Funding to help lone asylum-seeking children

Devon County Council has successfully applied for funding to support unaccompanied children who arrive seeking asylum in the UK.

Almost £200,000 will be given from the government to help the council recruit and train foster carers, and appoint volunteers to help children settle into their communities.

It is part of a package worth £29 million from the government to increase capacity to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and care leavers.

Devon has welcomed unaccompanied children seeking asylum since 2015 wen under a Home Office programme up to 70 children were transferred to Devon from Calais.

Most moved quickly through the country to be reunited with their families across the UK. A few remained and have since settled in Devon.

A further 19 children arrived in 2017, as part of the National Transfer Scheme and as referrals from Immigration, police or by other local authorities.

But now, a successful bid to the Home Office for funding is enabling the authority to recruit foster carers and volunteers to help the children integrate into local communities.

The foster care recruitment and training and the appointment of volunteers will together increase community cohesion and help unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to contribute positively to the local economy and society.

James McInnes, the council’s cabinet member responsible for children, said: “There’s an enormous amount of good will in Devon from residents who, seeing where children seeking asylum are fleeing from, are doing all they can to help them establish lives here in safety.

“I’m proud that Devon is able to play its part in giving these children new starts, and it’s great to see them developing into model members of our community, giving back, not just through employment but in being good friends and neighbours.

“We’re delighted to hear that our bid for funding has been successful. Devon is a caring county and I believe that we do provide a safe refuge for vulnerable children fleeing danger in their own countries. With the funding, we’ll be able to help them more as they integrate with their communities.”