Fostering unaccompanied, asylum-seeking children (UASC)
Cheshire East Council is part of a national scheme that aims to provide a safe, supportive home environment to a young person under the age of 18 who is applying for asylum in the UK.
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC)
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children or UASC are children who have fled their country of origin without the care or protection of their parents.
They are forced to leave their family and country behind to seek protection from violence, persecution, war, detention, climate change, terrorism or the disappearance of family.
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children take long and dangerous journeys alone, or are trafficked in circumstances unknown to them; arriving at their destination feeling confused, alone and disorientated.
Based on current figures, they are most likely to come from Afghanistan, Sudan, Albania and Eritrea although we do also look after young people from other countries.
Could you become a foster carer for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
Cheshire East does not have enough foster carers to meet the needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. This is especially saddening when we know that all children achieve the most effective outcomes in family-based care.
We are keen to further develop our offer of specialist training to all carers regarding the needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Foster carers also have their own supervising social worker or support worker to support everyone in the fostering household.
We work in partnership with voluntary and community-based agencies who can offer advice and guidance and foster carers will also be able to attend regular support groups where carers can share experiences, learn from one another and have the opportunity to hear from guest speakers.
Our Foster Carers have told us that “There are many challenges involved in this type of fostering. However, it is also extremely rewarding.”
You will need:
- A spare room in your home with enough space for a bed, personal storage and a desk (or somewhere in your home where they can do homework)
- Experience of looking after children, either as a parent, a foster carer or in a professional / personal capacity
- An open mind and a curiosity about other cultures
- A willingness to support young people to practice their religion, for example by supporting them to eat Halal food or helping them to attend a mosque
- A willingness to support them to learn English and to become settled in a local school
- To help them to create links within the community so that they don’t feel isolated, for example linking them to a local community group or helping them to engage in sports like boxing, cricket and football
- A willingness to support them with legal processes and dealings with the Home Office and solicitors
- To be prepared to offer emotional support to overcome the trauma they may have experienced in their home country and on the journey to get here.
We can offer you:
- A weekly maintenance allowance based on the age of the young person to cover all the costs of caring for them
- A weekly fee that recognises your time and skill as a foster carer
- Support from your own fostering social worker and from a team of family support workers
- Out of hours emergency support
- A support group of other foster carers in your area and mentoring from a foster carer looking after young asylum seekers
- An ongoing programme of training that is offered locally
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children or UASC are children who have fled their country of origin without the care or protection of their parents.
They are forced to leave their family and country behind to seek protection from violence, persecution, war, detention, climate change, terrorism or the disappearance of family.
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children take long and dangerous journeys alone, or are trafficked in circumstances unknown to them; arriving at their destination feeling confused, alone and disorientated.
For more information and to register your interest in supporting an asylum-seeking child, complete our Fostering with Cheshire East enquiry form