28/10/2026
CIAC Closure Announcement
After ten years of supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, the CIAC Board of Trustees have taken the difficult decision to close. This is due to a combination of health issues with our Chief Executive Officer and the current funding environment.
CIAC has operated for the last ten years and, during that time, has been the only Level 3 immigration provider between Peterborough and Middlesbrough. In our last year of operation, 1,560 people attended our advice sessions held at Open Doors, Welcome House and our office, and we opened 582 cases and lodged 56 appeals. As well as making an everyday difference, in some cases our specialised work has transformed the lives of individuals and their families in a permanent way.
The CIAC office is now closed. Our team will not be running any further advice drop-in sessions or face-to-face appointments. CIAC is winding down by completing outstanding cases over the next couple of weeks, and clients will be contacted during this time.
We are working to ensure no client is left without support, and we are looking to hand over outstanding cases to other immigration law charities where possible.
We would like to thank the CIAC team of staff and volunteers for all their hard work and dedication, without which we would not have been able to achieve so much over the last ten years. We would also like to thank our partners, Open Doors, Welcome House, Hull Help for Refugees, Manuel Bravo Project and Leeds Refugee Forum, for all their support. Thanks also go to the Right Honourable Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP and her team for their help over the years. We would also like to thank our funders, who have demonstrated their belief in the work we have undertaken, including Lloyds Bank Foundation, the Justice Together Initiative, Disrupt Foundation, the National Lottery, Sir James Reckitt Charity and Hull City Council, amongst others. Finally, we would like to thank Divine PR for their help and amazing work in building up our substantial social media presence.
It has been a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated colleagues across Hull and the Humber. Thank you for everything you have done with us and for the people we serve.
With gratitude and best wishes,
Dr Ben Butler, Chair, Community Integration and Advocacy Centre (CIAC)
