Asylum seekers’ housing scheme threatened with closure
Troubleshooting accountants who were brought in to save a West Midlands-based charity which houses asylum seekers are in dispute with the Home Office over whether or not they are to close down the scheme. Trade union, Unison says the row threatens the jobs of the 135 staff who run Astonbrook Housing Association.
The charity, which was set up in 2002 by Somalians who had fled their war torn country, looks after 2,000 refugees throughout the country. Accountants Baker Tilly were appointed as interim managers by the Charity Commission in July last year, after allegations of fraud. Since then, they have been paid fees by Astonbrook of more than £1m, which staff claim has turned the once financially successful enterprise into one that is loss-making.
West Midlands staff yesterday (Thursday) agreed to take strike action and spokesperson Berrenga Forbes said: “The situation is appalling. The Home Office claim the interim managers have handed back the contract to house the asylum seekers to them but that has been denied by Baker Tilly. It therefore looks like 135 staff could lose their jobs. Yet Baker Tilly walk away with a million pounds sanctioned by the Charity Commission who brought them in to save the scheme not close it down."
He added: "Astonbrook has provided an exemplary service for asylum seekers and refugees and this does them a big injustice which the Home Office, Baker Tilly and the Charity Commission must answer for. Why is it that the management and staff were not informed that the contract was being withdrawn either by Baker Tilly or the Home Office? This behaviour shows a total lack of regard for the charity and its employees.”

Staff will be picketing the Birmingham branch of Baker Tilly this morning (Friday) from 10.30 am.A letter has been sent from the staff to the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith demanding that she steps in and stops the closure of Astonbrook.