C3SC would be grateful if you could please accept Lord German’s Amendment No.181 to the Nationality and Borders Bill, which will extend the immigration health surcharge exemption to international volunteers.
Amendment No.181 seeks to address an UK-wide issue impacting upon international volunteers contributing to the work of charities across the UK. Lord German’s Amendment would extend the immigration health surcharge exemption to all international volunteers working as volunteers for charities in the UK, and to those seeking to apply for visas to work as volunteers for charities in the UK.
The Amendment has been tabled by Lord German on behalf of Camphill Scotland, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), YMCA Ireland, Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland), the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA), the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and other partners, totalling 52 organisations across the UK.
Nationals from other countries who wish to live and work in the UK are, subject to certain exceptions, are required to pay the immigration health surcharge in order to access services under the NHS. Camphill Scotland and their partners across the UK welcomed the UK Government’s decision to exempt health and social care staff from other countries from paying the immigration health surcharge. This exemption does not include international volunteers working in health and social care, and in other charitable settings, for charities in the UK.
Camphill Scotland and their partners across the UK are concerned that the UK Government’s decision to exclude international volunteers from the immigration health surcharge exemption will, in the future, deter international volunteers from working as volunteers for charities in the UK in health and social care, and in other charitable settings. This, in turn, will impact upon the capacity of UK charities to, for example, provide care and support, and education, to disabled people and to people with other support needs. It will also impact upon the capacity of charities across the UK in other settings, including youth work and other services supporting young people.
Camphill Scotland and their partners across the UK hope that you will, therefore, accept Amendment No.181 which will extend the immigration health surcharge exemption to all international volunteers at the Committee Stage of the Nationality and Borders Bill.
To support Amendment No.181, please send Robert@camphillscotland.org.uk your organisation’s logo, which will then be added to the following briefing paper: Amendment HOL Committee
