News

Although usually an immigration status held by non-EU nationals in the UK, it is not unusual in the advice sector for an EU national to be described informally as ‘NRPF’ and face the same barriers to support. This is because eligibility for welfare benefits and housing for EEA nationals and their family members is dependent on the ‘basis’ on which …

New statistics released this week show that EU Settled Status (EUSS) applications in April were at their lowest number since the scheme was launched in March 2019, with only 67,300 applications.The Home Office itself says that the focus now must be around targeting those more vulnerable in the final 12 months of the scheme.However, in addition to o…

The pandemic has exposed deep inequalities in our society. Those who have described the virus as the ‘great equaliser’ have been accused of missing the differential impact it is having on already marginalised groups.Reports show that the effect of the crisis will be felt most keenly by those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, those from BAME ba…

Many migrant workers, previously described as working in ‘unskilled’ labour positions, have found their work promoted to ‘key worker’ status during the current coronavirus crisis. More often than not, ‘unskilled’ meant underpaid and undervalued. What a difference a month can make.But while the British public praise and thank those who continue to g…

In our latest blog we look at the accomodation realities for some migrant workers living in shared housing, HMOS, shared caravans on farms and even those who are rough sleeping. We examine and discuss the difficulties and practicalities of social distancing in these settings.An IPPR report released this week examining the impact of the coronavirus …

Home Office Statistics released last Thursday (16/01/20) show applications for EU settled status (EUSS) are down. The implications of this are potentially serious for EU nationals living in the UK.In late 2019, Boris Johnson remarked that ‘’EU migrants have been able to treat the UK as if it’s part of their own country’’ for too long, and he pledge…

The front page of the Daily Telegraph (08/01/20) read ‘EU warning over rights for citizens after Brexit’.What can the problem be? Surely they can all apply for settled status (EUSS) and they’ll be fine.In fact, many EU citizens had already applied for permanent residency ((EEA PR)) in the UK under EU law.Home Office (HO) statistics show that 2016-1…

New blog post examining the progress of EU Settled Status Scheme in the UK to date.Today the Home Office will publish a report, produced by Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Bolt, on the EU settlement scheme (EUSS) on how the settlement scheme for citizens living in the UK is working. At first sight, the answer is well. As the Home S…

Our newest blog features early research findings that EU Communities across the country are feeling less welcome post-Brexit. Participants report also feeling more 'visible' in communities and reluctant to speak their own native lanaguge when out in public.You can read more about these findings here . 

The project team have published a longer read piece on ther early research findings from conversations with community members about their experiences of applying for EU Settled Status and Pre-Settled Status, since the scheme was launched in March 2019. Conversations and focus groups were held around the country including: Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, K…

Unsettled Status: The EU Migrant Worker team's blog post on interim findings from our early research work.  Our research shows that a significant portion of the migrant community is still unaware of the need to apply for settled status or even what settled status is/ means''. We found initial evidence of low levels of awareness of the scheme, data …

We have a short survey currently live- where we would like to hear from EU Citizens living in the UK and their experiences and perceptions of Brexit and settled and pre-settled status.The survey an be found here: https://tinyurl.com/brexitandsettledstatusWe would love to hear from you.

We spent half a day in Wisbech, observing and speaking to people at the Rosmini Community Centre as well as in the town. While we were there we met Daina. This is her story:'I've been here for seven years, on and off. I came here from Latvia and now I live here with my partner and my child who is nine years old.'Diana started her working life in th…

In some towns advice centres are being established that are aimed at helping migrant workers. Some of these centres are owned and run by EU nationals. We spent time speaking to advisers and clients and observing what happened at one advice centre in the East of England. Adam and Irena: two farm workersAdam previously worked as a warehouse operative…

Francesco and Andreas are both Italian nationals who are studying and working in the UK.Francesco's story begins with a broken leg in Italy. This led him to say 'enough is enough'. He started looking for academic opportunities and chose the UK on the basis that he could speak much better English than any other language, save for his native Italian.…