Charities urge new MSPs to treat young refugees like any children requiring care

Two leading charities have urged MSPs in the next parliamentary session to treat unaccompanied child refugees like any other children who require care.

Aberlour and the Scottish Refugee Council have urged those elected in May to treat all unaccompanied young people who come to Scotland as “looked after” children in the care system.

According to the charities, more than 1,000 children are being cared for in Scotland after arriving in the country unaccompanied, with up to 400 new referrals every year.

Justina Murray, the chief executive of Aberlour, said the care of young asylum seekers can vary between councils, with youngsters sometimes caught between immigration authorities and social work.

“Young people arriving alone to seek safe shelter in Scotland deserve the same chance of a stable home and secure future as any other child,” she said.

“The decisions taken in their first weeks and months here can often shape their future for years to come.

“Many are given the care and support they need, and go to school, make friends, build happy, successful lives and contribute to their new communities. Some, sadly, are not.

“Our new MSPs should help ensure every young unaccompanied person seeking asylum in Scotland is seen first through the lens of child protection, not immigration control.

“They deserve certainty and stability as quickly as possible so they do not remain in limbo as they approach adulthood.”

Sabir Zazi, chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, said the Government’s pledge to improve the lives of children in care – dubbed the Promise – should include young asylum seekers.

“Children and young people coming to Scotland in search of safety deserve exactly the same support as any other child in need of care who lives here,” he said.

“The Promise is to all children in need of care, including those arriving from overseas without their family.

“If we believe in children’s rights, those rights must apply regardless of immigration status.”