This plan needs to put “children’s best interests at heart” and be backed by extra funding for councils to offer them “the best possible start upon arrival” in the UK.
The recommendation has been put forward in a report by Barnardo’s, which is backed by a coalition of charities supporting child refugees including The Refugee Council, Save the Children, Action for Children, NSPCC and the Children’s Society.
Ministers are also being called on to roll-out local “welcoming hubs for displaced families” and ensure all children arriving in the UK can be safe with their families.
An increase in specialist foster care for child refugees is also needed and all separated children arriving in the UK should have access to a guardian, who is trained to support child refugees and help them navigate the asylum system and be their advocate, the charities say.
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