About us

The Nottingham Rainbow Project aims to promote racial equality and justice in Nottinghamshire. You can read our latest Information leaflet.pdf and  RP Newsletter February 2011.pdf here.

Part of the Nottingham Rainbow Project's work involves supporting people seeking sanctuary, who are an extremely vulnerable section of society. The project is currently working with around 30 people, both individuals and families. Some people are referred by other organisations in Nottingham (see Links page for these) and others are members of the congregation at St Stephen's church, Hyson Green, where the project is based. Some people come to the church for help and are supported by the project.

Our aim is to support and care for people seeking sanctuary. We offer both practical and spiritual support, providing clothes, small grants for those who are destitute, and food. We also help to fill in forms, of which there are so many for people claiming asylum and this can be a particular difficulty when English isn't a first language. We can refer people onto immigration solicitors where necessary.

When, as so often happens, someone we know is detained in an immigration centre, we visit them, buy credit for their phone so they can tell friends or family where they are. In the case of one family threatened with removal, we held a candlelit prayer vigil in St Stephen's church, attended by people from many other faith groups, including the local Muslim community, who supported this Pakistani Christian family's asylum claim.

The Nottingham Rainbow Project works to support asylum seekers holistically. We recognise that asylum seekers are often vulnerable people, and we also pray with them and for them, working to meet their spiritual as well as practical needs.

One of the problems facing asylum seekers is that they are not allowed to seek paid employment. This can lead to serious depression and also loss of skills and knowledge, as the time waiting for the Home Office to process and decide on asylum claims can take years. The Rainbow Project matches up asylum seekers with volunteering opportunities in their area and also offers volunteer roles working for the project. This gives asylum seekers much-needed contact with people in their community as well as giving them a purpose to their day and the chance to learn new skills.

If you would like to know more about the Nottingham Rainbow Project or want to volunteer with us, please contact us