#Saveaupairs Petition
Please help support the continuation of the au pair program by signging the petition.
An Important Message from BAPAA Chair, Rebecca Haworth-Wood:
Au pairing between the UK and EU is under severe threat from Brexit, which could spell an end to the ability of au pairs from the EU to join 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.