formerly Asylum Aid and Migrants Resource Centre

Greetings from Consonant

May I begin by wishing you a very Happy New Year.

We have been through a General Election and a great deal of political change since I last wrote.

The hostile environment policy and the Home Office’s inefficiencies continue to create suffering for countless migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and EU citizens. Brexit seems likely to happen now, and it will mean changes for everyone effected by the UK immigration and citizenship systems. We know our relationship with Europe, and the rights of EU citizens in the UK, will change significantly in the coming months or years. Parliament is already debating the impact that Brexit will have on asylum seekers, particularly focussing now on unaccompanied children. And the Government has shared some of its plans for a new immigration system that will affect all people who have come to make the UK their home, whatever their skill level or status in the country today.

In these difficult times, the financial support Consonant receives from friends like you is ever more vital. It is your support that makes it possible for hundreds of asylum seekers to get protection in the UK, and thousands of refugees and migrants to learn English, find work, and secure their rights. Your support is a true sign that Britain continues to be a welcoming home for newcomers.

We wish to build on our relationships with those who use our services over the coming months and find out about you and how we can better provide the support you need.

I’m writing to tell you about #consonantlive, our first ever telephone appeal.

We have never telephoned those who have used our service s before, so this is new to us as well as you.

On the 30^th of January members of our staff will be involved in calling as many of our friends and service users, as we can in one day, for a chat. We hope to find out a lot about how you have benefitted from coming to our classes or participating in a social activity. We would also like to tell you a little bit about our plans. If you are willing, we would also like to discuss ways in which you could support us to help others like you.

I’m very excited about #consonantlive, because it will be an important first opportunity for you to speak directly to some of our staff and volunteers – to hear about our clients and our work, and how your support can make a difference.

I greet this new campaign with mixed feelings, because I am stepping down as CEO of Consonant this month. I first joined Migrants Resource Centre as a Trustee nearly eight years ago, and soon after became CEO of Asylum Aid. It has been an honour to bring these two organisations together as Consonant and to work with our staff, volunteers, partners, funders, and supporters over these years. The Consonant Board and management team are currently working on a succession plan. I will, of course, do my best to support them in this.

I do hope that you will welcome a call from Consonant during the Appeal and take advantage of the opportunity to talk to one of the team.

Yours sincerely,

Wayne Myslik

Chief Executive

T: 0207 354 9631

E: wayne.myslik@consonant.org.uk

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Consonant is a company registered in England and Wales limited by guarantee (no 1911662). Registered as a charity (no 291789). Exempted by the OISC (no N200100125).

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