Letters of recommendation – Seeking asylum in the UK – Statement February 2026
We will only provide letters of recommendation for volunteers, not for those who have only registered as a member/participant or have only attended groups. You must have had an induction, completed training, and been an active volunteer with us for at least 3 months.
Recommendation letters can only be written upon agreement by the Rainbow Bedfordshire Board of Directors that we know the volunteer well enough to provide a fair and genuine reference.
We must feel that we know you. A repeated verbal summary, or any form of ‘evidence’ supplied about your situation is not the same as knowledge of you as a person. We urge you to be as open and honest as you are able to be.
You must not place personal pressure on directors, staff, or other volunteers for favours, opportunities, or recommendations.
Directors and volunteers give their time and energy to serve the community unpaid. They must be treated with gratitude and courtesy at all times.
Rainbow Bedfordshire staff and volunteers will not be participating in any group photos for evidence for asylum seeker interview.
We urge those seeking a letter of recommendation to ensure they have a legal agent who they will permit to liaise with Rainbow Bedfordshire Directors, confidentiality and data protection legislation still applies.
Support for asylum seeker claims will be refused if the Rainbow Bedfordshire Code of Conduct is breached.