East Ayrshire Supports Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and Young People

East Ayrshire Council  has agreed to support the resettlement in East Ayrshire of up to six unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people fleeing danger, conflict and persecution from war-torn countries.

The proposal was approved by Cabinet today, having been previously agreed by East Ayrshire’s Integrated Joint Board (IJB) on 27 November.

Thanks to the skills developed by support staff within East Ayrshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership while working with 50 asylum seeking families as part of the Syrian resettlement scheme, and funding available from the Home Office, appropriate housing support can be offered to these children.

Under the voluntary National Transfer Scheme, unaccompanied children can be transferred to other local authorities willing to take responsibility for them. Since October 2017 four unaccompanied children have arrived in East Ayrshire and have received housing support.

Michael Breen, Chair of the IJB said: “People are at the centre of all we do in East Ayrshire and it’s right that we extend that compassion to others who need our help.”

Marion MacAuley, Head of Children’s Health, Care and Justice Services added:

“Supporting the Transfer Scheme is the right thing to do. These are young people alone in a crisis and need our help. There is a real willingness in our community to support people in crisis as was shown by the way the community supported the Syrian refugee families.”

Participation in the National Transfer Scheme aligns with the values of East Ayrshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership and the Council’s Community Plan which promotes equality, diversity and inclusiveness.

View the full report here 

ENDS