The lockdown because of Covid-19 has obviously meant that we have had to change the way that we operate. This has had particular impact on our plans for our ‘Settled Scotland’ project, to provide advice and support to EU citizens in Scotland who want to apply for settled status.
However, we have now established systems which make it possible for us to offer, free, 1-2-1 online advice about the EU Settlement Scheme. We now have more than 12 staff and volunteers who have now received accreditation from the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner to provide immigration advice up to Level 1 (EU Settlement Scheme). We can support people to make applications. If people need advice beyond the level for which they are approved, then we can refer to more complex cases for free legal advice from Citizens Advice Scotland.
We can provide language support in a large number of EU languages, as well of course as English, including Spanish, Polish, Romanian, Greek, Bulgarian, Lithuanian, Italian and others.
We have also developed a range of information material about the EU settlement scheme, including video presentations in a number of languages (so far Polish, Romanian, Spanish & Bulgarian). You can find the recordings in our Facebook page)
Lastly, we are also open to cooperating with all organisations and communities in Scotland to deliver smaller online information and support sessions tailored to particular requirements. This can be provided through an online software as a meeting or webinar in a friendly form for those with limited technological skills. We are also happy to share our resources for distribution among EU citizens and organisations working with them.
Nationals needing support with their EU Settlement Scheme application can get in touch with us at info@citizensrightsproject.org or (+44) 07518926137 [Monday – Friday 9.00 – 17.00 | Call or text]