Here at SCVO, we love charities. We believe every person who works to make a difference to Scottish communities should be valued, and that includes our colleagues who have come from other EU countries to live and work here. Scotland’s voluntary sector is strengthened thanks to their contribution.

Following Brexit, all EU citizens and their families in the UK had to apply for permission to stay before 30 June 2021

While the voluntary sector can’t do much about these new rules, we want to show solidarity with our European colleagues, make it absolutely clear that they are still very much welcome in Scotland, and support them to continue doing the great work they do in our communities.

We’ve created this page with the aim of helping you – voluntary sector employers and employees – understand the background and the changes affecting our EU colleagues, and direct you to useful resources

• Apply for Settled Status
• Get assistance and advice on Settled Status
• Add our Twibbon to your profile
• Download our #EUareValued poster
• Get the latest Home office updates
• Find information and advice from campaign group the3million
• Read our briefing – ‘EU nationals living and working in Scotland’

Case studies

Immigration policy can seem like a difficult to understand or broach, but actually hearing from the people who are affected by it can make all the difference – and often tell you everything you need to know to better understand the situation.

These case studies, put together by the Home Office, may be of some use to EU friends and colleagues.

SCVO also spoke to some voluntary sector organisations about their concerns:

Challenging hate crime

Worryingly, between May and September 2017 Crimestoppers experienced an 88% increase in all hate crime contacts and a 40% increase on contacts regarding racism, compared to the previous five month period. Incidences of hate crime and racially motivated attacks can have a devastating impact on both the victim and their families. If you have any information about hate crime, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form.

In some cases victims/witnesses of Hate Crime do not feel comfortable reporting the matter directly to the Police and may be more comfortable reporting it to someone they are familiar with. As such, Police Scotland works with a wide variety of partners who perform the role of Third Party Reporting Centres. Staff within Third Party Reporting Centres have been trained to assist a victim or witness in submitting a report to the police and can make such a report on the victim/witnesses behalf. Find your nearest Third Party Reporting Centre.