Migrant Children's Project Newsletter November 2017 Follow us on Twitter If you have used our guidance and resources so far in 2017, please take two minutes to complete our short survey here. New safeguarding strategy for asylum-seeking and refugee children This month, the Department for Education and the Home Office have published revised statutory guidance for local authorities on the care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of trafficking. This guidance is part of a wider safeguarding strategy for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and refugee children announced this month. The updated guidance makes clearer references to the importance of the need for children to access legal advice and representation. The strategy commits to funding specialist training for 1,000 support workers and foster carers. It also aims to conduct research on the current support provided to unaccompanied children and families reunited under the Dublin regulation and whether more help is needed. See our newly updated fact sheet for more information on supporting asylum-seeking children joining their family under the Dublin Regulation. Brexit and the Repeal Bill: update With the realities of the very difficult Brexit negotiations starting to become more apparent, The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is now entering Committee Stage in the House of Commons, where MPs are currently debating the draft legislation on how Brexit will be put into effect. Want to know what this means for migrant children's rights? See our summary here. The Dubs Scheme The first unaccompanied child refugee has come to the UK from Greece this month, more than a year and a half after the Dubs amendment was passed as part of the Immigration Act 2016. So far, only 200 refugee children have been transferred to the UK under the Dubs scheme, yet the debate around how many more children will be accepted continues, as campaigners appeal after losing a High Court case over the number of children accepted under the scheme. For information on the duties Local Authorities have to support unaccompanied children arriving to the UK under the Dubs Scheme, see our fact sheet on local authority support for asylum-seeking children (UASC). New fact sheet: travel documents Looking to travel over the winter break? Our new fact sheet extensively covers information on travel eligibility as a refugee or migrant, and the documents required to do so. Download the fact sheet here. If you have queries about these or other issues, please contact our advice line on 0207 636 8505 or email [email protected]. Our upcoming training courses Our courses can now be booked online - just visit our Eventbrite page! New! Access to healthcare for migrant young people and families Coram Campus, London Thursday 7 December 2017, 2pm - 5:30pm An introduction to the rights of children and young people in the immigration system Coram Campus, London Wednesday 28 February 2018, 2 - 5pm Tuesday 1 May 2018, 2 - 5pm Supporting EU national children in care Coram Campus, London Tuesday 10 April 2018, 2pm - 5:30pm Access to education for migrant children Coram Campus, London Wednesday 31 January 2018, 2pm - 5pm The rights and entitlements of young refugees and migrants Coram Campus, London Wednesday 21 February 2018, 10am - 4:30pm Thursday 19 April 2018, 10am - 4:30pm Supporting undocumented and NRPF families Coram Campus, London Thursday 8 March 2018, 10am - 4:30pm For more information and to book, please see our eventbrite page. To commission in-house training for your organisation, please see our website. New reports and guidance Time to transform: results of a survey of front line professionals on the National Referral Mechanism for child victims of trafficking and modern slavery ECPAT UK, November 2017 Safeguarding Strategy: Unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children Department for Education and Home Office, November 2017 Latest news Half asylum claims ‘non- straightforward’ and as a result face long delays The Guardian, 28 November 2017 ‘Hostile environment’: the hardline Home Office Policy is tearing families apart The Guardian, 28 November 2017 Woman reports rape to police- and is arrested on immigration charges The Guardian, 28 November 2017 On safe haven: how we made ourselves at home in Britain The Guardian, 26 November 2017 The fight back against May’s hostile environment has begun Politics.co.uk, 22 November 2017 Government backs down over EU human rights to avoid risk of defeat The Guardian, 21 November 2017 I escaped war in Syria and am now free to dream- but other kids aren’t so lucky The Guardian, 21 November 2017 G4S orders independent review into scandal-hit immigration centre The Guardian, 21 November 2017 How do human rights protect children? Human Rights New, Views and Info, 20 November 2017 Refugee family 'overwhelmed' by support after St Helens firebombing The Guardian, 16 November 2017 Trafficking victims 'being wrongly sent to immigration detention centres' The Guardian, 15 November 2017 Revealed: legal advice for asylum seekers disappearing due to legal aid cuts The Conversation, 15 November 2017 EU citizens who become British can bring non-EU spouses to UK, court rules The Guardian, 14 November 2017 8,000 Syrian refugees settle in UK following public call for action The Guardian, 9 November 2017 Single parent families could be left ‘destitute’ as Home Office accesses child maintenance records Politics.co.uk, 8 November 2017 UK has concealed on cut-off date for EU nationals, say Brussels sources The Guardian, 4 November 2017 Let us know what you think! Do you use our website, publications or advice line? Your thoughts and feedback help us ensure that we're providing the right information and support. 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