EU families & Eurochildren in Brexiting Britain

‘Congratulations on your achievement’: the day I became British

How does one mark the ceremony to become British? With mixed feelings, in many cases. By Nando Sigona (originally published in OpenDemocracy) ‘Congratulations on your achievement’, ‘I heard congratulations are in order’, ‘well done’. I look at my interlocutor undecided on what to reply. A smiling face looks at me, expecting a response. Eventually I…

Coping with Brexit in Scotland: new Eurochildren briefs out today

We are launching two new Eurochildren Briefs today focused on EU nationals in Scotland. The first Eurochildren Brief (n.7), written by Dr Laurence Lessard-Phillips, looks at the geographical distribution of EU citizens in Scotland and the evolution of the EU population over forty year. EU nationals made up under 1% of the Scottish population in…

How EU families in Britain are coping with Brexit uncertainty

Nando Sigona, University of Birmingham Mirela left Croatia in 1991 because of the civil war in Yugoslavia. Her husband Frank grew up in the Republic of Ireland. Both are worried Brexit has left a deep scar through British society, one that it will take years to heal. They also worry about the impact of Brexit…

“There is too much talk about belonging”: Portraits of EU families in London

After two decades in Britain, Marta is contemplating going back to Italy for her children. It is an ongoing conversation with UK-born Bianca (11) and Luca (8) who love Italy but they know that moving there won’t be easy. Portraits of EU families in London is a participatory photo project linked to the ESRC-funded EU families…

“Will they take away a star from the EU flag?”: Portraits of EU families in London

Andrea is originally from Croatia. She moved to Britain when Croatia was outside the EU and the UK was still fully in. Simon is British. Seth and Emil are born in the UK and have a lot of ideas and questions on what may happen after Brexit. Portraits of EU families in London is a…

“Home is wherever we are together”: Portraits of EU families in London

Shahadat is from Bangladesh but is now British. Valeria is Italian and moved to the UK from Mexico after Brexit. Leonardo was born in London in 2018. He is a “Brexit baby”, she says. Portraits of EU families in London is a participatory photo project linked to the ESRC-funded EU families and ‘Eurochildren’ in Brexiting…

“Dad, what does incompetent mean?”: Portraits of EU families in the shadow of Brexit

Mirela left Croatia in 1991 because of the civil war. Frank grew up in Ireland at the time of The Troubles. Both are worried Brexit has lacerated British society. Daughters Fay and Aine-Daisy are also worried by the incompetence of “the guys in office”. Portraits of EU families in London is a participatory photo project…

“In France we love England for this: when they are fed up, they say it”: French researcher Fabrice explains.

Fabrice from France says he understands why people voted for leaving the EU in the 2016 referendum. Ana from Portugal instead didn’t see it coming. Both agree it was the wrong question to ask.

“Nothing has changed apart from the fear of things changing”: Portraits of EU families in London”

“Nothing has changed apart from the fear of things changing”, British-French couple consider a move to France, but son Dylan is very hard to persuade. To find out more about the photo project: https://eurochildren.info/category/portraits-of-eu-families-in-london/