Immigration charity to close due to Covid-19

Immigration charity Consonant is to close due to financial difficulties stemming from the Covid-19 crisis.

The charity, formed from 2016's merger of Migrants Resource Centre and Asylum Aid, had launched an emergency funding appeal in April this year to combat the financial crisis it was facing amid the pandemic.

But according to a statement from the Consonant board: “We are unfortunately now at the stage where, despite the generosity of our supporters, we have determined that the organisation does not have the resources to continue to deliver all the important advice, support and services we provide. Consonant will therefore shortly be closing.”

Meanwhile, the Asylum Aid entity and brand is set to continue and will be transferred to the control of human rights charity Helen Bamber Foundation (HBF) .

Consonant says this will allow Asylum Aid’s legal advice and representation for asylum seekers and refugees to continue. It will also ensure its work around representing those who are currently stateless can continue, as well as welfare and advice services.

Consonant staff involved in services being moved over to HBF will be able to transfer. The Consonant legal team will form the main body of a “substantially expanded legal team and capability at HBF,” said Consonant.

It added: “While it is immensely sad that Consonant is to close, and not all of our services can continue and not all of our staff kept on, we are immensely proud that Asylum Aid will live on, and are confident that in the Helen Bamber Foundation it has found a worthy home.”

Other charities to announce their closure amid the pandemic include aid organisation African Initiatives, which supports women in Tanzania.