CYP Now - Thousands of children in care risk missing EU Settlement Scheme deadline, charity warns

A charity is calling for flexibility in the application of a scheme that allows children in care and care leavers born in Europe to remain in the UK post Brexit, after research shows more than half of those eligible have yet to apply just three months before the deadline.

Research suggests more than 2,000 young people in care or care leavers are yet to have applications submitted to the EU Settlement Scheme. Picture: Adobe Stock

Following the UK's departure from the European Union (EU), all EU nationals, including children, living in the UK on 31 December 2020 who want to continue to live and work here must apply for secure immigration status through the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) by 30 June 2021.

For children in care, the responsibility of applying for status falls on their legal guardian or their council social worker; for those under 25 who have left care, local authorities must ensure they have secured status either by signposting them to make their own application or by practically supporting them to do so.

However, The Children's Society warns that this does not appear to be happening and in the last year progress has been slow.

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