£8 million to help vulnerable people apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
Home Office announces further funding for charities and local authorities to provide face-to-face, online and telephone support across the UK.
The Home Office has today (Friday 6 March 2020) announced a further £8 million of funding to help vulnerable EU citizens apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
There have already been more than 3.2 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme and nearly 2.9 million granted status, with over a year left to go.
Charities and local authorities will bid for further funding to provide face-to-face, online and telephone support to vulnerable people across the UK. This may include legal support, caseworker services or general advice as either individual or group sessions.
Last year, the Home Office awarded £9 million funding to 57 charities across the UK who have helped hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people already.
The further £8 million of funding for the 2020-2021 financial year will ensure important information continues to get through to those hardest to reach.
Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said:
EU citizens are an integral part of our society, culture and community, and this is their home.
Supporting vulnerable EU citizens and their families is at the forefront of our approach to the EU Settlement Scheme.
This new funding means no stone will be left unturned in ensuring everyone gets the help they need.
As with all government funding, there will be a competitive bidding process to ensure the right support is provided to all parts of the UK and makes best use of public money.
The 57 charities currently funded by the Home Office will have their funding extended until the end of June 2020, to allow their work to continue during the bidding process for new funding.
Successful organisations will be fully supported by the Home Office and will be able to speak to caseworkers directly to discuss individual cases.
The bid process will begin shortly and more details will be announced in due course.
The EU Settlement Scheme was launched in March 2019 and gives EU citizens and their family members the status they need to live and work in the UK after 30 June 2021.
There is a wide range of support available online, over the phone and in person to help them apply.
This includes a helpline open 7 days a week where 250 staff based in Liverpool answer questions and help people apply. There are 1,500 Home Office staff working on the scheme in total.
Home visits and telephone support are available from a tutor for those lacking in digital skills or without internet access.