Unaccompanied asylum-seeking young person

If you arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child and are under 18, we will look after and support you. Your personal advisor will help you understand your immigration status before you turn 18. You will have support to help you settle in, get to know the local area, make friends, integrate in the community and help you go to activities of interest.

You will get all the support that any of our children in care get. 

We will use interpretation services to help with communication and help you access information in your own language. You can communicate in your own language using Mind Of My Own with your personal advisor. 

If you need any help understanding or accessing information in your own language ask your personal advisor for support.

We can only provide a service to you if you have an active application for asylum. We cannot provide a service to you if you are in breach of immigration law.

We will plan with you for three possible outcomes. This means:

• helping you plan for a future in the UK if you receive some form of leave to remain
• supporting you while you wait for a decision
• helping you make a backup plan if you do not receive leave to remain in the UK and have tried all appeals

We can help you with:

• applying for an eVisa (issued by the Home Office) to individuals who want to claim asylum
• finding a solicitor to work on your immigration and asylum claim
• speaking to your Refugee Council Advocate or referring you to one if this is needed
• going to English Classes (ESOL) at a local college
• accessing education, training and employment when you are ready
• a contribution of £1000 towards citizenship costs
• tracing your family via British Red Cross if this is something you need
• contacting Refugees Welcome North Somerset who offer friendship and support to refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced people across North Somerset
• making sure you have a place to stay

We will create a pathway plan with you. This will help us identify and understand your future goals and needs. 

We will make sure your pathway plan considers different possible immigration outcomes:

1. supporting you whilst your claim progresses or through an appeal process (when no final decision has yet been made)
2. supporting you if you are awarded ‘leave to remain’ in the UK
3. supporting you to return to your country or origin if your ‘appeal rights are exhausted’ and solicitors say there are no further grounds for a new claim

This is called triple pathway planning. 

When you are 18, you will be responsible for paying a service charge. A service charge is a fee that you have to pay when living in supported accommodation. It contributes towards maintenance and repairs, utilities and cleaning of shared places.

When you have ‘leave to remain’ you will be responsible for paying for rent and bills either by using your wages or through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.

We can support you with:

• applying for Universal Credit
• finding housing options available to you

Religious or cultural needs

We will help you to meet your cultural or religious needs or practices. This could be showing you where your nearest mosque or church is. We can also fund your travel to a mosque or church, or provide funding for a Bible or Quran and prayer mat if needed. 

We will provide you with a festival grant for the religious cultural celebration of your choice or split it between more than one festival. 

Appeal rights exhausted (ARE)

If your appeal rights are exhausted, we will complete a human rights assessment with you and help you plan for your safe return home.

If you are experiencing mental health difficulties, we will help you and those around you to understand how you are feeling and get you the support that you need. 

If you are under 18 this will be from the Asylum and Refugee Clinic in Bristol. 

If you are over 18 this will be from The Haven in Bristol. 

The Hope Service supports asylum seekers, refugees and victims of trafficking who have experienced trauma. Their website is available in different languages.

Weston College also provides mental health support through:

• Togetherall - 24/7 online support
• Mind Matters - a weekly informal session to support you to look after yourself