• Business
  • Community
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
Search
  • Listen or translate
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
  • Business
  • Community
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
Home Community Local Authorities in the region come together to help EU citizens stay
  • Community
  • Newsroom Email

Local Authorities in the region come together to help EU citizens stay

By
Editor
-
15th June 2021
0
1100
Share on Facebook
Tweet on Twitter

With the deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme rapidly approaching, digital ad vans telling EU nationals we’d like them to stay can be seen around the region.

With the 30 June deadline to apply just two weeks away the councils of Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Somerset have been working together to make sure every EU citizen who wants to stay living here is aware of the scheme and knows how to get help to apply if they need it.

The vans, which can be spotted throughout the West of England region throughout this month, are just one of the ways councils are getting the message out to EU nationals, with all activity funded by the Avon & Somerset Local Resilience Forum (A&S LRF). You may hear radio ads on your community radio station, see posts on social media, or posters and translated postcards while out and about shopping.

Leaders in the region fear the pandemic may have prevented people getting help to apply if they need it, or delayed applications. There’s also concern that older EU nationals who have lived here most of their lives may not be aware they need to apply, or that parents may not know they need to apply for their children.

Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees wrote to the Home Office along with other city leaders asking for the deadline to be extended due to these concerns.

Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said: “It’s unfortunate the deadline for EU nationals to apply to the scheme has not been extended given the challenges the last year has brought.  However, we’re pleased to have received this funding from the LRF to allow us to continue to carry out work in the region in partnership with our neighbouring authorities. As a city of sanctuary, we’re determined that everyone who wants to stay living, working and studying here should have the opportunity to apply and be able to access support services if they need it”

South Gloucestershire Council Leader, Cllr Toby Savage, said: “Local EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are an integral part of our thriving community in South Gloucestershire and we are pleased to be working together with our partners within the Local Resilience Forum to encourage applications to the EU Settlement Scheme. If you are eligible and have not already done so, I urge you to apply now and encourage others to do the same, to ensure you don’t lose your existing rights to live and work here and access services. It’s great to see the digital ad van out and about in South Gloucestershire helping raise awareness of this important scheme and details of where you can find support to apply prior to the fast-approaching deadline.”

Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset, said: ”Our message to EU citizens living in Bath and North East Somerset is simple and clear- you are valued and we want you to stay. But to secure your rights you must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021.

“We’re spreading the message as widely as we can but please help by telling your friends, neighbours and work colleagues. Our area is stronger in diversity and that is why it is so important that people should have the opportunity to apply.”

Chair of the LRF, Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Watson, said: “We are pleased to be providing this funding to the local authorities. We would urge everyone who is eligible for the scheme to apply ahead of the deadline at the end of June.”

As well as the boost from the LRF, the Home Office is working with other government departments including DWP and HMRC to identify and write to or text EU nationals about the need to apply.

The deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme is 30 June 2021. Apply and find help at gov.uk/EUSettlementScheme.

SHARE
Facebook
Twitter
  • tweet
Previous articleSecretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy visits South Gloucestershire businesses
Next articleStreet drinking ban comes into force in Staple Hill to bid to reduce anti-social behaviour
Editor

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

A photograph of South Gloucestershire Council's Badminton Road office

Updated budget proposals published ahead of Council decisions on funding for 2023/24

Councillors Savage, Williams and Burton with members of South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Learning & Skills team.

Skills Hub and shopping centre improvements helping to reinvigorate Kingswood town centre

Man from Stoke Gifford sentenced for rogue trading offences

Recent Posts
  • Updated budget proposals published ahead of Council decisions on funding for 2023/24
  • Stoke Gifford man ordered to pay over £1,500 following fly-tip in South Gloucestershire
  • Have your say on proposals to improve sustainable travel between Thornbury and Bradley Stoke
  • Mangotsfield recycling centre slip road nears completion
  • Planning application submitted for M49 Junction Link Road
Categories
  • Business and economy
  • Chair
  • Children and Young People
  • Community
  • Digital inclusion
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Featured
  • Featured
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Housing
  • Leader's blog
  • Newsroom Email
  • Newsroom Email Featured
  • Transport

EDITOR PICKS

South Gloucestershire Council 2021/2022 Budget

Recover and Rise Budget will take forward council priorities and provide...

11th February 2021
Vehicles queuing for community surge testing for Covid-19 variant in Emersons Green

An update on surge testing in Bristol and South Gloucestershire

10th February 2021
Covid-19 Get Tested - community surge testing available - A mutation of the Covid-19 UK variant is present in parts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Everyone aged 16 or over without symptoms in eligible postcodes should get tested to help suppress this variant, and help protect their loved ones.

Two additional testing sites to open for community surge testing

9th February 2021

POPULAR POSTS

Vehicles queuing for community surge testing for Covid-19 variant in Emersons Green

Additional Community Testing for South Gloucestershire and Bristol

6th February 2021
Covid-19 Community surge testing

Further surge testing announced in South Gloucestershire

28th February 2021

First Covid-19 Community Testing Unit to open in South Gloucestershire at...

30th September 2020

POPULAR CATEGORY

  • Newsroom Email677
  • Community360
  • Environment215
  • Health and wellbeing187
  • Transport150
  • Business and economy132
  • Education131
  • Newsroom Email Featured47
  • Digital inclusion21
ABOUT US
FOLLOW US
©