Skybow is a peer support community for LGBTQ+ individuals from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. We meet monthly in London — in confidence, in community, in solidarity.
Skybow was created because LGBTQ+ people from Central Asian countries face a reality that most mainstream organisations do not fully understand. In our home cultures, same-sex relationships are criminalised, invisible, or met with violence. When we arrive in the UK, we carry that silence with us — even in a country where our rights are protected by law.
Our programme provides the first safe space many of our members have ever experienced. We meet face-to-face, speak the same languages, and understand the weight of what it means to come out in a community where doing so can cost everything.
Skybow operates under Mendee CIC (Company No. 15445605), a community interest company founded and led by people with lived migration experience.
Every interaction is treated with the strictest confidence. Members' identities, attendance records, and personal disclosures are never shared without explicit consent.
Our facilitators come from the same communities. We speak Russian, Tajik, Uzbek, and other Central Asian languages. We understand the cultural context firsthand.
We never pressure anyone to disclose more than they are comfortable with. Every person's journey is their own, and every voice matters equally.
Many of our members arrive in the UK having never spoken openly about their identity. The barriers they face are compounded by culture, language, and legal isolation.
Same-sex relations remain criminal offences in Uzbekistan (Article 120) and Turkmenistan (Article 135). In other Central Asian countries, while technically legal, LGBTQ+ people face systematic persecution, police harassment, and social exclusion.
In Central Asian cultures, homosexuality is considered a profound taboo. Family rejection, honour-based violence, and forced marriage are common responses. Many LGBTQ+ people live in complete secrecy for decades.
Mainstream LGBTQ+ support services in the UK operate in English. Most of our beneficiaries speak Russian, Tajik, Uzbek, or Dari as their first language. Without culturally and linguistically appropriate services, they remain isolated even in the UK.
LGBTQ+ asylum seekers must prove their identity to the Home Office — often without legal representation, in an unfamiliar language, about the most private aspect of their lives. Many are unrepresented and face this process alone.
Skybow offers three interconnected strands of support, all delivered free of charge by peers who understand our communities.
Regular face-to-face group sessions in a safe, private setting. Members can share experiences, discuss challenges, and connect with others who understand their journey. All sessions are facilitated by trained community peers.
We help members navigate UK systems — from GP registration and sexual health services to housing referrals and connecting with specialist LGBTQ+ legal organisations.
For members going through the asylum process, Skybow provides letters of support confirming attendance and engagement with our community — a critical piece of evidence for LGBTQ+ asylum claims with the Home Office and First-tier Tribunal.
In my experience of working with LGBTQ+ asylum seekers from Central Asia, Amir's account and behaviour are consistent with those of other members who have faced persecution on the basis of their sexual orientation. He has told me that this is the first time in his life he has been able to speak about his sexuality in a safe environment.
Skybow is backed by a registered Community Interest Company with established governance, safeguarding policies, and recognised sector partnerships.
Registered Community Interest Company, Companies House
Selected by the Mayor of London and City Hall to develop SiBot, an AI tool supporting refugee integration
Partner and programme graduate
Dedicated meeting space in East London
Safeguarding and data protection compliant
If you are LGBTQ+ and from a Central Asian background, you are welcome at our meetings. There is no registration form, no fee, and no obligation to speak. You can simply come and be present.
Many of our members tell us that attending their first meeting was the first time they ever felt safe enough to be themselves. We hold that trust carefully.
To attend, simply email us or send a message. We will tell you the date and location of the next meeting. All communication is confidential.
Monthly meetings, typically mid-month
Lock Studios, 7 Corsican Square, London E3 3YD
No names shared. No photos. No social media. What is said in the room stays in the room.
English, Russian, Tajik, Uzbek. Other languages as needed.
Completely free. No fee, no registration, no commitment required.
We collaborate with established organisations working in LGBTQ+ rights, refugee support, and public health across the UK.
The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network
Technology & translation services
GP registration & NHS navigation
Whether you want to attend a meeting, make a referral, discuss a partnership, or explore grant collaboration — we are here.