The organisation will use its annual National Day of Action on 23 February to raise the issue, said Katherine Blaker, chief executive of STAR. "Age assessments of young asylum seekers are often completed by untrained and inexperienced social workers and immigration officials who base their judgments on the appearance of the child. However, many young asylum seekers have no papers to prove they are under 18 and can look older because they have led harder lives."
MP Neil Gerrard, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, was approached by STAR to hold an early day motion on age assessment.
STAR is currently expanding a national network of young people funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the Department for Education and Skills. A youth outreach officer has been hired to help disadvantaged 16- to 25-year-olds, with the aim of bringing together young refugees and asylum seekers in the UK to break down barriers.
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