To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans are in place to ensure that funding for voluntary organisations to support vulnerable EU nationals in applying to the EU Settlement Scheme is allocated adequately to geographical areas where individuals with certain protected characteristics are concentrated.
Answered on
30 October 2019
Details of the grant funding and payment allocations remain commercial in confidence therefore the funding amount allocated, and the amounts to each voluntary organisation cannot be disclosed.
All grant funded organisations are required to submit quarterly returns, reporting on outcomes to the Home Office. The Home Office is currently evaluating the quarter two return. Consideration of the need and effectiveness of any further funding will be done thereafter.
A policy equality statement has been completed for the EU Settlement Scheme ensuring the scheme is accessible to all and does not discriminate based on any protected characteristic. The grant fund was open to any voluntary and community sector organisations.
The fund concentrates on delivering a service based on supporting vulnerabilities such as, but not limited to, homelessness, disability, age, victims of domestic violence and trafficking. The organisations that were successful in their bid for funding demonstrated their ability to provide practical support and outreach to the most vulnerable EEA citizens and family members of EEA citizens.
Funding was awarded based on expected numbers of vulnerable people that could be supported by the organisation, the geographical reach of the organisation and their ability to mobilise within the required timeframes.