Legal Update: Caring for refugee children

Since the heart-breaking photo of Syrian Alan Kurdi's body on a beach in Turkey was seen around the world, the UK public has reacted to the refugee crisis with great compassion and generosity, calling for refugees to be welcomed to this country. In response, the government has finally pledged to recognise the country's moral responsibility and accept 20,000 more Syrian refugees over the next five years through the existing Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme.

While this is a welcome and positive step, it now remains to be seen how local authorities will be supported to accommodate the increased numbers of refugees. There are already great pressures on local authorities as a result of the refugee crisis. Kent, for example, has seen a significant rise in the number of unaccompanied children (those without family to care for them) arriving at Dover, with more than 600 arriving in May to July this year. This includes Syrian children, but also those from conflict-ridden states such as Afghanistan and Eritrea. Unaccompanied children in the highest intake areas in the UK face various problems, including minimal chance of foster care for those arriving at 16 or 17; long waits to get into education; lack of access to legal advice; and limited support from social workers with high caseloads.