EU nationals will be able to attend a weekly meeting which aims to support them as they apply to remain in the country post-Brexit.

The first Euro Café is being organised by members of Swindon for Europe. The group wants to help those applying for the UK Government’s EU settlement scheme ahead of the June 2021 deadline.

Member Steve Rouse said: “I have a German wife and an Anglo-German daughter, so we are a Euro family. Our heart is there.

“After Brexit Day, I was thinking about EU citizens because a lot of them feel unwelcome.

“And some were daunted by the application process. You have to scan your passport and get an app on your phone. You have to be quite determined with it and some people don’t understand that they have to do it.

“We heard that somebody has opened a drop-in session in Norfolk, and we thought ‘let’s do one in Swindon’.

“We want to invite EU citizens who want to feel welcomed, supported and valued. And if they have problems with their applications, we will put them in touch with someone who can help them.”

The group is planning on holding the event every week, for a couple of hours on Saturday morning.

Steve added: “We want to make sure they’re wanted here, get it done in time and stay with us.”

It was revealed this month that more than 15,000 EU citizens in Swindon have applied to remain in the UK.

Of those, 9,920 applicants were granted settled status and a further 5,700 received pre-settled status.

Amparo Torregrosa has lived in Swindon for 21 years after moving from Spain.

She said: “I wanted to get involved because I believe in bringing people together and we need a lot of that at the moment.

“Also, I want to help those vulnerable or having difficulty to apply for their settled status before the deadline.

“Lots of people still don’t know what to do in order to stay in the UK at the end of the transition period.”

The first session will take place at Baristocats on Commercial Road on Saturday, February 29 from 10am to 12pm.

Owner of Baristocats Marcus Kittridge and his wife Tracey wanted to get involved after both travelled across Europe.

Marcus said: “We are happy to host this event because we have always felt like a European café.

“Before we travelled extensively around Europe, sampling the atmosphere, coffees, and food from across the continent. This influenced our own styling and menu options.

“We hope to continue our European traditions after Brexit whatever that becomes.”

For further information visit the Euro Café Facebook event.