A charity that supports children and young people with epilepsy has dismissed over 50 employees after the Home Office revoked its licence to sponsor overseas workers.
UNISON reported that 53 migrant workers at Young Epilepsy received an email from the charity on 11 October “asking them to attend a meeting the following day, at which they’d be dismissed”.
The trade union said Young Epilepsy previously reported historic breaches of its sponsorship duties to the Home Office, including failures to update visa records following employee promotions, changes of address and discrepancies in wage information.
“In light of these issues, UNISON and other unions asked the charity to provide staff with additional financial assistance and access to specialist immigration advice,” its announcement reads.
“However, the charity refused and subsequently dismissed the workers who received pay to cover their notice period, but no further compensation.”
A spokesperson for Young Epilepsy said “a small number of our highly skilled care workers” impacted by the Home Office decision were based at its specialist education facility called St Piers School and College in Surrey.
“Affected colleagues were first informed about the situation in July and over the following months were provided access to immigration advice, mental health support and full pay, alongside a formal consultation process,” they said.
“Following notification from the Home Office in October, we were legally bound to bring their employment to an end, in line with Home Office requirements.
“The loss of these colleagues has been felt deeply across our community. They were valued members of our team who made an important contribution to the lives of the children and young people we support.”
Young Epilepsy employs more than 500 people overall and recorded an income of £28.2m in the year to July 2025, most of which came through government contracts.
Charity ‘should have done more to support them’
On the dismissals, UNISON’s south east regional secretary Jo Galloway said: “These workers came here to care for some of this country’s most vulnerable young people.
“Now they’ve lost their jobs and face an uncertain future through no fault of their own.
“Young Epilepsy should have done more to support them. But the bigger problem is a visa system that gives employers too much power over people’s lives.
“The government must introduce sector-wide visas so workers aren’t punished when things go wrong.”
Earlier this week, home secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled new rules for migrants settling in the UK based on their contribution and character.
She also announced that the Home Office had cancelled plans to use volunteering as a “test” for migrants applying for reduced settlement periods after criticism from the charity sector.
Civil Society has approached the Home Office for comment.
