

Funders and commissioners Use the findings of this work and the guidance to support the organisations that you fund to help them become more inclusive of LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants and reward them for good practice in this area. Discuss these issues with other funders and influence them to promote action on these issues. Consider how the actions outlined in the guide could be adapted into funding requirements for LGBTI organisations and MRCOs in future.

Double Jeopardy | 3

Consider funding joint projects in which LGBTI organisations partner with MRCOs to tackle the lack of appropriate services for LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants and vice versa. Encourage and support organisations from these two sectors to work more closely with each other. Ensure that the equalities policies of funded organisations cover LGBTI issues specifically and that grant recipients have a robust Equality and Diversity policy which explicitly welcomes LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Ensure that your own funding or commissioning frameworks are inclusive of LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

Trust for London

www.trustforlondon.org.uk Established in 1891 it is one of the largest independent charitable foundations in London and aims to tackle poverty and inequality, in the capital. 6 Middle Street, London EC1A 7PH t +44 (0)20 7606 6145 e: info@trustforlondon.org.uk

MBARC
www.mbarc.co.uk MBARC is a social research and management consultancy company supporting commissioned work that tackles social exclusion and promotes strong, cohesive communities in the public sector. Acorn House, 314-320 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP t +44 (0)20 7407 4010 e: info@mbarc.co.uk

You can find a full copy of the Double Jeopardy report at http://www.mbarc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Double-Jeopardy-Project-Report.pdf You can access the good practice guide from http://www.mbarc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Double-Jeopardy-Guide.pdf

4 |Double Jeopardy