To our supporters ..
Thank you, firstly, for clicking through to this page. Please stay
with us for a minute or two to read about the work that we are doing and why
we need you on board !
The Immigration Group relies on the financial contributions made by its
supporters to exist, enabling us to assist those who need our help or
require vital information. The more members and friends we have, the more
impact we make.
2007 was an extremely busy and successful year. In March we appointed an
Executive Director – our first full‑time employee, and in April, after many
years of being supported by other organisations and individuals offering us
premises at reduced rates or even for free, it became necessary to take on
the commitment of paying market rent for suitable premises.
UKLGIG became a registered charity in
2004. Prior to this, while our work was concentrated on
partnership immigration issues, the group survived mainly on membership
fees. Since the start of the asylum support project, however, there has been
a huge increase in the numbers of people approaching us for help and the
scale of our operation has likewise increased. Although we now receive vital
support from funders, we still rely
heavily on memberships, donations and fundraising events. The income contributes
to the costs of the
information
and advice line, monthly
asylum support meetings,
monthly partnership meetings, the
website, email responses, our full time executive director and part time
administrator. As the asylum project has developed, our paid staff,
assisted by volunteers, are now involved in country research, dialogue
with government and NGOs, publicity, provision of training for legal
practitioners and the operation of an
asylum solicitors rota to take urgent referrals.
You can read in detail what we have achieved in the Chair’s Report and
the Asylum Project Report sections of the
Annual Report.
In the last year over 200 LGBT asylum seekers have received direct
support from us through the provision of legal advice, assistance to find
expert legal representation, provision of country research to support their
asylum claims and the provision of a safe environment for mutual support.
Most of the asylum seekers who contact UKLGIG come to the UK to be safe -
if they could be themselves in their home countries, they would not leave.
The group therefore helps change negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay
men in other countries by encouraging the UK government to influence
decision‑makers in those countries, by exerting its own influence, by
building links with and supporting lesbian and gay groups in those countries
and by maintaining strong relationships with international human rights
organisations.
The work we are doing is vital – literally – it sometimes saves lives,
and it is our supporters who make this possible. We know that, just as the
battle begun in 1993 on behalf of same‑sex couples took 12 years to win, we
have a long and difficult struggle ahead.
We would like you to become members or friends, but if you prefer to make a one-off
donation, it takes just a couple of minutes to donate by card below.
Whatever you can afford will make a difference.
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