Save Au Pairs is a campaign to save the Au Pair programme in the UK
We need YOUR help to ensure Au Pairs can continue to come to Britain and British Au Pairs can go to Europe after Brexit!
Calling ALL UK HOST FAMILIES
Contact Your Local MP
Complete Our Host Family Survey
Complete Our Host Family Survey
If you are a UK host family, please contact Your Local MP & copy in both Home Office Public Enquiries e-mails: DCUPublicResponses@homeoffice.gov.uk & Public.Enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Complete Our Host Family Survey
Complete Our Host Family Survey
Complete Our Host Family Survey
Please complete the following survey - https://surveys.surveygoo.com/s3/Au-Pair-Survey The survey data will help with the saveaupairs campaign, in particular, your host family feedback on the impact of the challenges on not hosting au pair for your circumstances
Social Share
Complete Our Host Family Survey
Social Share
Please share our campaign on your social media.
Every voice and message is important!
The Petition
Save au pairing in the UK
AU PAIRING between the UK and EU is under severe threat from the uncertainty of Brexit, which could spell an end to au pairs from the EU joining families in the UK, and an end to UK young people joining families in the EU.
Au pairing is a unique form of cultural exchange for young people that is neither work nor holiday, and where visits last much longer than typical holidays. It therefore requires clear provision in immigration law for suitable rights that are different to work or holiday visas. These rights existed for 30 years before the UK joined the Common Market and will need to exist again after the UK leaves the EU. However, at present there seem to be NO PLANS for such arrangements in any Brexit proposals.
As a result, Europe’s oldest, simplest and most effective cultural exchange programme between the UK and EU countries could simply come to a halt.
This would mean an end to the mutually beneficial exchange that takes place between a young person and a family with children. An end to the tradition where a young person joins a family as a temporary family member, providing help with childcare and family activities in exchange for a secure place in the family and for pocket money. An end to the programme of individual learning (particularly of the host country language) and mutual cultural exchange.
It would also be a catastrophe for thousands of hard working families, as they struggle to adjust their work and living arrangements, and a hit on the productivity of UK plc.
This valuable experience needs to be protected, to give young people and families a clear and secure basis on which to continue to enjoy the benefits of au pairing.
After calling upon Theresa May, David Davis and UK negotiators, and on Jean-Claude Juncker, Michel Barnier and all EU Heads of State, in 2018 to make clear and unambiguous arrangements that ensure the door stays open for young people throughout the EU to make extended visits to the UK and for UK young people to make extended visits to the EU for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of au pairing
WE ARE HERE AGAIN TO DEMAND that Boris Johnson and Priti Patel include Au Pairs to fit within a visa category from the new immigration polices that have been published and to commence on 1 January 2021.
Save Europe’s oldest existing cultural exchange programme for the sake of young people and families.
#SaveAuPairs
#SaveAuPairs Campaign in BBC NEWS
Sandra Landau, MBE, of BAPAA is Live on BBC Television!!!
Sandra represented BAPAA (British Au Pair Agencies Association) and the @SaveAuPairs campaign on BBC Breakfast television on Thursday 30th Nov. 2018. Read full article on BAPAA website, under News and kindly scroll down to 2nd item.
Thursday 30th November Sandra is live on BBC Breakfast, having been invited to speak about Au Pairs
What do we need to save?
Au Pair Childcare
Thousands of British families depend on this form of cultural exchange, which is based around childcare, to enable them to to work. Au Pairs most commonly live with families with school aged children, where they are instrumental in managing family life. Au Pairs will take children to school and collect them again later. They also take children to their afternoon activities and many will even prepare a simple meal for the children. This enables parents to work, which supports not only the family, but underpins the UK economy
Exploring Europe through Cultural Exchange
We have learned over the years that the world is a better place if we understand one another. Travel, meeting other people, experiencing different cultures and learning to speak their language makes people more tolerant and accepting of each other and of their different ways.
This understanding renders us and future generations more capable of creating dialogue and collaborative working, as opposed to disagreements, wars and walls!
Differences of opinion is a guarantee, it is how we deal with these that makes the world of difference.
Cultural Exchange
The Au Pair Programme is one of the safest and most inexpensive ways by which a young person can travel, learn another language and truly experience the authentic culture of a country.
For many years after an au pair placement ends the au pair will continue to be an unofficial ambassador for that country, and will always seek to build bridges before building walls.