Academic refugee charity in appeal after demand rises fivefold

A charity which supports academics fleeing persecution and violence has launched an urgent fundraising appeal after reporting an increase in demand of nearly 400 per cent.

The Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), which helps researchers to flee violence and find placements at UK universities, said that it had received more than 2,000 requests for help over between 2021-22 and 2023-24, up nearly fivefold on the preceding three years.

It will launch its fundraising campaign with an event at the University of Glasgow on 23 September, with a roadshow taking the charity to Durham University (24 September), the University of Edinburgh (25 September), the London School of Economics (24 October) and the University of St Andrews (30 October).

“Glasgow, like many universities across the UK, has been an unwavering champion of our mission to rescue and rehome at-risk academics. However, we now stand at a critical turning point,” said Stephen Wordsworth, Cara’s executive director.

“The number of desperate pleas for our help has reached unprecedented levels, and while we’ve made remarkable strides – safely relocating more academics than ever before, with the generous support of our university partners and others – the need continues to outpace our resources. 

“To ensure we can respond to those still in peril, we urgently need to raise more funds to underpin our efforts to provide the lifeline so many academics desperately need.”

The uptick in demand for help from Cara has been driven by escalating conflicts and political instability in territories including Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan.

During 2023 the charity supported more than 220 active fellows, and numbers are projected to be higher still in 2024.

The Glasgow event will hear from Olena Taukchi, who Cara helped to flee Ukraine following the Russian invasion, finding her a placement at the university’s School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

“Cara not only provided me with the safety and security of living and working in the UK but also helped me fulfil a lifelong dream,” she said.

“As an English teacher, I had always wanted to explore the UK, travel across the country, and experience working at a British university. 

“Thanks to their support, I now have the opportunity to continue my academic career while immersing myself in the culture I have long admired.”

For more information about how to donate to Cara, click here.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com