asylum
A step in the right direction
In the wake of Kent CC’s move to encourage a fairer share of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children among other councils, Ann McGauran talks to key figures about what needs to be done and whether the voluntary national transfer scheme can help in its new form.
Patel reveals rota replacement scheme for unaccompanied asylum seeking children
A new rota scheme will better distribute responsibility for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) among councils, home secretary Priti Patel has revealed.
Asylum seeker costs should be funded from the centre
The fair and humanitarian answer from the Home Office is to properly fund councils shouldering the burden of looking after unaccompanied asylum seeking children so they do not have to raid their children’s services budgets, says Michael Burton.
Kent threatens Patel with legal action over asylum children
Kent CC is threatening to launch legal action against the home secretary as it struggles with rising numbers of unaccompanied child migrants.
Croydon in fresh unaccompanied asylum-seeking children plea
Croydon LBC has urged the Government to make up its historic funding gap in the cost of caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC).
In emergencies, we need to plug the gaps in the social safety net
Discretionary cash support must be included in the toolbox for any major emergency response, says British Red Cross hardship fund programme manager Alex Ballard.
Councils accused of 'grandstanding' on asylum
The immigration minister has told councils to ‘play their part’ in accommodating asylum seekers, accusing them of ‘simply passing motions and making declarations’.
Inquiry launched into asylum accommodation
MPs are to investigate the use of sites such as former barracks to accommodate asylum seekers.
Home secretary urges councils to house asylum seekers
Home secretary Priti Patel has urged local authorities to identify further accommodation to house asylum seekers following the closure of a controversial temporary site in Wales.
Region refuses to take more asylum seekers
The West Midlands has refused to take any more asylum seekers unless the Home Office agrees to a ‘more equitable spread’ across all UK councils.
Casey calls for stronger rough sleeping prevention
Tackling rough sleeping has been ‘dumped on’ local authorities, according to the woman behind the lifesaving Everyone In scheme.
Portsmouth no longer taking in asylum seeking children
The council is providing support to three times its quota of children.
Watchdog mauls asylum system
Councils are being given little or no notice when asylum seekers are moved into their areas, a report has found.
Top civil servant opens up on asylum challenge
A senior Whitehall official has admitted she has a ‘knot in my stomach most days’ as she grapples with the unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) influx.
LGA backs mandatory council role in migrant children scheme
Council leaders have backed a government suggestion that the national transfer scheme for unaccompanied migrant children should be compulsory for local authorities.
Migrant children transfer scheme could be mandatory
The Government is consulting on making the National Transfer Scheme for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children compulsory for councils.
Government tells councils to ‘do their bit’ for child asylum seekers
The Home Office has called on local authorities to do more to support vulnerable children seeking asylum in the UK.
‘Critical incident’ declared over child migrant arrivals
Border Force personnel are accommodating newly-arrived unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) in Kent.
Kent reaches asylum tipping point
Kent CC has warned it has reached its capacity to safely care for any more unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC).
Government increases funding for child asylum seekers
The boost to rates to support care leavers has long been lobbied for by local government.
