Childrens Rights

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Helping Separated and Unaccompanied Minors

In exile and separated from parents and family, children suffer from the loss of all that is familiar to them: their home, family, friends, community, language, culture and their previous way of life.

It has also recently become clear that the system in the UK is failing separated asylum seeking children. There is evidence of discrimination against children, indifference towards the hardships they encounter and violation of international human rights treaty obligations. Some two thousand asylum seeking children are also detained each year across the UK for the administrative purposes of immigration control.

These are some of the issues we are tackling with our first Childrens Rights Officer at CRMC and we are very fortunate to be supported by the Tudor Trust.

We focus on 13-19 year old separated children and young people subject to immigration control. Separated children and unaccompanied minors are children who have entered the UK with no parent or guardian and who are then placed in the care of Social Services.

We are addressing an estimated 260 unaccompanied asylum seeking minors currently believed to be living in Coventry. Our work gives young people an opportunity to gain confidence and to develop skills, we support their progress from social care into independence. We work in partnership with other mainstream support organisations as well as the children, guardians and foster parents.

We give help and support in areas including Legal, Educational, Training, Employment, Leisure, Mental Health, Befriending and Mentoring. We deliver support in different settings according to client needs and circumstances, whether this be at our centre, home visits, in school, in college or in other educational settings and other community areas.

Referral Process

Referral form and further information is available from 02476 227254 ext 251