- P
- C
Ten Years After Brexit: EU Migrants Still Need Support
0% complete
£465 raised of £5K
14 donations
23 June 2026 marks ten years since the UK voted to leave the European Union.
For many people, Brexit may feel like history. But for thousands of EU citizens and their families, its consequences are still part of everyday life.
Ten years on, we are still helping people secure their immigration status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Many of those who were unable to apply in time have faced barriers such as ill health, homelessness, domestic abuse, isolation, limited English, digital exclusion, or fear of engaging with authorities.
Others are now navigating the move from pre-settled to settled status, struggling with digital immigration status and eVisas, or only discovering problems years later when trying to access healthcare, work, education or bringing their families with them.
Many of our immigration clients also come to us with concerns about housing, debt, employment, healthcare, benefits and isolation. Like many people across Scotland, they face everyday struggles, but often with additional barriers related to language, culture, discrimination and unfamiliarity with complex systems.
What we thought would be a temporary response to Brexit became something much bigger.
Today, Citizens Rights Project provides free, multilingual immigration and welfare information, advice and support to help people secure their rights, rebuild stability, and live with dignity and confidence.
And ten years after the referendum, demand for our services continues to grow. At the same time, sustaining and expanding this support beyond the short term remains an ongoing challenge.
For many people, access to accurate information and compassionate, multilingual and culturally aware support can make the difference between security and uncertainty. That's why we need your help.
By supporting this campaign, you are helping us continue to provide vital immigration and welfare advice, guidance and practical support to EU citizens and their families affected by Brexit.
Over the years, clients have told us that our support has helped them feel more confident, less isolated and better able to face difficult situations. In their own words:
"Because of your support, I feel more confident and less alone."
"I'm taking my time to write this because you took the time to listen."
"You didn't just do your job—you truly cared."
"I truly appreciate everything you have done for me. Thank you so much for your care, patience and support."
"To be honest, I don't know what we would have done without Citizens Rights Project – it doesn't bear thinking about."
Three Stories, Ten Years On
Behind every late application, delayed decision, family separation, housing problem or financial difficulty is a real person trying to build a stable future.
These are just three examples of how the consequences of Brexit continue to shape people's lives, and how what began as support with immigration status has often grown into something much bigger.
- A Polish man in his 80s first came to Citizens Rights Project in 2023 after moving to Scotland to live with his son and seeking support to apply for pre-settled status. In 2024, following a domestic incident, he was hospitalised and later discharged into street homelessness. With no English, no income and almost no support network, he suddenly found himself alone in a country he had only recently moved to. Over the last year and a half, Citizens Rights Project has worked with the council, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Polish Consulate in Scotland, accommodation providers and specialist charities to help him access housing, income and community support. Today, the case remains ongoing. Without support, this elderly man would have faced homelessness, poverty and isolation completely alone.
- A Spanish national settled in Scotland came to Citizens Rights Project seeking support to reunite with his three children and bring them to the UK. The children were born in Senegal and their birth certificates had been registered several years after birth — something that is relatively common in many countries. However, the Home Office questioned the legitimacy of the documents and rejected the application, leaving the family facing prolonged separation. Citizens Rights Project continues to support the father in gathering additional evidence and challenging the decision so that he can exercise his right to family life. Ten years after Brexit, some families are still paying the price through separation and uncertainty.
- A Portuguese national whose British partner of more than fourteen years died came to Citizens Rights Project for help. Feeling lost and alone, she needed support not only to register his death but also to organise the funeral. Citizens Rights Project liaised with the mortuary, family members, the council, the bank and the hospital, coordinating practical and emotional support during an incredibly difficult time. As support progressed, debt, housing problems and a history of unfair treatment at work also emerged. Through our Welfare Service and Link Worker, we have continued to help her access the specialist support she needs and navigate these challenges. Like many of the people we support, she did not experience grief, housing, debt and immigration issues separately. Neither could our support be delivered in isolation.
How Your Donation Will Help
Although we have secured funding for this year, it is not sufficient to maintain our current level of support beyond the short term, and your donation will help us sustain and strengthen our services as demand continues to grow.
The stories above are just three examples of the thousands of people who have turned to Citizens Rights Project over the last eight years.
By donating to this campaign, you will help us continue providing life-changing immigration and welfare support and ensure that no one has to face these challenges alone.
Your support will help us:
- keep running our services, ensuring existing clients and other migrants facing crisis are not left alone to navigate complex systems support.
- document systemic gaps and barriers migrants face when accessing services, helping us work with organisations to improve support through training, collaboration and shared learning.
- helping us respond to emerging needs and address gaps in access to justice and representation. Over the years, we have identified a growing need for support with First-tier Tribunals and appeals. Your donation could help us take the first steps towards developing this area of work through staff training and partnerships with universities and future legal professionals.
- Support the continued development of our immigration advice service. As the needs of our clients evolve beyond the EU Settlement Scheme, we are expanding our Immigration Advice Authority Level 1 service. Donations can help us access the supervision and expertise needed to ensure we continue providing high-quality, trusted advice.
- Strengthen the long-term sustainability of our services, ensuring that people can continue accessing trusted support when they need it most.
❤️ Donate today and help us raise £5,000 for the 10-year anniversary of the Brexit referendum
Organiser
C
Citizens Rights Project
Beneficiary