Karen O'Reilly

A major new study is to examine the impact of Brexit on the lives of the estimated 1.2 million British citizens living in other European Union member states.

I am delighted to be working with Dr Michaela Benson on this prestigious project. BrExpats is one of 25 successful research projects taking place across UK as part of an Economic and Social Research Council’s project entitled The UK in a Changing Europe.

The study incorporates a Europe-wide panel of expert participants and research with Britons living in seven European Union countries, including extensive fieldwork in France and Spain, the two countries hosting the largest British populations in the EU. It will examine whether Brexit is likely to lead to a rise in return migration, and what the consequences of this might be for welfare and healthcare in the UK.

Citizens’ Panels. We will be looking for British living in Europe to be part of our ‘citizens’ panels’ as we proceed through these challenging times and the Brexit negotiations. If you are willing to share your stories, experiences, feelings, doubts, insecurities, and insights, by sending photos, videos, blog posts, short written pieces, or simply talking to us by Skype or email – in response to directives we send out as we go along, then please contact me

k.oreilly(at)lboro.ac.uk