We work with local authorities to deliver asylum-seeking children and young people pathway plans, which will set out their plans for the future. This is an important legal document and we make sure that the views and aspirations of care leavers are at the centre of it. We support the children and young people with parallel/triple planning, that is if they are granted leave to remain, or refused and are appealing the decision, or are appeals right exhausted and have been asked to leave the United Kingdom. The possibility of return for some asylum-seeking young people will be discussed as part of the pathway planning process, where there is a possibility of them becoming Appeals Rights Exhausted.
Help & Support
01
We work closely with social workers to complete needs assessment report setting out their abilities, their achievements and their needs now and in the future. We endeavour to deliver the Pathway Plan, which sets out how asylum-seeking children and young people will be supported to achieve the things that they want for themselves in their life, and who is going to provide the help they need.
02
We support asylum-seeking young people understand the several different sources of money they are entitled to as a care leaver (the amounts will vary depending on their circumstances and legal status). Other factors that may affect payments made to them will include the type of accommodation they live in and whether they are engaged in employment, education or training. We have regard to any financial support set out clearly in their Pathway Plans. In addition, we support them understand the Care Leavers’ Financial Entitlements. We support asylum-seeking 18 years + young people benefits and ensure they get everything they are entitled to.
03
We support young people with setting up home allowance. We support them to move into independent living arrangements and support them to buy the essentials required for their new home. We work closely with their social workers/personal advisors on this.
Care Leavers in Higher Education (University)
We support care leavers to apply for student loans and grants to Student Finance. In addition, we support care leavers apply for bursaries to Buttle UK, a charity which awards universities a quality mark for offering additional support to care leavers.
Bank Accounts & Application Form
We help young people with their initial claim, and help them with their applications. We support them secure identification documents and a bank account for the benefits to be paid into. We work with their social workers/personal advisors to help them get these in place before their 18th birthday, and support them to apply for their benefits before their birthday, so that everything is set up to reduce any delays in payments.
Housing Benefit & Job Seeker’s
We support young people who are unemployed, available for and actively seeking work, working less than 16 hours per week on average. We support them actively looked for work and prepare for job interviews, or attend appointments at short notice. We support young people apply for housing benefit & Council tax
Advocacy
We support young people someone to express their views. We provide an independent advocate to ensure that they are listened to and help them get their views across.
Education, Training and Employment
We encourage and support young people to make education a top priority and we support them to stay in education, whether that is going to college, starting an apprenticeship, going to university or finding a job. We support them practically and financially as set out above & agreed in their Pathway Plan.