Child asylum seekers need more support, study says

Children who seek asylum in London need better protection and support as they "experience adversity daily", according to new research.

In recent years, London boroughs have supported around a third of all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children looked after by local authorities in England.

The research by London Councils - the umbrella group that represents London's local authorities - found that almost all young people struggled with the process, and in some cases found it traumatising.

The government said it would engage with the issues raised and that the "safety and welfare of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children is our utmost priority".

The research, commissioned alongside the Association of London Directors of Children's Services, found that young asylum seekers described the existing asylum process as long and uncertain.

The researchers worked with former young asylum seekers who helped conduct the research, including Gersi from Albania.

Gersi travelled to Croydon on his own when he was 16. Nine years later, he is still seeking asylum in the UK.

"It was really difficult for me at first, I didn't know what to do or where to go, I didn't speak English at first," he said.

"I never had somebody there who I could speak to, who I could open up to about how about I was feeling.

"That was the hard thing, and if you don't have anyone you can trust, how do you navigate the system - how do you understand the system?"

These were concerns that Gersi and the other researchers found when speaking to 15 young people currently seeking asylum in the capital.

Almost all of those reported "confusion and delays".

They described being assessed for their age as "intrusive and retraumatising". For those wrongly assessed as adults, it also meant being denied access to children's services.

The researchers found that young asylum seekers often faced "significant barriers" in accessing clear information about rights and entitlements, and were often unaware of their right to access advisory services.

In response to the research, London Councils and the Association of London Directors of Children's Services have made a number of recommendations to the government including:

• All unaccompanied children should be allocated an independent guardian, funded by central government
• All young people who are in the asylum system should have timely access to free, expert legal representation which is child-centred
• Children should only be subject to age disputes where there is significant reason to doubt their age
• Consistent integration and belonging support should be provided

Anthony Okereke, from London Councils, said: "We know that under the current system, unaccompanied children and young people seeking asylum experience adversity daily in boroughs across London.

"We urgently need reforms that centre the rights, voices, and well-being of these children. From legal support to integration services, boroughs are calling for a compassionate, coordinated approach that helps young people build safe and hopeful futures."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We thank the London Councils and the Association of London Directors of Children's Services for this research and will engage with them on the issues.

"The safety and welfare of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children is our utmost priority, and caring for them requires participation from local authorities across the UK.

"We ensure that immediate, trauma-informed care is provided for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children upon arrival by small boat, and an advice line, signposting service and face-to-face sessions are available to support children throughout the asylum process."

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