Children arriving in the UK are looking for safety – but they are faced with hostility.
We've all seen images of young people crossing the channel on their own. But what happens to them once they have arrived in the UK? The process of claiming asylum is not simple, and can take months. After a traumatic journey, often fleeing war or violence and having left family behind, people are met in the UK by a hostile environment. Hostile in terms of policy, and hostile in terms of rhetoric. These young people find themselves the target of a media storm, but they’re just looking for safety and stability. Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) provides advice and support to people subjected to immigration control.
GMIAU has supported people subjected to immigration control for more than 30 years. GMIAU provide free, independent legal advice, representation and support to people across the North West of England.
Young people seeking asylum in Greater Manchester need help more than ever. GMIAU are currently supporting around 200 children – that’s a quarter of their overall caseload. Supporting GMIAU means supporting them through a confusing and often traumatic legal process. GMIAU walk alongside young people as they:
- Find and form a relationship with a solicitor, tell their story, and learn about the asylum process
- Try to meet friends in a new place, and access education
- Socialise with GMIAU’s All4One youth group
- Form a relationship with social workers
- Go through the trauma of an Age Assessment if they have their age disbelieved
- Wait for and find out their asylum decision
GMIAU can't do this without your support
- Donating to GMIAU will allow them to support as many young people as possible to access their legal rights and find support and community in the UK.
- £5-£10 helps a young person with a bus fare or phone credit in an emergency
- £50 means support worker can attend an appointment to make sure a young person's rights are upheld
- £100 funds a meeting of the All4One youth group so that isolated young people can come together and make new friends
For more information and to donate click here