Kent social services struggling to cope with children seeking asylum
Topic: Children and Family
Source: The Guardian (UK)
A dramatic rise has occurred in the number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum as the Calais migrant crisis has unfolded, leaving Kent social services struggling to cope, county council leaders have warned. Kent county council has appealed to the Home Office and children’s services across the south of England for urgent help with a £5.5m funding shortfall and the “enormous strain” on social services, and for assistance in finding foster places for the children, who are on their own and as young as 12. The number of young asylum seekers from countries such as Syria and Iraq aged under 18 and needing foster care after arriving at Dover has risen from 238 a year ago to 369 in April, and has accelerated further over the last three months to the latest figure of 605.
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Sunday 02 August 2015 - 16:48:14