Skip navigation

Tour facilitates discussions about how Europeans are part of communities in the UK

7th May 2020

Citizens’ rights campaigners working to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK have carried out a tour of the four nations to meet community leaders and emphasise the role EU citizens play in UK life.

The This is Our Home Tour took place earlier this year and was set up in response to Brexit, which left many of the 3.6 million EU/EEA and Swiss citizens living in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland questioning whether the UK is still their home.

It was developed by the campaign group the3million in collaboration with Northumbria University’s Professor Tanja Bueltmann, who recently carried out research into the experiences of EU citizens applying for Settled Status in the UK.

Professor Bueltmann, an expert on immigrant communities, said: “When we consider EU citizens and their status, we are looking at a large group of people that, on the whole, was fully integrated in UK society.

“The EU referendum cast them out as ‘others’ and the consequences of that are now beginning to show in a real erosion of the sense of belonging among EU/EEA and Swiss citizens.

“But they do belong. They are part of, and help make, our communities all around the UK, from Cornwall to Caithness. That is why it is important to challenge these perceptions and say, ‘but this is our home’. That challenge must begin at local level directly in communities.”

The This Is Our Home Tour visited Bristol, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff, and included meetings with local councils, the Scottish Government’s immigration minister and public information sessions.

Meetings were also held with the3million grassroots members, an aspect which relates closely to Professor Bueltmann’s work on the role of associations in immigrant communities.

Maike Bohn, Co-founder of the3million, said: “For the3million as an organisation working to protect the rights of EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, the tour provided a unique opportunity to engage with our members locally and to hear about their experiences in their communities.

“Given that Brexit has now happened, it is also vital that more local outreach happens to inform EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. The tour enabled us to discuss approaches and issues with community leaders and stakeholders throughout the UK—in communities large and small.”

One EU citizen who attended the Edinburgh tour event said: “It was great to meet some of the main people behind the3million during the tour. As a local member, better understanding the group and a closer connection to the people is important to me.

“It was very nice to be able to talk to the3million as well as some other EU citizens who’ve made Edinburgh their home like me. Building networks is good as we are still faced with many challenges.”

The Settled Status survey took place in December last year and had 3,000 respondents, making it the largest survey of the EU Settlement Scheme to date.

The survey findings were published in January, as Professor Bueltmann explains: “The survey revealed there has been a real rupture, the breaking of a bond, for many EU/EEA and Swiss citizens as a result of them having to apply to stay.

“Of those who have already applied for Settled Status, for example, nearly 80% ‘strongly disagree’ or ‘disagree’ that having to apply made them feel still at home in the UK.

“One person described how after living in the UK for 30 years they were fully integrated and part of the society. They believed they would spend the rest of their life in the UK, a country they loved and a culture they embraced. But now they are no longer feeling at home.

“That such feelings developed is not surprising given the narrative that has been established since 2016: that EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are a burden to the UK and cause harm by taking benefits, jobs or housing.

“Evidence documents clearly that this is not the case, and the COVID19 crisis shows us clearer than perhaps ever before how much the UK needs immigrants who have chosen to make their home here.”

Find out more about Professor Bueltmann’s research.

Department of Humanities

Humanities At Northumbria Is Composed Of Three Subject Teams: History, Literature & Creative Writing, And English Language & Linguistics, And Is Also Developing Strengths In The Fields Of American Studies And Heritage Studies.

News and Features

This is the place to find all the latest news releases, feature articles, expert comment, and video and audio clips from Northumbria University

Department of Humanities

Humanities At Northumbria Is Composed Of Three Subject Teams: History, Literature & Creative Writing, And English Language & Linguistics, And Is Also Developing Strengths In The Fields Of American Studies And Heritage Studies.

News and Features

This is the place to find all the latest news releases, feature articles, expert comment, and video and audio clips from Northumbria University

a sign in front of a crowd
+

Northumbria Open Days

Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

Research at Northumbria
+

Research at Northumbria

Research is the life blood of a University and at Northumbria University we pride ourselves on research that makes a difference; research that has application and affects people's lives.

NU World
+

Explore NU World

Find out what life here is all about. From studying to socialising, term time to downtime, we’ve got it covered.


Latest News and Features

a map showing areas of ice melt in Greenland
S2Cool project lead Dr Muhammad Wakil Shahzad
The Converted Flat in 2049, by the Interaction Research Studio, is one of seven period rooms built as part of the Real Rooms project which opened in July at the Museum of the Home in London.
The UK Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM), based at Northumbria University, has been awarded over £400,000 by the European Space Agency to investigate tipping points in the Earth’s icy regions with a focus on the Antarctic. Photo by Professor Andrew Shepherd.
Nature Awards Inclusive Health Research
Some members of History’s editorial team (from left to right): Daniel Laqua (editor-in-chief), Katarzyna Kosior (reviews editor), Lewis Kimberley (editorial assistant), Charotte Alston (deputy editor) and Henry Miller (online editor).
Dr Elliott Johnson, Vice Chancellor’s Fellow in Public Policy at Northumbria University.
Balfour Beatty graduates at Northumbria's winter congregation

Back to top