These pages contain key documents, advice, guidance and resources used in Devon to support the needs of our Young asylum seekers.
Devon recently held a forum with Devon Young asylum seekers and from this feedback Devon has adopted the term ‘Young asylum seekers’ to identify these children and young people. Nationally Unaccompanied asylum seeking children is still the most common terminology and this is useful to know as national resources still use this terminology.
Updates
- Welcome guide for refugees (translated)
- Free – Future Learn course – Caring for Children Moving Alone: Protecting Unaccompanied and Separated Children
Advice and guidance – supporting Young asylum seekers in school
Devon Young asylum seekers are a diverse group of children, with different cultural backgrounds and a wide range of languages. English might have been taught within the education system of their country of origin.
For some Young asylum seekers there might have been complete interruption of education for a longer period of time owing to conflict. Where an Young asylum seeker arrives to Devon, an initial needs assessment is conducted as quickly as possible.
Young asylum seekers that arrive in Devon have complex educational needs. However, basic needs like physical health and safety, as well as psychological needs such as self-esteem and belongingness, provide the fundament for successful learning.
Our supporting resources can be found below:
- Young asylum seeker inclusion checklist
- Signposting – advice, guidance and resources
- EAL proficiency assessment with supporting strategies
- Working with interpreters
- Supporting children through Ramadan
Young asylum seekers – backgrounds
A brief summary of the general educational and cultural backgrounds of our Devon UASCs.
Supporting the emotional and mental wellbeing of Young asylum seekers
- Kent Public Health has produced a range of useful resources for meeting the health needs of Young asylum seekers. This website is the main mental health page and there are a range of resources, including some reports of the studies in Kent – including a competency framework. They have made the framework into a video which you can find here.
- Working with Young asylum seekers: A video is of a psychotherapist describing what she found in working with Young asylum seekers.
- Sleep: How sleep impacts Young asylum seeker’s mental health
- Abbas: Young asylum seeker’s story
- Refugee Council: Therapeutic services
- Supporting the emotional and mental health of Young asylum seekers in schools
- Supporting the social and cultural needs of Young asylum seekers
Race equality guidance and resources
Children and young people tell us that bullying and prejudice/hate incidents (BPRIs) happen, and we are encouraging schools to record, report and respond to such incidents.
Children and young people learn best in an environment where they feel safe and respected. Being exposed to bullying and expressions of prejudice or hatred can undermine that sense of safety and respect and affect educational outcomes.
Visit our anti-racism in schools pages for additional resources and information.
Educational options
- Devon ESOL support
- Student Action for Refugees – universities that offer scholarships for refugees and young asylum seekers
Videos
The videos below can be useful for teachers, educators, foster carers or anyone wishing to learn more about young asylum seekers.
My journey
This powerful video highlights a wide range of challenges for young asylum seekers by focusing on their everyday experiences
Dear Habib
Dear Habib is a short animation sharing the true story of an unaccompanied young asylum seeker.
Naqeeb’s story
Naqeeb is a refugee from Afghanistan who sought asylum in England. Naqeeb was rewarded in parliament for his efforts fighting Home Office mistreatment of Young asylum seekers in 2019. He says the award means a lot to him. “This award gives me strength. It shows there are people listening to our stories.”
Resources
- Young asylum seekers statutory guidance
- Claiming Asylum as a Child – CORAM
- Safeguarding Young asylum seekers
Useful links
- Young asylum seekers Health website – information about public health, mental health and primary care of unaccompanied young asylum seekers
- UNHCR Safe & Sound – provides extensive information on the best interests of unaccompanied and separated children in Europe.
- Rights and advocacy
- Home Office guidance on Children’s Asylum Claims
- Becoming Adult website – an excellent resource which contains research projects, videos and comedy sketches. These comedy sketches tell, in a humorous way, the stories of unaccompanied young people and their challenges navigating the UK system. You can also find some information about their international conference “Constructing viable futures: Unaccompanied migrant young people transitioning to adulthood”, there are podcasts and PowerPoint presentations.
- Supporting Young asylum seekers with limited HL literacy – the Bell Foundation
- The integration of Young asylum seekers: good practice – Home Office Department for Education and Skills
- Refugee Council
- Refugee Support Devon
- Support from Space and Young Devon
- Devon County Council Virtual School