Decline in EU volunteers

● Minister highlights Brexit impact during visit to charity’s base

POLITICAL EDITOR

Migration Minister Ben Macpherson yesterday said Brexit was making it harder for an Aberdeen-based charity to recruit support volunteers for adults with additional needs.

Visiting Newton Dee Village, Mr Macpherson said there was “real concern” about what ending freedom of movement will mean for the charity, which is part of the Camphill Community.

Each year it relies on some 30 gap year students, mostly from the EU.

They travel to Aberdeen to support 82 adults with additional needs who live and work at the campus, plus another 40 who go there for day placements.

J a k e V o l l r a t h , a worker at the community, told the minister: “There

“Thereisthe realconcern aboutwhat happens”

has been a drop in applications and we are having to make a lot more effort in advertising and expending a lot more resources to find enough volunteers to come.”

Mr Macpherson said: “There are individuals who have come here as volunteers and have ended up settling here. So there is that hugely positive contribution that has been made for several years.

“But there is the real concern about what happens at the end of freedom of movement.”

Mr Macpherson said the Brexit threat made the UK less attractive.

“That attractiveness for volunteers is being diminished even in the here and now, let alone once we are past the withdrawal period,” he said.

Mr Macpherson, SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said the Scottish Government is raising concerns with the Home Office and seeking a residency-based Scottish visa to make it easier for EU volunteers coming to places like Newton Dee.